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Post by johnnycanuck on Jun 19, 2020 21:25:32 GMT
So, earlier today I decided to try an experiment. I've been really frustrated (as have many people) with trying to revise existing projects using the 'new' Lulu website. Basically, its broken to the point of being useless (F- grade).
Then, it occured to me -- dev types often focus on everything starting fresh, and I suspected that creating a new Lulu project from scratch would work better (since that might have been what their web dev types were concentrating on).
How right I was. I created the PDF for one of my books, and started the process of building a new 'test publication', from scratch, using the new website.
And...it all worked. Quite smoothly. Now, before I give Lulu too much credit, part of why this might have been smooth (and apparently successful -- I'll follow up once I receive a test printing to see how well it turn out on the production side of things) might be due to the files I used. My book is written using a mathematical typesetting language (LaTeX), which generates 'pure' PDF files (for the interested, I compile .dvi -> .ps -> .pdf). All the fonts are embedded. Even most of the figures in the book are generated directly in PostScript. So, a pure, clean, standard compliant PDF file. And, much the same thing for the cover. I didn't use any of the capabilities on the Lulu site to generate it in situ. I simply uploaded the PDF for the cover (once I'd set the dimensions correctly).
Upload went fine, and presto chango, all of the various things that were missing, or not working, when trying to revise an existing project showed up, and worked as they should.
How about that, eh?
Based on my sample of one (as a math + stats guy, I don't make much of a sample of one...), it might indicate that the path forward for those folks with only a few books is to simply, recreate all of them as new projects. If you have the source PDF files for the book, and perhaps the cover, the whole process might take all of 5-10 minutes per book.
At any rate, grist for the mill...
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Post by AD on Jun 20, 2020 2:52:29 GMT
I'm trying a similar experiment. I downloaded the cover pdf from one of my existing books, and then created a new book using the text pdf and cover pdf from the old book, and everything looked fine in the preview, so I ordered a copy. Now I just need to wait and see if the printed book comes out looking like the preview.
If this works, my next experiment will be to try revising my Test book by uploading a new text pdf but leaving the cover pdf unchanged. If that works, then I might get brave enough to try revising one of my existing books in global distribution.
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Post by johnnycanuck on Jun 20, 2020 11:59:36 GMT
Hope it works....for both of us (and then, potentially everyone else).
Not to say there still aren't a whole slew of things Lulu needs to fix, but at least this is one (small) positive step forward.
Today's experiment for me will be much as yours was -- can I now revise the 'Test book' I built de novo yesterday? If so, then Bob's your uncle, and a big step forward. If not, then still a major problem -- being, I wouldn't want to have to create a new book project for the same book after each minor revision.
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Post by johnnycanuck on Jun 20, 2020 19:49:28 GMT
Today's experiment for me will be much as yours was -- can I now revise the 'Test book' I built de novo yesterday? If so, then Bob's your uncle, and a big step forward. If not, then still a major problem -- being, I wouldn't want to have to create a new book project for the same book after each minor revision. Doing an in place revsion of the 'test book' -- simply uploading a revised PDF of the main text -- worked perfectly. So, so far, so good. Waiting to see what the printed product actually looks like. |
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Post by propertiuspress on Jun 22, 2020 2:36:58 GMT
I am an Indie publisher and have too many books to do this. This happened in the middle of my busiest season. It may ruin my business if it isn't fixed. We have hundreds of hours invested in our books. If I have to start over, there's no reason to even use Lulu. I may as well go to another company and start over there.
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Post by johnnycanuck on Jun 22, 2020 15:04:05 GMT
THat's tough, although with the appropriate source files, the whole process takes 5-6 minutes per book (at least based on the half-dozen tests I've done), which perhaps isn't too odious.
In my looking at alternatives, Bookbaby ticked all the boxes, except...they have limits on binding options that made it a non-strter for me. If all of my projects were perfect or stitched binding, Boobkbaby might be my first option.
Guess the question is - cost of time rebuilding from scratch, versus moving to a new company, which would amount to the same thing in the end (since everything would be 'from scratch' with any Lulu alternative).
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Post by benziger on Jun 23, 2020 5:50:58 GMT
I am an Indie publisher and have too many books to do this. This happened in the middle of my busiest season. It may ruin my business if it isn't fixed. We have hundreds of hours invested in our books. If I have to start over, there's no reason to even use Lulu. I may as well go to another company and start over there. MAybe it's helpfull for you too?
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Post by johnnycanuck on Jun 30, 2020 21:56:14 GMT
Just received the book I 'built' from scratch. Absolutely identical to what I'd had printed for the test book before. Now, in my case, spiral bound, technical book - black and white line drawings. Pretty simple, so your results might vary if you're using hardcover and colour images.
So, based on my 6-8 different experiments, building (or, re-building) from scratch (as opposed to revising an existing project)...works. No crashes, fairly seamless process using the website, and the product (based on my sample of one) prints fine.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2020 22:15:24 GMT
Just received the book I 'built' from scratch. Absolutely identical to what I'd had printed for the test book before. Now, in my case, spiral bound, technical book - black and white line drawings. Pretty simple, so your results might vary if you're using hardcover and colour images. So, based on my 6-8 different experiments, building (or, re-building) from scratch (as opposed to revising an existing project)...works. No crashes, fairly seamless process using the website, and the product (based on my sample of one) prints fine. I built two from scratch and revised payee only for the rest. Seamless--after I knew where to look. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2020 22:17:55 GMT
I'm trying a similar experiment. I downloaded the cover pdf from one of my existing books, and then created a new book using the text pdf and cover pdf from the old book, and everything looked fine in the preview, so I ordered a copy. Now I just need to wait and see if the printed book comes out looking like the preview. If this works, my next experiment will be to try revising my Test book by uploading a new text pdf but leaving the cover pdf unchanged. If that works, then I might get brave enough to try revising one of my existing books in global distribution. Revising works. You just have to refill the price section and upload new files. |
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Post by AD on Jul 3, 2020 1:46:36 GMT
I'm trying a similar experiment. I downloaded the cover pdf from one of my existing books, and then created a new book using the text pdf and cover pdf from the old book, and everything looked fine in the preview, so I ordered a copy. Now I just need to wait and see if the printed book comes out looking like the preview. If this works, my next experiment will be to try revising my Test book by uploading a new text pdf but leaving the cover pdf unchanged. If that works, then I might get brave enough to try revising one of my existing books in global distribution. Revising works. You just have to refill the price section and upload new files. Thanks. My main question is whether the old cover pdf that I created using the old system will still work, or if a new (re-sized) one must be created. Some people here have said that if an old book is not revised, it will still print just fine, but if the interior text file is revised, the cover pdf will no longer work. If that's true, I'm stuck, unable to revise any books without messing up the cover. None of the four cover templates that are currently offered are acceptable, and I don't have the capability of creating a new (re-sized) pdf of my cover. I tried making a new "test" book using the old cover pdf, and it looks perfectly fine in preview, so I ordered a printed copy, but it still has not even shipped. So it will be awhile before I know if the old pdf covers will work. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2020 15:12:04 GMT
Revising works. You just have to refill the price section and upload new files. Thanks. My main question is whether the old cover pdf that I created using the old system will still work, or if a new (re-sized) one must be created. Some people here have said that if an old book is not revised, it will still print just fine, but if the interior text file is revised, the cover pdf will no longer work. If that's true, I'm stuck, unable to revise any books without messing up the cover. None of the four cover templates that are currently offered are acceptable, and I don't have the capability of creating a new (re-sized) pdf of my cover. I tried making a new "test" book using the old cover pdf, and it looks perfectly fine in preview, so I ordered a printed copy, but it still has not even shipped. So it will be awhile before I know if the old pdf covers will work. I'm wondering the same thing too. My instinct tells me it will print just fine if you don't revise. I suspect the printers have been instructed to print all previous books (millions of them) based on the old specifications. However, the only way to be 100% sure is to order one. My sister who just received a book I sent her didn't mention any white lines on the border, and she did mention whole bunch of other things, so I think she would have had they been there. But I will ask her just to be sure the next time I speak with her. I also sent one to my cousin yesterday. I hope there are no white lines. How embarrassing.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2020 19:13:33 GMT
Revising works. You just have to refill the price section and upload new files. Thanks. My main question is whether the old cover pdf that I created using the old system will still work, or if a new (re-sized) one must be created. Some people here have said that if an old book is not revised, it will still print just fine, but if the interior text file is revised, the cover pdf will no longer work. If that's true, I'm stuck, unable to revise any books without messing up the cover. None of the four cover templates that are currently offered are acceptable, and I don't have the capability of creating a new (re-sized) pdf of my cover. I tried making a new "test" book using the old cover pdf, and it looks perfectly fine in preview, so I ordered a printed copy, but it still has not even shipped. So it will be awhile before I know if the old pdf covers will work. AD. I just got the answer. If you don't touch them, the books are perfect. |
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Post by AD on Jul 4, 2020 21:18:21 GMT
Thanks. My main question is whether the old cover pdf that I created using the old system will still work, or if a new (re-sized) one must be created. Some people here have said that if an old book is not revised, it will still print just fine, but if the interior text file is revised, the cover pdf will no longer work. If that's true, I'm stuck, unable to revise any books without messing up the cover. None of the four cover templates that are currently offered are acceptable, and I don't have the capability of creating a new (re-sized) pdf of my cover. I tried making a new "test" book using the old cover pdf, and it looks perfectly fine in preview, so I ordered a printed copy, but it still has not even shipped. So it will be awhile before I know if the old pdf covers will work. AD. I just got the answer. If you don't touch them, the books are perfect. Thanks Maggie. I finally received the "untouched" book I ordered, and, as you said, it came out perfectly. I also received my "test book", created under the new system by simply uploading the text and cover pdf files from an old project, and it came out perfectly as well. I'm feeling brave enough now to try revising one of my old books by uploading a new text pdf (same number of pages) and using the old cover pdf. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2020 15:50:47 GMT
AD. I just got the answer. If you don't touch them, the books are perfect. Thanks Maggie. I finally received the "untouched" book I ordered, and, as you said, it came out perfectly. I also received my "test book", created under the new system by simply uploading the text and cover pdf files from an old project, and it came out perfectly as well. I'm feeling brave enough now to try revising one of my old books by uploading a new text pdf (same number of pages) and using the old cover pdf. Really? You uploaded an old PDF cover to a current project, without adjusting the size and it printed well? You were not asked to "reconfigure" (resize) according to their new specifications/template?
How is that possible or am I not understanding? Once I revise anything within the project save the payee, I had to upload a new cover. The interior was adjusted automatically.
Ok, let us know any new information you acquire. We are relearning from zero. I suspect your new project with old, unrevised files, will result in rejection. Anyway, I look forward to the knowledge. Thank you.
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