Manifest.txt file

The manifest lists meta information. It exists to make it easy for book reader software or online stores to extract important information about the book.

How it works

The manifest uses name/value pairs, like this: name=value.

It is simple, and none of the items are compulsory. Just use the ones you need in any order.

It is saved as Manifest.txt and included with the rest of the files in the UBook folder.

Name/value pairs

Most of the elements are self explanatory, but here is a full list.

Title

The exact title of the book.

Subtitle

The subtitle of the book.

Author

The name of the author or authors. Can be added more than once.

Editor

To note the name of the editor of the book. Can be added more than once.

Serieseditor

If the book is part of a series with a chief editor, note the name here.

Compiler

Relatively vague concept. Could be a researcher or someone else who helped compile the book. For example, people who voluntarily compile books for Project Gutenberg can have their names recorded here. Can be added more than once.

Wordcount

Electronic books don’t use page counts. So it is handy to add the word count here. Round up or down to the nearest thousand.

Publisher

The name of the publisher.

ISBN

The ISBN number if there is one.

Pubdate

Date of publication. Uses the international standard format i.e. YYYY-MM-DD.

Firstpubdate

Date of first publication. For use with new editions of books that were previously published. Uses the international standard format i.e. YYYY-MM-DD.

Editionpubdate

Date of publication for this edition, distinct from the first edition publishing date. Uses the international standard format i.e. YYYY-MM-DD.

Edition

A note about the edition of the book, if relevant.

Copyright

Any copyright text.

Language

Identifies the language using the standard two-letter codes e.g. EN for English; DE for German etc.

Also supports territories e.g. EN-US for American English; EN-GB, for British etc.

Cover

Names the cover and points to its location. The default is to assume it is in the root folder along with the other files, like this:

It can be placed in another folder if you like.

Show me the money

Here is a sample manifest file from a very exciting book.

See also

• Book
• Description
• Extract
• Cover