Reply To: Fixed Layout Epub – passed verification but REJECTED

Hi Steve, epub

My guess is Smashwords algorithm doesn’t work with fixed-layout. I don’t use Smashwords anymore because it does not recognize more complex layouts. My suggestion is to download a free program called Epub Checker: https://www.pagina-online.de/produkte/epub-checker and a program called Epub Pack:https://sourceforge.net/projects/epubpack/. Here is what I do:

1. I rename my ePub file from whatevername.epub tp whatevername.html
.
2. I run epubpack. Click on the button next to the upper field called mimetype. It will open a search. find whatever.html open it and it will have the mimetype file. Click on it and it will fill in the mimetype field then click on the bottom button. It will take you to another screen so save the file as whatevername2; it will save as an epub again. You have to do this process so the mumetype file comes first in the list of the epub parts. That is a requirement.

3. The next step is to open the epubchecher/
cker. Drag whatevername.epub on the the open eubchecker and run it. It will give you any errors if you have them. Correct the errors in a html editor like Sigl. Do this until epubcheck validates the whole thing.

4. Then try to upload it to Smashwords:

“The Smashwords Direct feature allows you to upload your own professionally designed .epub file to Smashwords. You can use Smashwords Direct to replace a Smashwords-generated .epub with your own EPUB file, or you can use it when uploading a new title (simply upload the EPUB rather than an MS Word DOC file). We support direct upload of both EPUB2 and EPUB3 files.
I usually post my ePub fixed-layout directly to iTunes, but I have a Mac. The only way to do this is by using iTunes Producer. I free program available for the Mac only.

Hope this all helps.

Janis Friesler