The eBook landscape can be confusing at times, so we've put together a handy guide to help make sure your e-reader is compatible with the Adobe ePub and Adobe PDF eBooks available to download from the JS Group website.

NB: If a book is available on the Kortext platform it will be shown with the Kortext logo on the product description page. If it does not have this logo the eBook will NOT be available to use within the Kortext platform but can be used with Adobe Digital editions as described below.

eBooks Terms & Conditions, Help, FAQs and Formats

eBooks Terms and Conditions

eBooks Help

eBooks FAQs

eBooks Formats

eBooks Terms and Conditions:

eBook titles purchased cannot normally be returned, printed, refunded, or exchanged because of copyright issues. If you experience technical difficulty in downloading or accessing a title, please contact our Customer Service team for assistance. NB: You will have to tick a box to ensure you realise that it is NOT a print book you are ordering (when adding to the basket and when checking out). Kortext titles may be refunded if the eBook has NOT been downloaded. Other eBook titles are non-refundable as mentioned above.

eBooks for certain publishers operating under the Agency model are not available for sale outside the UK, EEA and Switzerland.

eBooks sold on this site cannot be read on a Kindle as Amazon use a totally separate DRM (Rights restriction software).

Subscription to Kortext Premium+

• Your subscription is for a minimum of a year, from the date of the activation of your account. Notification to renew will be sent to the email used for your account.
• Activation of your account is confirmed once you have accessed an ebook
• A refund can only be approved if you have not accessed any ebooks on your account or not used any of the tools provided within it.
• If you do not renew your subscription to Kortext Premium+, your account will revert to a Kortext Essential level account. Please note that if you cancel your subscription you may lose uploaded files and access to any notes or work that you have created
• By registering for this subscription you are agreeing to the Kortext terms of business and the setting up of a Kortext account. Full terms and conditions are available here.

eBooks Help:

There are 3 steps to buying eBooks:
1. Install the software you need (Adobe Digital Editions, Mobile equivalent Google Play or iTunes), Kortext App - dependent on the eBook format selected
2. Buy and download an eBook from the JS Group Student Store
3. Transfer your eBook to your device - laptop, tablet, PC, eReader, smartphone

Step 1: Install the software you need:

Preparing your computer to store eBooks:

To read one of our thousands of eBooks on your eReader, you first need to install some software to your computer.

Installing Adobe Digital Editions:

From Google Play (for Android devices): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.digitaleditions&hl=en_GB

From iTunes (for Apple iOS devices): https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/adobe-digital-editions/id952977781?mt=8

From Adobe (for Windows or Mac PCs & Laptops: http://www.adobe.com/uk/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html

Compatible devices: http://blogs.adobe.com/aemmobile/supported-devices

Without the installation of this software you will not be able to download any eBooks to your computer.

1. Install Adobe Digital Editions. Using one of the links above or on the Adobe Digital Editions website.
2. Activate Digital Editions when prompted - you'll need to be online
3. You'll need your Adobe ID for this step. Register with Adobe if you haven't already
4. Authorise your computer to protect your digital content. You can authorise up to 6 computers with the same Adobe ID
5. Accept the user agreement

IMPORTANT: you can transfer eBooks on to up to 5 (authorised) machines, provided Adobe Digital Editions is authorised before the eBooks are downloaded. Failure to do so will prevent the eBook transfer to the authorised devices.

Your eBooks are protected if your computer should fail as the license is registered with your Adobe Digital Editions account.

Step 2: Buy and download an eBook from the JS Group Student Store:

1. Browse eBooks or locate using the search facility
2. Buy online and we'll send you an order confirmation email
3. For Kortext eBooks you will receive a further email containing your account and login details to access your eBook via the Kortext website.
4. For other downloadable eBooks you will need to visit Your Orders section of the site to retrieve your link. This link saves a license file (.ascm) to your device - it is NOT the actual eBook file.
5. Laptops/PCs: Your eBook will be saved on your computer in: My documents/ My Digital Editions
6. If you're asked to open or save the eBook, choose open. If you chose save, click the icon 'ebx' to open your eBook.
7. You have 3 attempts to download your eBook - if you need any more attempts or further help, please email us with details of the problem.

Step 3: Transfer your eBook to your other devices.

1. Connect your eReader / tablet to your computer with the USB cable - the following message will appear:A mobile device has been detected. To transfer protected items between your Digital Editions library and this device, both the device and the computer must be authorized with the same Adobe ID. To authorize this device with your Adobe ID (Your ID will be listed here), click Authorize Device.
2. Click on Authorize Device and the following message will appear: Your device has been successfully authorized Click on Finished.
3. If it's not, check the USB cable is connected properly and the Reader is turned on.
4. Left click the title of the eBook you want to transfer and drag it into your eBook Library and drop it onto the eReader symbol.
5. Your eReader will see that an eBook has been added to the library and automatically transfer it.

Step 3a (Optional): Transfer your eBook to your NOOK Tablet

1. Connect your NOOK to your computer with the USB cable.
2. Your Tablet will appear on your computer as an external hard drive.
3. Locate your directory called 'My Digital Editions' on your PC where your eBooks are stored
4. Ensure your Nook HD Tablet is switched on and drag the eBooks (ending in ePub) over to the external hard drive
5. Your eBooks should then be visible on your HD Tablet.

eBooks FAQs:

Q. How do I receive the book from you - do you send me a link?
When a Kortext eBook is ordered online, once it is paid for and authorised, your account setup details, temporary password and a link to Kortext site is sent by email. Other eBooks are accessed via a link provided on the 'Your Orders' part of the website.

Q. Can I get a refund for an eBook purchased in error?
Kortext eBooks can be refunded if the content has not been accessed - but only in the case of a change of module or course as agreed with your university. Proof of this may be required.
Other eBooks are firm sale, and as such non-refundable. Our eBook supplier advises that once an eBook link is generated they are charged by the publisher for the eBook regardless of whether it is ever downloaded or not, therefore I am sorry to advise we cannot provide a refund for eBooks purchased.

Q. Can I copy or forward an eBook to another computer?
You can transfer eBooks onto up to 5 machines authorised to the same Adobe Digital Editions user account.

Q. Can I print off copies from an eBook download?
Due to DRM (Digital rights management ) the option to print is limited and the owner of the eBook may be able to print several pages but will be unable to print a full hard copy of an eBook you have purchased online - this is due to restrictions placed by individual publishers. eBooks are generally designed to be read on your PC or eReader only - the download limits and the restrictions applied within each books' DRM are set by the publisher concerned. Although up to 5 PCs can have the same eBook downloaded, printing rights can vary so that not all of them can print. The printable quantity is controlled by ADE.

Q. What is DRM?
DRM stands for "Digital Rights Management". These are controls/limitations/restrictions that a publisher has placed against a particular title. In theory these controls could be used to limit the number of times an eBook can be read, how many pages can be printed, and what devices and/or software systems are able to read it etc etc.. In reality, most publishers have chosen a fairly loose set of controls that amongst other things restrict the number of times that the eBook can be downloaded and a limitation on how much of the book can be printed off. The download limits, and for that matter the restrictions applied within each books' DRM is set by the publisher concerned.

Q. What is an ACSM File?
This is the shortcut link to the download. It is created when the user has not downloaded and installed Adobe Digital Editions. When he/she has downloaded and installed ADE, it will automatically then pick up the pdf file to which he refers and place them in his "library". NB: DO NOT click on the link before you have created your Adobe account and authorised your machine as it cannot be downloaded to a temporary, anonymous account and then transferred to an authorised account.

Q. Can eBooks in PDF format be read by a normal PDF reader?
The eBooks supplied in pdf cannot be read by a normal pdf viewer. They are DRM'd and require Adobe Digital Editions or a compatible mobile device (or it's accompanying library software) to view them.

Q. What devices are our eBooks compatible with?
Our ePub eBooks are compatible with most tablets and smartphones, Sony Ereader, Kobo, Samsung E60 etc. but not the Kindle.

Q. Can I download an eBook to my iPad or iPhone?
Yes, you can use the proprietary software referred to above on the iTunes store.

Q. Can I download an eBook to my Kindle?
Due to the Adobe DRM you will not be able to put this file on your Kindle which uses Amazon's proprietary software.

Q. What happens if I am unable to download my eBook?
Please ensure you have the current version of Adobe Digital Editions installed. Please email customer services with the order details and any error messages generated, also at what stage of the download the message is appearing. Your query will then be passed on to our technical team and a response advised in due course.

Q. What happens if my firewall is preventing the download from taking place?
It may be that your machine is preventing the download from completing - sometimes this is caused by the firewall on your computer. If the computer belongs to a school/college or a business, would you please ask your IT to create an exception within the firewall for port 8080 and then attempt to download.

Q. How do I log a support case with Adobe?
If you need further assistance from Adobe Digital Editions, you will need to contact Adobe direct and log a support case. To do this you will need to visit: the Adobe website and click 'Submit a web case'.

eBooks Formats:

ePub format

ePub is the most widely used eBook format thanks to its compatibility with a wide range of devices including handheld e-readers and desktop computers. Where some other formats have 'fixed' text, the text in ePub books is reflowable, meaning it will optimize depending on the size of the display. While ePub is an 'open format' (not restricted to a single type of device), the ePub books available from JS Group use the Adobe DRM system, which means there are restrictions on how many times the book can be downloaded and on how many different devices it can be shared with. You can find more information about this in our FAQs

Adobe PDF format:

Adobe PDF is another of the most widely used eBook formats. Just like ePub books, PDF eBooks can be read on a wide range of devices and just like ePub books from JS Group, they also use the Adobe DRM system. Where they differ is in the formatting of text - many older PDF files are not 'reflowable' as ePub files are, so you may struggle to read them on smaller devices. Newer PDF eBooks shouldn't have this problem though.