User`s guide
Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers
The most recent version of KindleGen can be downloaded for free from
www.amazon.com/kindleformat/kindlegen
. Amazon periodically releases new versions of the KindleGen
software. Check the site regularly for updates. To create books for Kindle Format 8, use KindleGen 2 or
later versions.
2.2.2.1 Source Files to Use with KindleGen
To create Amazon Kindle files using KindleGen, you need:
• A single HTML file that represents the entire book; or
• EPUB-compliant files. (IDPF’s EPUB spec is available at
http://idpf.org/EPUB/30/spec/EPUB30-
overview.html)
Using the EPUB spec, you can create a Kindle book with multiple HTML files and a single OPF file that
links all of them together.
2.2.2.2 Installing KindleGen
IMPORTANT: Follow these steps to run KindleGen. Double-clicking the KindleGen icon does not launch
this program.
KindleGen for Windows (XP, Vista, 7)
1. Download the KindleGen zip file from www.amazon.com/kindleformat/kindlegen
to the desktop.
2. Right-click the zip file, select Extract All, and enter the folder name as c:\Kindlegen.
3. Open a command prompt by selecting Start menu > All Programs > Accessories > Command
Prompt.
4. Type c:\KindleGen\kindlegen. Instructions on how to run KindleGen are displayed.
Conversion Example: To convert a file called book.html, use change directory (cd) to go to the
directory where the book is located, for example cd desktop, and type c:\KindleGen\kindlegen
book.html. If the conversion was successful, a new file called book.mobi displays on the desktop.
KindleGen for Linux 2.6 i386 or higher
1. Download the KindleGen tar.gz from www.amazon.com/kindleformat/kindlegen
to a location such
as the home (~) directory.
2. Extract it to ~/KindleGen.
3. Open a command prompt and type ~/KindleGen/kindlegen. Instructions on how to run
KindleGen are displayed.
Conversion Example: To convert a file called book.html, use change directory (cd) to go to the
directory where the book is located, for example, cd desktop, and type ~/KindleGen/kindlegen
book.html. If the conversion was successful, a new file called book.mobi displays on the desktop.
KindleGen for Mac OS 10.5 and above i386
1. Download KindleGen.zip from www.amazon.com/kindleformat/kindlegen
. By default, the file is
downloaded in the Downloads folder
2. Unzip the file. In Safari, the zip file is automatically unzipped after download. If this setting is
disabled or if another browser was used, double-click the downloaded file to unzip it.
3. Click the spotlight icon in the top right corner and type Terminal. Click the application to open it.
4. To view the instructions on how to run KindleGen, locate the kindlegen program in the Finder
window. Click and drag it to Terminal window where the cursor is. The cursor writes in the path
and moves to the end of the line. Press Enter to view the instructions.
Kindle Publishing Guidelines Amazon.com 8