eBooks technical help

New to eBooks? Start here

eBooks [EPUB and Kindle format] are electronic versions of the printed format. Unlike a PDF, eBooks do not have a fixed layout meaning that they can reflow to size of your screen and therefore optimizing your reading experience no matter what eReading device you have. 

When do I receive my Fast Facts digital title? [PDF / eBook / Kindle]

Once payment has been made your title is available to download immediately. Simply login to your account and choose 'Your Downloads' from the menu options. All the digital titles that you have purchased will be available to download, simply select title you wish to download and the download will begin immediately.

 eBook - EPUB - technical help

What devices are compatible with Fast Facts eBooks (EPUB)?

Most eBook–reading devices support the EPUB format. For a comprehensive list, visit http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalpublishing/supported-devices or check your manufacturer's guidelines to see if this applies to your device.

Will my computer support EPUB eBooks?

To read EPUB eBooks on your computer, you will need software that supports EPUB format, such as Adobe Digital Editions.

How do I install Adobe Digital Editions on Windows PC?

1. Go to www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/
2. Click the 'Install' button at the bottom of the page
3. Click 'Yes' in the 'Adobe Digital Editions Installer' screen
4. Click 'Next' in the 'Set up' screen
5. Click 'Install'
6. Adobe Digital Editions will open when the installation is complete

How do I install Adobe Digital Editions on an Apple Mac?

1. Go to www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/
2. Click the 'Install' button at the bottom of the page
3. Click 'Install' again
4. Click 'Continue' in the 'Install Adobe Digital Editions' window
5. Select the disk where you want to install Adobe Digital Editions and click 'Continue'
6. Click 'Install'
7. Adobe Digital Editions will open when the installation is complete

How do I add eBooks to Adobe Digital Editions?

1. Open Adobe Digital Editions
2. In the 'Library' view, click 'Library > Add Item to Library'
3. Select the eBook file on your computer and click 'Open' or 'Add'

How do I transfer an eBook to my eReader using Adobe Digital Editions?

To transfer an EPUB eBook to your eReader using Adobe Digital Editions, you will need to:

1. Connect your eReader to your computer
2. Open Adobe Digital Editions
3. In 'Library' view, an icon representing your eReader is displayed under 'Bookshelves'
4. Using your mouse, click on the eBook and drag it to your eReader icon before releasing
5. Disconnect the eReader from your computer

Adobe Digital Editions does not show my eReader. What should I do?

Make sure that Adobe Digital Editions is closed before connecting your eReader to your computer. Once you've done this, open Adobe Digital Editions and your eReader icon should be visible in 'Library' view, under 'Bookshelves'.

Please note, if you open Adobe Digital Editions before connecting your eReader, Adobe Digital Editions may not recognise your eReader, so be sure to connect your device first.

Will my mobile phone support EPUB eBooks?

EPUB eBooks can be downloaded to mobile phones which have EPUB eBook applications installed. Please check with your device manufacturer to see if these are available.

Transferring EPUB eBooks to Apple iPad/iPhone/iPod

1. Download your eBook and save it to your computer
2. Open iTunes
3. Drag the eBook file to the iTunes Library
4. Connect your Apple iPad, iPhone, or iPod to your computer
5. If your device is set up to automatically sync your library, the eBook will be transferred. If you manually manage book files, then drag the eBook files from the library to your device

 Kindle eBooks - technical help

Transferring your Kindle eBook using your Kindle Keyboard 

Connecting your Kindle Keyboard to your computer

1. Plug the larger end of a USB cable into an available USB port or a powered USB hub connected to your computer.
2. Connect the other end of the USB cable to the micro-USB port on the bottom of your Kindle device.

When connected to your computer, your Kindle Keyboard will go into USB drive mode and its battery will be recharged by the computer. Your wireless service is temporarily shut off and you will not receive any of your subscriptions while in this mode. Also, your Kindle device is not usable as a reading device while you are in USB drive mode, but will return right to where you were once you safely eject the Kindle device from your computer.

Transferring content to your Kindle Keyboard

1. Once you've connected your Kindle to a computer using a USB cable, your Kindle will appear in the same location as external USB drives usually appear. For Windows users, this is typically in the "Computer" or "My Computer" menu. For Mac users, the drive will appear on the desktop.
2. Open the Kindle drive. You will see several folders inside, one of which will be named "documents." This is the folder you will move the downloaded file into.
3. Locate the downloaded file and copy it into the documents folder. You can generally copy files by clicking and dragging the file to the folder.
4. Safely eject your Kindle device from your computer and unplug the USB cable. Your content will appear on the Home screen.

More information can be found on Amazon, 'Transferring, Downloading, and Sending Files to Kindle Keyboard'.

Read Kindle eBooks on your Mac or PC

You can read your Kindle eBooks on your computer by installing either Kindle for Mac or Kindle for PC. See below for instructions for installing these apps.

To install Kindle for Mac:

1. Visit http://www.amazon.com/kindleformac.
2. Click the Download Now button.
3. Follow the on-screen installation instructions after download completes.

To install Kindle for PC:

1. Visit http://www.amazon.com/kindleforpc.
2. Click the Download Now button.
3. Follow the on-screen installation instructions after download completes.

Other frequently asked questions and useful tips

Do I have to be connected to the internet to view/read my eBook?

An Internet connection is only required when downloading the eBook for the first time. Once the eBook is downloaded and saved, you do not need an Internet connection to start using your eBook.

Can I share or forward my Fast Facts eBooks?

No. Sharing or forwarding Fast Facts eBooks is prohibited, please refer to the Digital Title Purchase Agreement in our Terms & Conditions for more information.

Reading tables on your eReader

Tables can sometimes appear difficult to read on an eReader, especially when the screen size is quite small. We recommend that when viewing tables with more than two columns that you change the orientation of your reading to landscape and where necessary reduce the font size slightly. This should provide enough extra room for the table to display correctly. To produce the best reading experience possible we have tried to edit the way that we present our data so that we don't produce tables more than three columns wide.

Table of contents and cross-references

All our eBooks have a hyperlinked table of contents that is broken down by chapter heading > sub heading. All cross-references made in the text as well as websites are also hyperlinked. 

What if I accidently delete my eBook from my device?

All your digital titles are stored in your fastfacts.com account. To view the list of your digital titles simply login into your account and select 'Your Downloads'. Locate the title that you require and download it again using the link provided.

Has your question not been answered?

If your question has not been answered above then please email us with your query at feedback@fastfacts.com and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.