Open-source ebook editor for PC
Sigil is a free reference program for PC developed by Strahinja Markovic. It is an open-source ebook creator and editor using the ePub(ePub 2 and ePub3) file format. It supports text, image, and video inputs, and can also be used to manipulate HTML and XML code.
Similar to Calibre, Sigil features cross-compatibility across all major desktop platforms. It also boasts of a simple fairly intuitive user interface and a wide array of editing tools, as well as various options that help users with putting together and publishing their work in eBook format.
Is it any good?
Amazon's Kindle Reader was a revolutionary device that helped usher in the age of digital books and paperless literature. It's no surprise then that authors and independent publishers have adopted the format in their work. There are plenty of solutions available in the market today. If you're just starting out, though, something free and simple would be better, and this is where Sigil comes into play.
This program is great if you're new to eBooks. It handles plain text, as well as images and videos in your writing. What's more, you can manipulate HTML and XML code to help you modify the appearance and presentation of your book. It has plenty of handy editing tools, such as a built-in spell checker, style sheet handling, and an index editor for creating complex indexes.
One nice feature is that when you're finished with your manuscript, a Table of Contents will automatically be generated for you. Now, while the program can be used for creating and editing an eBook, it doesn't have as many advanced writing tools and features as there are editing ones. Thus, it would be best suited more for editing existing work rather than creating a new one from scratch.
A solid eBook editor
In conclusion, Sigil is a great option to consider if you're looking for a simple and free eBook editor to help you with your work. It's easy to use, offers plenty of editing tools, and the Table of Contents generator is incredibly handy. While it's not as robust when it comes to the writing aspect, it's still quite nice overall.
User reviews about Sigil
by Lars Bo
Simple and just works for me. I have never hd any serious issues with it, and compared to other free alternatives, Sigil is very good.
by Anonymous
Wonderful experience..
Love it! It works great for books, anthologies. I like the way it automatically handles HTML and formatting.
Pros: organization of files
auto-generating EPUB content
Cons:
better handling of multiple windows
export to Word Doc(x) More
by Anonymous
BEWARE: Sigil can completely mess up your files without warning!.
I tried Sigil, it would be great only for one drawback, which for me, rules it out completely. I found that it if it doesn't like the html code you put in, it decides to change it without warning or giving you any options. This has caused me major problems as I only discovered this after I had already done a lot of work on a file which unbeknownst to me Sigil had already made major detrimental changes.
Cons:
Messes up your files without warning More
by Anonymous
Brilliant App well done team :).
Brilliant as always, a fantastic app, making electronic life so much easier, well done!!!Angie
by Anonymous
Love this! .
Have been using InDesign to export epubs. There are always a few problems, particularly lack of chapter breaks. Sigil is an easy-to-use platform that allows me to polish the files very quickly. Highly recommended. More