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Gary_M_Mugford · 12-23-2020, 05:43 PM

Why? Well, Windows 10 is a crappy, supposedly lowest common denominator that can be idiot-proofed for those among us incapable of running Update any time. That I am now forced to run this because my own software development IDE does not run in Linux makes the problem beyond irritating to debilitating.

The viewer rewrite was forced upon the Calibre team, not by Microsoft, but by Python and Qt to a secondary degree. Thus, I am not going to rail about the viewer not working on my computer. Even when I reboot into Safe mode, even when I uninstall PowerToys and even when I disable my Anti-Virus, which is actually a step too far, but necessary for testing purposes. And yes, my hardware driver update claims all graphic thingmabobs are up to date.

I suspect that the fact that I have a Portrait monitor sitting beside a Landscape monitor, both being 4K, is PROBABLY the reason things don't work. And that's the end of my trying to make the viewer work.

For those frustrated non-viewers amongst the Calibre set, here's what I did to get the most minimal of solutions. I went into Preferences\Behavior and unchecked the usual book formats I run into.

Then, in Windows Settings for Apps and Defaults and By FileTypes, I changed them all to Sumatra PDF Viewer. You might have an alternative. Maybe even a book reader not of Calibre's programming. After that, double clicking on the file format in Calibre's meta-data display of the 'Formats' data, brings up the book in (my case) Sumatra PDF. It also brings up the meta data details window, but that's easy to close.

Now, this is NOT the solution I want. And maybe, when I get the urge to do more, I will NOT be using Sumatra PDF for the task. It shows the book and page turn buttons, plus page data at the bottom with a barometer. But FIND is curiously screwed up and frankly, my reading ON MY COMPUTER, minimal as it was, is only an emergency thing now. Calibre is now my database, not my reader. And I hardly ever used the editor.

This is NOT the solution to the random failure of the Calibre reader to work in Windows 10 computers. It's a poultice on a wound that won't go away. Sadly, those that don't have it work 'out of the box,' are unlikely to get a real solution because the numbers don't add up to making the work worthwhile. There are other things to do.

But at least you have one more thing to try and see if it meets your standards for a solution. Best of the holidays to all, especially the folks that make Calibre a reality. Be safe and have a Healthy, Happy New Year!

12-23-2020, 05:43 PM	#1
Gary_M_Mugford Groupie Posts: 180 Karma: 299 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brampton ON Device: Kobo, Kindle3	Viewer fails, as do the suggested fixes Why? Well, Windows 10 is a crappy, supposedly lowest common denominator that can be idiot-proofed for those among us incapable of running Update any time. That I am now forced to run this because my own software development IDE does not run in Linux makes the problem beyond irritating to debilitating. The viewer rewrite was forced upon the Calibre team, not by Microsoft, but by Python and Qt to a secondary degree. Thus, I am not going to rail about the viewer not working on my computer. Even when I reboot into Safe mode, even when I uninstall PowerToys and even when I disable my Anti-Virus, which is actually a step too far, but necessary for testing purposes. And yes, my hardware driver update claims all graphic thingmabobs are up to date. I suspect that the fact that I have a Portrait monitor sitting beside a Landscape monitor, both being 4K, is PROBABLY the reason things don't work. And that's the end of my trying to make the viewer work. For those frustrated non-viewers amongst the Calibre set, here's what I did to get the most minimal of solutions. I went into Preferences\Behavior and unchecked the usual book formats I run into. Then, in Windows Settings for Apps and Defaults and By FileTypes, I changed them all to Sumatra PDF Viewer. You might have an alternative. Maybe even a book reader not of Calibre's programming. After that, double clicking on the file format in Calibre's meta-data display of the 'Formats' data, brings up the book in (my case) Sumatra PDF. It also brings up the meta data details window, but that's easy to close. Now, this is NOT the solution I want. And maybe, when I get the urge to do more, I will NOT be using Sumatra PDF for the task. It shows the book and page turn buttons, plus page data at the bottom with a barometer. But FIND is curiously screwed up and frankly, my reading ON MY COMPUTER, minimal as it was, is only an emergency thing now. Calibre is now my database, not my reader. And I hardly ever used the editor. This is NOT the solution to the random failure of the Calibre reader to work in Windows 10 computers. It's a poultice on a wound that won't go away. Sadly, those that don't have it work 'out of the box,' are unlikely to get a real solution because the numbers don't add up to making the work worthwhile. There are other things to do. But at least you have one more thing to try and see if it meets your standards for a solution. Best of the holidays to all, especially the folks that make Calibre a reality. Be safe and have a Healthy, Happy New Year!