Skip to main content
Fermion offers an easy-to-use API for creating and managing eBook digital products. This guide will help you upload, encrypt, and publish eBooks via API step by step.

​
Overview

With Fermion’s eBook API, you can:
  • Create eBook products through code
  • Securely upload PDF files to our cloud storage
  • Apply automatic DRM protection and encryption
  • Configure watermarks and control download permissions
  • Update eBook metadata and descriptions
  • Set up and edit pricing plans
  • Manage multiple versions of any eBook

​
Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:
  • A valid Fermion API key
  • A PDF file ready for upload (your eBook)
  • Basic familiarity with HTTP requests and file uploads
1

Create an eBook Product

Create a new eBook product using the create-ebook-product endpoint.Refer to the create-ebook endpoint for call details.Sample Response:
{
	"status": "ok",
	"data": {
		"fermionDigitalProductId": "prod_abc123xyz",
		"slug": "xyz789"
	}
}
Save the slug value—it’s a unique, URL-friendly ID you’ll use for all later API calls.
2

Get a Presigned Upload URL

See the get-presigned-url-for-ebook-upload for details.Sample Response:
{
	"status": "ok",
	"data": {
		"r2KeyForOriginalEbookPdf": "private-cached-ebook-unencrypted/prod_abc123xyz/file_unique_id",
		"presignedUrl": "https://storage.example.com/upload?signature=..."
	}
}
The presigned upload URL will expire in 1 hour. Be sure to upload your PDF before then. If it expires, just request a new upload URL.
Key Points:
  • Save r2KeyForOriginalEbookPdf—you’ll need it next
  • The upload link is one-time and time-limited for security
  • Requesting a new URL allows you to upload a new version
3

Upload the PDF via Presigned URL

Upload your PDF using a HTTP PUT request to the URL from Step 2.
curl -X PUT \
  -H "Content-Type: application/pdf" \
  --data-binary @your-ebook.pdf \
  "https://storage.example.com/upload?signature=..."
Use the HTTP PUT method (not POST) and make sure Content-Type is set to application/pdf for correct uploads.
4

Process and Encrypt the Uploaded eBook

After uploading your PDF, trigger processing and encryption.See the process-uploaded-ebook.Sample Response:
{
	"status": "ok",
	"data": {
		"ebookVersionIndex": 0
	}
}
What Processing Does:
  1. Downloads your PDF from storage
  2. Encrypts the file with AES-128-CBC
  3. Generates encryption keys and initialization vectors
  4. Saves the encrypted eBook securely
  5. Logs encryption metadata to your product
Save the ebookVersionIndex—you’ll need it to activate (publish) this version.
5

Update eBook Metadata and Reader Settings

See API docs: update-ebook-metadataSample Request Body:
{
	"productSlug": "xyz789",
	"title": "Introduction to Web Development",
	"shortDescription": "Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript fundamentals",
	"longDescription": "This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about modern web development...",
	"activeVersionIndex": 0,
	"isBookDownloadable": false,
	"shouldEnableCenterWatermark": true,
	"shouldEnableHeaderWatermark": true
}
Field Breakdown:
  • title (optional): eBook display title
  • shortDescription (optional): Summary for listings
  • longDescription (optional): Main description on product page
  • activeVersionIndex (optional): Which uploaded version readers see
  • isBookDownloadable (optional): Allow download of PDF file
  • shouldEnableCenterWatermark (optional): Show watermark in middle of pages
  • shouldEnableHeaderWatermark (optional): Show watermark in headers
Important: Set activeVersionIndex to the version index returned from Step 4 to activate your upload. Only processed eBook versions (uploaded-and-processed) can be marked active.

​
Watermark Options

Watermarks protect your content from unauthorized sharing:
  • Center Watermark: User’s email/ID in the center of every page
  • Header Watermark: User info shown in each PDF header
  • Watermarks are personalized for each downloader to trace misuse

​
Controlling Download Access

  • isBookDownloadable: true — Allow PDF downloads for offline reading
  • isBookDownloadable: false — Restrict reading to browser-only
6

Add Pricing (Optional)

To set up paid access, use the digital product pricing API.See docs: create-custom-pricing-plan-for-a-product
7

Publish & Share

After completing the above, your eBook is ready to be published by setting it to “Active.”

​
Complete Example: JavaScript/Node.js Workflow

Below is a full eBook upload example using Node.js: 
const API_KEY = 'your-api-key'
const BASE_URL = 'https://your-school.fermion.app/api'

// Step 1: Create the eBook product
const createResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/public/create-ebook-product`, {
	method: 'POST',
	headers: {
		'fermion-api-key': API_KEY,
		'Content-Type': 'application/json'
	},
	body: JSON.stringify({
		ebookName: 'My Amazing eBook',
		shortDescription: 'Learn something awesome',
		status: 'Draft'
	})
})

const { slug, fermionDigitalProductId } = (await createResponse.json()).data

// Step 2: Request presigned upload URL
const uploadUrlResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/public/get-presigned-url-for-ebook-upload`, {
	method: 'POST',
	headers: {
		'fermion-api-key': API_KEY,
		'Content-Type': 'application/json'
	},
	body: JSON.stringify({ productSlug: slug })
})

const { presignedUrl, r2KeyForOriginalEbookPdf } = (await uploadUrlResponse.json()).data

// Step 3: Upload the PDF
const pdfBuffer = fs.readFileSync('./my-ebook.pdf')
await fetch(presignedUrl, {
	method: 'PUT',
	headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/pdf' },
	body: pdfBuffer
})

// Step 4: Process and encrypt the PDF
const processResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/public/process-uploaded-ebook`, {
	method: 'POST',
	headers: {
		'fermion-api-key': API_KEY,
		'Content-Type': 'application/json'
	},
	body: JSON.stringify({
		productSlug: slug,
		r2KeyForOriginalEbookPdf
	})
})

const { ebookVersionIndex } = (await processResponse.json()).data

// Step 5: Update metadata and activate version
await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/public/update-ebook-metadata`, {
	method: 'POST',
	headers: {
		'fermion-api-key': API_KEY,
		'Content-Type': 'application/json'
	},
	body: JSON.stringify({
		productSlug: slug,
		title: 'My Amazing eBook',
		longDescription: 'This eBook will teach you...',
		activeVersionIndex: ebookVersionIndex,
		isBookDownloadable: false,
		shouldEnableCenterWatermark: true,
		shouldEnableHeaderWatermark: true
	})
})

console.log(`eBook created successfully! Product ID: ${fermionDigitalProductId}`)

​
Managing Multiple eBook Versions

You can upload new versions (such as updates or corrections) for the same eBook:
1

Get New Presigned Upload URL

Call get-presigned-url-for-ebook-upload again to get a fresh upload URL.
2

Upload New PDF

Upload your new PDF via the new URL.
3

Process and Encrypt

Process and encrypt the new version.
4

Update Version Index

Update activeVersionIndex via the metadata API to switch to the new version.
Don’t delete past versions—you can switch between them any time by changing activeVersionIndex.

​
Best Practices

​
Security

  • Always use HTTPS for every API request and upload
  • Never expose your API key in frontend or client code
  • Enable watermarks to discourage piracy for premium content
  • Disable file downloads (isBookDownloadable: false) for sensitive material

​
Performance

  • Upload large PDFs directly to storage with the presigned URL (not through your own server)
  • If the upload fails or times out, request a new presigned URL and re-upload (do not reuse old links)
  • Integrate uploads asynchronously if building user-facing dashboards

​
Content Organization

  • Set clear and descriptive ebookName values for easy identification
  • Keep products in Draft mode during setup and review
  • Review the eBook reader experience before publishing as “Active”
  • Use shortDescription for SEO/discovery and longDescription for full details

​
Troubleshooting

​
”Uploaded eBook not found” Error

You may see this in Step 4 if:
  • The PDF failed to upload, or upload was incomplete
  • The r2KeyForOriginalEbookPdf you used does not match the uploaded file
  • The presigned upload URL expired
Fix: Request a new presigned URL and upload your PDF again.

​
”You can only mark an uploaded book as active” Error

This occurs if you try to activate a version that hasn’t been processed. Fix: Complete Step 4 (process-uploaded-ebook), then set activeVersionIndex.

​
Upload Timed Out

Large PDFs can sometimes time out or stall. Fixes:
  • Use a stable and fast internet connection
  • Adjust timeout settings in your HTTP client or tool
  • Compress or optimize PDFs before uploading

​
Expired Upload URL

Fix: Simply request a new presigned URL using the API—there’s no limit to how many times you can do this.

​
Getting Help

If you get stuck or have an edge-case issue:
  • See the API Reference for endpoint details
  • Check the Webhooks Guide to track eBook purchases
  • For product-specific issues, contact support and include your fermionDigitalProductId

​
Next Steps