6.4: [Example] Proposed Formatting Workflow

Formatting Workflow in Pressbooks

• Create Pressbooks shell, and select a theme to use in the book (some themes, like Malala, are explicitly designed for textbooks).
• Prepare a formatting guide or set up a chapter template (with all elements formatted) in Pressbooks. You could also use the first chapter as an example. Include instructions on:
  • nesting of headings
  • alternative text for images
  • sensible link text
  • media attributions
  • glossary items
  • interactive elements
  • tables
  • lists
  • textboxes (learning outcomes, student tips)
  • footnotes
  • references
• Transfer a chapter into Pressbooks, using the docx Import tool or by copying and pasting from your draft document.
• Clean up content in the Text Editor (removing any <span> or <div> tags that might interfere with the default formatting from the theme).
• Check if anything has been lost in the transfer (links, heading hierarchy, lists, images, multimedia, etc.).
• Format the content as outlined in the formatting guide. Save your changes.
• Preview the content in web, PDF, EPUB. Make changes until the content looks satisfactory in each of these formats.
• If necessary, adjust the Theme Options on the book.
• Repeat 3-7 for the remaining chapters in the book (bulk import if necessary).
• Then add frontmatter and backmatter elements, and repeat 5-7.
  • Frontmatter:
    • Acknowledgements
    • Dedication
    • Introduction
    • How to use the book (for students or instructors)
    • What is an open textbook
    • Praise for the book
  • Backmatter:
    • References
    • Glossary
    • Ancillaries (slides, answers to exercises/quizzes)
    • Review statement
    • Version History (including the publication date and version number of the first edition)
    • Licensing and Attribution information
    • Accessibility Assessment
    • About the Contributors
    • Feedback and Suggestions
    • Adoption Form
• Enter the metadata in the Book Information. At minimum, input the:
  • Title
  • Short and long description
  • Subject
  • License
  • Team
  • Cover
  • Rebus project homepage link (so others can contact you or the team)
• At this stage, you may want to proofread the book or conduct accessibility review or classroom review. Do what’s required and make necessary revisions to your content.
• Export files in web, editable, and offline formats, and conduct final checks for every format.
• Adjust the settings to allow these formats to be downloaded from the book homepage.
• Set up print-on-demand, if possible. Include a link to purchase a print copy in the book homepage.
• Notify the team and send them a link to view the book.
• Update Rebus project homepage with a link to the book.
• Execute your marketing plan to release the book.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Find an editable version of this template here.