Markdown to EPUB Converter Skill
This skill transforms markdown documents into professional EPUB ebook files. Perfect for converting research documents, blog posts, articles, or chat conversation summaries into portable, device-agnostic ebook formats.
Overview
The skill accepts markdown content in multiple formats and generates a properly formatted EPUB3 file that works across all major ebook readers including:
- Apple Books
- Amazon Kindle (via Kindle for Mac/Windows/iOS/Android)
- Google Play Books
- Kobo and other EPUB readers
- Any standard EPUB reader
Input Formats
Option 1: Raw Markdown Text
Provide markdown content directly in your message:
Convert this markdown to EPUB:
# My Book Title
## Chapter 1
This is chapter one content...
Option 2: File Path
Provide a path to a markdown file to be converted.
How It Works
-
Markdown Parsing: Analyzes your markdown and automatically:
- Treats H1 headers (
#) as chapter boundaries
- Treats H2 headers (
##) as section headings within chapters
- Preserves formatting (bold, italic, links, lists, code blocks)
-
Structure Generation: Creates proper EPUB structure:
- Automatic table of contents from chapters
- Navigation document (EPUB3 standard)
- Metadata (title, language, etc.)
-
File Creation: Generates a valid EPUB3 file ready for download and use
Usage Examples
Example 1: Convert a Blog Post
"Convert this markdown blog post to EPUB:
How to Build a Simple Web Server
Introduction
...content..."
Example 2: Convert a Research Summary
"I have research notes in markdown format. Convert them to an EPUB ebook. The content is:
Research Project: Machine Learning Basics
Chapter 1: Fundamentals
..."
Example 3: Convert a Chat Summary
"Summarize our conversation so far as markdown and convert it to an EPUB for reference"
Output
The skill generates a downloadable EPUB file that includes:
- Professional formatting
- Automatic table of contents
- Proper chapter structure
- Support for markdown formatting elements:
- Headers (all levels)
- Bold and italic text
- Hyperlinks
- Lists (ordered and unordered)
- Code blocks and inline code
- Blockquotes
- Horizontal rules
Markdown Elements Supported
| Element |
Markdown |
Support |
Notes |
| Headers |
# H1 through ###### H6 |
Full |
Auto TOC generation |
| Bold |
**text** or __text__ |
Full |
|
| Italic |
*text* or _text_ |
Full |
|
| Links |
[text](url) |
Full |
Clickable in ebooks |
| Lists |
- item or 1. item |
Full |
Nested lists supported |
| Code blocks |
```language |
Enhanced |
Syntax highlighting ready, monospace fonts |
| Inline code |
code |
Enhanced |
Styled background, borders |
| Tables |
Markdown tables |
Enhanced |
Styled headers, alternating rows |
| Blockquotes |
> quote |
Full |
Styled with left border |
| Horizontal rule |
--- or *** |
Full |
|
Advanced Features
Enhanced Code Block Support
Code blocks are beautifully formatted with:
- Premium monospace fonts: SF Mono, Monaco, Fira Code, Consolas, and more
- Styled backgrounds: Subtle gray background with blue accent border
- Language detection: Specify language after
``` for future syntax highlighting
- Proper escaping: HTML characters are safely escaped
- Overflow handling: Horizontal scrolling for long lines
Example:
def fibonacci(n):
if n <= 1:
return n
return fibonacci(n-1) + fibonacci(n-2)
Enhanced Table Support
Tables are rendered with professional styling:
- Styled headers: Blue background with white text
- Alternating rows: Zebra striping for readability
- Cell padding: Comfortable spacing for easy reading
- Inline formatting: Code, bold, italic, and links work in cells
- Responsive: Tables adapt to different screen sizes
Example:
| Feature |
Status |
Notes |
| Headers |
✓ |
Full support |
| Code |
✓ |
Enhanced styling |
| Tables |
✓ |
Professional layout |
Custom Title and Metadata
You can specify EPUB metadata:
- Book title (defaults to first H1 header)
- Author name
- Language
- Publication date
Chapter Organization
Chapters are automatically detected from:
- H1 headers (
#) as primary chapter breaks
- Logical content sections between H1s
- Automatic page breaks between chapters
Styling
The generated EPUB uses clean, readable default styling that:
- Respects the reader's font preferences
- Works on all screen sizes
- Maintains proper spacing and hierarchy
- Includes appropriate margins and padding
Technical Details
- Format: EPUB3 (compatible with all modern readers)
- Encoding: UTF-8
- HTML Version: XHTML 1.1
- CSS Support: Responsive styling
Downloading Your EPUB
After generation, the file will be available for download. You can then:
- Download the EPUB to your computer
- Open it with your preferred ebook reader
- Transfer to your Kindle, iPad, or other device
- Upload directly to Kindle via email or cloud
Tips for Best Results
-
Use Proper Markdown Structure: The skill works best when markdown follows standard conventions (H1 for titles, H2 for sections)
-
Clear Chapter Breaks: Use H1 headers to clearly mark chapter divisions
-
Descriptive Headers: Headers become the table of contents, so make them clear and descriptive
-
Content Organization: Place content logically between headers
-
Supported Formatting: Stick to basic markdown formatting for best compatibility across all readers
Troubleshooting
EPUB doesn't open: Ensure your markdown is properly formatted. Check for matching brackets in links and proper syntax.
Table of contents is empty: Make sure your markdown includes H1 headers to define chapters.
Formatting looks different: EPUB readers apply their own fonts and styling. This is normal and expected behavior.
Scripts
epub_generator.py - Core EPUB file creation and formattingmarkdown_processor.py - Markdown parsing and structure extraction
Future Enhancements
- Auto-generated cover pages with custom images
- Kindle-specific optimizations (.mobi format)
- Custom CSS styling per user preferences
- Multi-document merging
- Image embedding and optimization
- Advanced metadata support
