This program switches the font in the Mobipocket viewer to Sans-Serif or Serif (the software default) depending on your choice. It's simple enough to use, you'll need shell access. Unzip, copy, and run.

Let me know if you have any problems or questions.

Note: This has only been tested on an English Language iLiad. I'm not sure what effect (if any) it will have on other languages. Install on others at your own risk.

Edit2: Another Attachment Update. 100% working version as posted by Wallcraft (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=150265&postcount=19).

Doesn't seem to change anything for me. Should I see anything other than a screen flash after I click the icon to change to Serif?

Same here, and I even rebooted.

I've updated my first post.

I really need to start running dos2unix on my scripts before I upload them. I still have no idea why they always work on my iLiad.

Should the entry "Install Serif Font" be marked with that "cross" icon that denotes a file type the Iliad cannot cope with?

The X just means I didn't give it an icon.

Is the updated package still not working for you?

Nope. Same as last. Brief flicker after clicking the entry, then no change as far as I can see. With and without reboot. If I'm doing something wrong, I can't for the life of me think what it could be...

Are you opening a mobipocket file?

Indeed I am, tried .mobi as well as .prc.

That's odd. Both scripts are in Unix format, it should work with and without a space in the path.

Have you requested shell access since you reflashed? Can you run any other apps?

Have you requested shell access since you reflashed? Can you run any other apps?

Yup - playing Chess and using FBReader and Dillo quite successfully.

Works fine with me. Just the serif font thats on the iLiad really sucks.
How can we change fonts?

Same problem here. Clicking on the Install Serif icon doesn't seem to change anything. I tried without reboot and with reboot. I even tried to use a newly created mobipocket-file as I thought it might be possible, that it saves this somewhere in the fileassociation.

Do
cp /home/intent/mobipocket.param /home/intent/mobipocket.param.bak
rm /home/intent/mobipocket.param

and try again.

cp /home/intent/mobipocket.param /home/intent/mobipocket.param.bak
rm /home/intent/mobipocket.param


What does this mean, what does it do, and is there an easy way for the non-Linux cognoscenti to do it?

What does this mean, what does it do, and is there an easy way for the non-Linux cognoscenti to do it?
It means that the file
/home/intent/mobipocket.param
also contains information about fonts - you can display it with the command "more" or in an editor. It appears to have been created when mobi viewer was run for the first time. Simply removing it, forces the viewer to forget what font has been previously used.
An easy way would be to include the above commands in Adam's scripts.

If you are asking what the commands do...
cp ...
copies the original file so that a backup is created, just in case.
rm ...
removes the file.
One could have used "mv" (for "move"), but the two step approach is safer. The commands need to by typed in the mrxvt terminal or, via ssh, in a terminal on your desktop/laptop.

Thanks Serge, that did it for me. Worked fine - but Tribble was right, the serif font is even worse. I think I'll stick converting my books to pdf and using 12pt Times New Roman. ;)

This program switches the font in the Mobipocket viewer to Sans-Serif or Serif (the software default) depending on your choice. It's simple enough to use, you'll need shell access. Unzip, copy, and run.

Let me know if you have any problems or questions.

Note: This has only been tested on an English Language iLiad. I'm not sure what effect (if any) it will have on other languages. Install on others at your own risk.

Edit: Attachment Update. Should fix for those who had problems running the original.

Just tried it - didn't work for me either. btw recently installed the latest upgrade from irex - could that have something to do with it? (I have reinstalled shell access so that's not it)

cp /home/intent/mobipocket.param /home/intent/mobipocket.param.bak
rm /home/intent/mobipocket.param

and try again. I found that I needed to do this, so I added it to Adam's scripts. See the enclosed zip file.

I enclose screenshots from the Sans Serif and the Serif font at two sizes. As usual, if the image seems ragged is has been rescaled by your browser - click on it again to get the full size version.

The Sans Serif fonts appears to be DejaVu Sans, and the Serif font is Bitstream Vera Serif. There is also a Bitstream Vera Sans font, but (based on FBReader) it seems similar, or identical, to DejaVu. One difference is that Vera has a genuine bold face, but I don't think MobiPocket is recognizing anything except "sans" and "serif" for the font.

FBReader can also use the type1 fonts that are installed on the iLiad, but I can't get MobiPocket Reader to recognize these. The font I usually use for FBReader is Nimbus Sans L, but it is a type1 font.

thanks that worked - I've been waiting for a font change for mobipoclet for ages.

Some of you seem to be able to "see" the programme & OS files to edit them. How do you do this?

One way is to open a SSH session from another computer. This is the most convenient method, because the other computer can have a bigger screen and a real keyboard.

The other way is to use mrxvt or emelFM2 (or any other program with a file viewer) on the iLiad itself. This approach is greatly helped by adding a USB keyboard, although the on-screen keyboard is usable for small tasks.

Does anyone know how Java (i.e. the MobiPocket Reader) handles fonts?

I would really like a bolder font for the Reader. The obvious choice is Arial Black, but that is an OpenType font. I have found URWGothicL-Demi.ttf works well in FBReader. I am currently installing it on the CF card, and I have not been able to get MobiPocket Reader to recognize this font. The screenshots are from Bitstream Vera Sans and URWGothicLDem in FBReader. Note that in FBReader, I could just select bold as the default - so there is less need for a heavy base font. I am using these screenshots as proxies for MobiPocket Reader, although I have not tried to replicate its margins and line spacing.