How to Edit Your Book's Metadata
Your book’s metadata is its title, authors, language, description and cover. Stores and e-readers read it to list your book, and Lacuna uses it on your Title Page and in your running heads.
How to open your book’s metadata
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Click your book’s title at the top of the sidebar.
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Choose a tab: Author & Title, Book Details or Cover Image.
You can also click Edit on your Title Page.
There’s no Save button: a change saves when you leave the field or pick from a list. To take one back, choose Edit › Undo, or press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+Z⌘ Cmd+⇧ Shift+ZCtrl+Shift+Z.
How to add your book’s cover
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Open Cover Image.
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Drag your image onto Upload Cover Image, or click it to choose a file. To use an image already in your book, click Browse Existing Images.
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Describe your cover under Accessibility, for readers who use a screen reader.
Your cover is the first page of your e-book. Your e-book needs one before it will generate.
To change your cover, click Remove Cover, then add the new one.
How to set your language, description and categories
The Book Details tab.
| Field | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Language | Your hyphenation, spellcheck and your e-book's language (below). |
| eBook ISBN | Your e-book's metadata only. To show an ISBN in your book, type it on your Copyright page. |
| Description | Your e-book's description, so stores and e-readers describe your book correctly. Up to 2,000 characters. |
| Categories | Your e-book's subjects, so stores and e-readers file your book correctly. Press Enter after each one. |
What your book’s language changes
| Language sets | What happens |
|---|---|
| Hyphenation | Your print-ready PDF breaks words by your language's rules. English (U.S.) and English (GB) break words differently. See justification and hyphenation. |
| Your e-book's language | Stores read it, and e-readers hyphenate your e-book by it. |
| Spellcheck | The editor checks your spelling in this language. |
| Spelled-out chapter numbers | "One" and "Forty-Two" are written in your language. |
Words you teach the Hyphenation Dictionary apply by language too: a word you fix for English (U.S.) applies to every book in English (U.S.).
English (U.S.) is the default. You can also choose English (GB), English (Canada), Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, German, Italian, Turkish, Polish, Dutch, Swedish or Danish.
How to set your title and author, and add contributors
The Author & Title tab.
| Field | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Book Title, Subtitle | Your Title Page, your e-book's title and the Book Title in your running heads. The title is required. |
| Primary Author | Your Title Page, your e-book's author and the Author Name in your running heads. The first name is required. |
| Contributors | Up to five more people (an editor, an illustrator, a translator), each with a role. |
| Series Name, Book Prefix, Book Number | Your series, shown on your Title Page ("Book 2") and in your e-book's metadata. |
To add a contributor, click Add Contributor and type their name. Each one has a Role you can change, so stores and e-readers know who did what. Your Title Page lists their names after yours.
Questions
Where do I edit my book’s details?
Click your book’s title at the top of the sidebar.
How do I make a cover page?
Add your cover image on the Cover Image tab: it becomes the first page of your e-book. The page inside your book with its title and author is your Title Page.
Can Lacuna design my cover?
No. Lacuna formats the inside of your book. Make your cover in a design tool, then add it as an image.
Does Lacuna make a back cover?
No. Your print-ready PDF is the inside of your book. The printed cover (front, spine and back) is a separate file you make for your printer.
What are e-book categories for?
They go into your e-book’s metadata as subjects, so stores and e-readers file your book correctly. Type any you like and press Enter after each.