[projectaon] Book distribution suggestion: Compiled HTML

  • From: pamail.cgi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • To: projectaon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 07:24:57 -0700 (PDT)

The following was sent from the Project Aon contact form
   From: Ben Tilbury bentilbury2002@xxxxxxxxxxx
   Date: 14:24:57 on Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Subject: Book distribution suggestion: Compiled HTML
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Hi!

I've been a fan of the Lone Wolf books for many years and I have a (hopefully 
helpful) suggestion for you. I don't know if this has already been considered, 
but would you be interested in distributing the books in a compiled HTML format 
- i.e. as a single file?
 
I can take the source files for a gamebook and quickly compile them into a 
single .CHM format file. The CHM format is the file format for Windows Help 
files - i.e. what you usually get when you select Help from the menu bar of 
Windows software.  It doesn't take long - I just tried it with The Caverns of 
Kalte and it took about 40 minutes. The file size is about 1.5mb.

Advantages:
Can distribute using a single file instead of hundreds of individual files
As far as HTML style and tagging issues as concerned, the browser a reader 
might use to view a book is irrelevant - the compiled file opens in its own 
window and doesn't use a browser
Compiled HTML files cannot be edited without access to the source files and the 
right software (though this is freely available from Microsoft)
Anyone running Windows can view a CHM file without having to install anything
Can optionally include a facility to search the entire book for any word or 
phrase and return a linked list of topics that include it 

Disadvantages:
Only runs on Windows 

Of course I'm offering this free of charge! I'm a great fan of your project and 
would like to help. If you're interested, I can send you the example file I've 
compiled if you give me an e-mail address.

Yours,
Ben.

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