Product: KoboGlo
Firmware: 3.1.1 and 3.2.0
Plugins: no
File types: epub
Sideloaded or from Kobobooks: sideloaded (but probably both)
On external SD: no
Steps to reproduce: display any epub which contains an svg which includes rotated text or "dx" or "dy"
Current result: none
Workaround: none
Kobo issue ID: EPUB SVG Faults [Incident: 140220-000183]
-O-
Description:
The firmware of the KoboGlo (versions 3.1.1 and 3.2.0) supports most of EPUB, but its rendering of SVG rotated text is corrupt, and it does not support SVG attribute "dy".
KoboGlo renders SVG rotated text as though FontWeight="bold", and with each character facing backwards. Typical code is:
Quote:
<body>
<div class="img">
<svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 600 800"
preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet">
<image width="506" height="800" xlink:href="../Images/im03a.jpg" />
<g text-anchor="middle" font-size="35" fill="black"
transform="translate(541 400) rotate(270 0 0)">
<text>
Approaching the Rock of Gibraltar,
</text>
<text y="35">
forty-three days out from England.
</text>
</g>
<rect width="600" height="800"
style="fill:none; stroke:black; stroke-width:1" />
</svg>
</div>
</body>
|
...where the stylesheet contains:
Quote:
|
div.img { position:fixed; top:0; left:0; height:100%; width:100%; }
|
Screenshot koboglo-gib.jpg shows how KoboGlo renders this code.
Most other readers render the vertical text as intended, as shown by the following screenshots:
Kobo 4.9.9738 [Android app] : kobo_4.9.9738-gib.jpg
AldikoPremium 3.0.2 [Android app] : aldiko-gib.jpg
Azardi 27.0 : azardi-gib.jpg
Calibre 1.9 viewer : calibreviewer-gib.jpg
EPUBReader 1.4.2.4 [Firefox extension] : Epubreader-gib.jpg
Kindle 4.1.1 (1813030025) : kindle4-gib.jpg
(kf8 derived from epub by kindlegen 2.9)
Readium 2.13.3 [Chrome browser app] : readium-gib.jpg
The SVG attributes "dx" and "dy" make SVG code more maintainable, by allowing subsequent insertion of row or column entries without recalculation of all following "x" or "y" values. All readers listed above except KoboGlo support SVG "dy". KoboGlo renders SVG tables which use "dy" as an unreadable mess (screenshot koboglow-bsowf.jpg) whereas screenshots kobo_4.9.9738-bsowf.jpg and calibreviewer-bsowf.jpg are typical of the other readers.
-O-
[Kobo] Response Via Email(Prince B) - 03/03/2014:
...We have done some investigations into the matter as well and discovered that the SVG file formats aren't compatible with the Kobo Glo eReader, which you are already aware.
Unfortunately, the Kobo Glo eReader wasn't designed to accommodate such a file format. The Kobo Glo eReader is compatible with XML-based files, but not with XML-based vector image formats for two-dimensional graphics that has support for interactivity and animation. SVG images and their behaviors are defined in XML text files. This means that they can be searched, indexed, scripted, and if needs be, compressed.
With that said, the Kobo Glo eReader doesn't have the capability or capacity to provide that feature at this time. We understand the concern, as well the frustration and we will notify our technical team of this new development.
-O-
Kobo support's answer is polite, but misdirected, inapplicable, and unhelpful. Rotation, "dx" and "dy" are basic SVG rendering functions, and they have nothing to do with interactivity or animation. Support for EPUB2 implies support for all of SVG except interactivity and animation. Note that the Kobo reader app for Android renders "rotated text" and "dy" correctly.
The fault must be in the Kobo hardware's SVG engine, or the utiliztion of it. Kobo must accept that there is a firmware fault, and correct it.
-O-
Test case kgbd.epub is attached.