Question about 2.10.0 & side-loaded kepubs

Filmbrain · 11-10-2013, 07:07 AM

As everyone with 2.10.0 has no dbout noticed, in-book reading stats are now disabled for side-loaded kepubs, but not for store bought ones.

My question is this -- what specifically does an "official" kepub contain that allows for reading stats? Could one, perhaps, modify a side-loaded kepub in a way that tricks the device into thinking it's store bought?

Is it some sort of flag? A specific file within the package? I'm actually quite curious.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance...

PeterT · 11-10-2013, 07:42 AM

As discussed elsewhere the key is LOCATION.

Sideloaded kEpubs reside in directories that, depending on your calibre configuration, are based in the root directory of the user partition, and normally based on Author names.

Kobo loaded kEpubs reside in .kobo\kepub.

So you will say, just put sideloaded material in .kobo\kepub.

It's not that simple.

Content located OUTSIDE of the .kobo directory structure is scanned when the device is unplugged and added to the database. This includes entries for the book itself, the cover image, and all entries in the TOC.

Content located INSIDE of the .kobo directory structure is NOT scanned when the device is unplugged and no entries are added to the database. Instead, the database is populated either by Kobo Desktop or the WiFi sync process with the store, depending on what means was used to add the book to the device,

Filmbrain · 11-10-2013, 08:03 AM

Thank you for the explanation, Peter.

So, if I understand you correctly, if there was a way to modify the database that Kobo Desktop (or WiFi sync) manages, it could work. Has anybody attempted this?

I've not looked into the Kobo-generated database -- is it proprietary?

PeterT · 11-10-2013, 08:22 AM

The database is just a standard SQL database using SQLite. Yes some of the devs are experimenting to see if they can do it. Also rest assured we ask Kobo every chance we get to reverse this decision.

93terp · 11-10-2013, 10:36 AM

I'm not turning on WiFi on my AuraHD anytime soon as I don't want this firmware update until the sideloaded kepub issue has a workaround. I don't want to give up the in-book reading stats.

Can someone post a screenshot of what the stats now give you/look like with a sideloaded kepub?

ShellShock · 11-10-2013, 12:51 PM

Is it just coincidence that new official firmwares seem to undo some of the work of community patches, or is there something more sinister going here? Is Kobo deliberately trying to sabotage our efforts in order to maintain greater control? I am also thinking of the apparent removal in 2.10 of the CSS we have being patching to reduce the height of the reading footer.

murg · 11-10-2013, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShellShock

Is it just coincidence that new official firmwares seem to undo some of the work of community patches, or is there something more sinister going here? Is Kobo deliberately trying to sabotage our efforts in order to maintain greater control? I am also thinking of the apparent removal in 2.10 of the CSS we have being patching to reduce the height of the reading footer.

One would hope that the Kobo managers and developers have their hands full fixing all of the serious bugs in the firmware, without wasting their time removing the features/fixes implemented by the user community.

After all, the text selection thumb anchor bug has been around for over a year now, and I see no improvement on it at all.

11-10-2013, 07:07 AM	#1
Filmbrain Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 9796 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura HD	Question about 2.10.0 & side-loaded kepubs As everyone with 2.10.0 has no dbout noticed, in-book reading stats are now disabled for side-loaded kepubs, but not for store bought ones. My question is this -- what specifically does an "official" kepub contain that allows for reading stats? Could one, perhaps, modify a side-loaded kepub in a way that tricks the device into thinking it's store bought? Is it some sort of flag? A specific file within the package? I'm actually quite curious. Any ideas? Thanks in advance...

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11-10-2013, 07:42 AM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,155 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	As discussed elsewhere the key is LOCATION. Sideloaded kEpubs reside in directories that, depending on your calibre configuration, are based in the root directory of the user partition, and normally based on Author names. Kobo loaded kEpubs reside in .kobo\kepub. So you will say, just put sideloaded material in .kobo\kepub. It's not that simple. Content located OUTSIDE of the .kobo directory structure is scanned when the device is unplugged and added to the database. This includes entries for the book itself, the cover image, and all entries in the TOC. Content located INSIDE of the .kobo directory structure is NOT scanned when the device is unplugged and no entries are added to the database. Instead, the database is populated either by Kobo Desktop or the WiFi sync process with the store, depending on what means was used to add the book to the device,

11-10-2013, 08:03 AM	#3
Filmbrain Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 9796 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura HD	Thank you for the explanation, Peter. So, if I understand you correctly, if there was a way to modify the database that Kobo Desktop (or WiFi sync) manages, it could work. Has anybody attempted this? I've not looked into the Kobo-generated database -- is it proprietary?

11-10-2013, 08:22 AM	#4
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,155 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	The database is just a standard SQL database using SQLite. Yes some of the devs are experimenting to see if they can do it. Also rest assured we ask Kobo every chance we get to reverse this decision.

11-10-2013, 10:36 AM	#5
93terp Fear The Turtle! Posts: 866 Karma: 4035032 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Margaritaville Device: KV, Kobo Forma, Kobo A1LE, KO3, K3	I'm not turning on WiFi on my AuraHD anytime soon as I don't want this firmware update until the sideloaded kepub issue has a workaround. I don't want to give up the in-book reading stats. Can someone post a screenshot of what the stats now give you/look like with a sideloaded kepub?

11-10-2013, 12:51 PM	#6
ShellShock Wizard Posts: 1,176 Karma: 2431850 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: IPad Mini 2 Retina	Is it just coincidence that new official firmwares seem to undo some of the work of community patches, or is there something more sinister going here? Is Kobo deliberately trying to sabotage our efforts in order to maintain greater control? I am also thinking of the apparent removal in 2.10 of the CSS we have being patching to reduce the height of the reading footer.

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