MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Adding alternative readers to Kobo devices

Ken Maltby · 11-06-2013, 12:50 PM

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How to install or recover from bad install
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New
KOReader has its own Forum

Adds; fmon, Coolreader, Chess, other games and utilities, and Koreader
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Due to some issues with Nickel and KOreader functionality; IT is greatly advised that you use one of the two methods below

The install Guide using the Kobo Start Menu. This is one that works with the new H2o, and I highly recommend this approach.

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An even easier way to install just Koreader.
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**** The old launching method, to launch from within the stock Kobo software ****

** if you have version earlier than pbchess 1.2.6.31 installed, then you also need to rename
.kobo/KoboLauncher
to
.kobo/vlasovsoft
in your Kobo before upgrading pbchess.
.**

1. Connect to your PC with your USB cable. Open the KoboReader drive that appears on your PC. Note that this is the Root directory for this process.

**Skip to step 4. if you haven't tried to install the alternative readers before.**

2. On your Kobo, delete any launcher .png files from the Library. On your PC, the .png files should disappear, if not Right click on the page and select Refresh.

OK, first if you have any script files that you have modified/tweaked for Koreader or the KoboLauncher, save them to your PC.

3. On PC; navigate to the .kobo directory. Delete the following folders: fmon, KoboLauncher or vlasovsoft, and koreader.

**
You should think of the install process as two separate installs, first adding the PNG file to your Kobo and having the Kobo software process the Image adding it to its database and home page. Then installing the software that will be launched using that image file. It is critical that the image file function normally, as an image that your Kobo displays before reconnecting the USB cable to install the rest of the program.

4. Go to here and download the current build of pbchess. Or try Here.

5. Copy "launcher.png" from the zip file to the Root directory (See 1. above). Now safely eject the KoboReader drive from your PC. (Right click on the drive and select Eject). Then disconnect the USB cable. You should then see, on your kobo, the message that it is processing data/media and then the home page. Poweroff your kobo and restart it. If the .png file was not processed fully you should see the processing message during the startup.

6. The launcher image tile should be on your kobo's home page now, select it. It is just an image at this point, and you should see a full page image. Return to the home page.

** Do not continue with the install until you can do Step 6.**
If this is a real problem you might want to consider "tshering's" Kobo Start Menu

7. Now that you are sure that the launcher png file has been correctly and completely processed by your kobo. Reconnect with your USB cable and copy the "KoboRoot.tgz" file from the .zip file to the .kobo directory. (Be sure it is in the .kobo directory.) Then safely eject the Koboreader drive and disconnect the USB cable. You should then see the Updating message on your kobo.

8. You should now have Sergey's launcher and fmon installed on your kobo.
Selecting the launcher tile should now open a menu page With Coolreader and Chess, other games and utilities (including a good USBnet). Once you are sure that all is working, Exit the launcher and return to your home page. (You may have to tap the picture a few times to return to the home page.)

9. Now for Koreader: Go to; https://github.com/koreader/koreader/releases and download the current nightly kobo build.

10. Do the same as 5.&6. above for the koreader.png, this is important, you need to be sure that the launching image has been fully and properly processed, before going further.

11. Copy the koreader folder from the zip file to the .kobo directory of your kobo.

12. Now do 7. above again.

That's it, both launchers should work and you should have added some interesting capabilities to all that your kobo can do.

*Touch N905C users may need to fix the Koreader touch coordinates as shown here.*

For future Koreader builds you will just have to copyover/merge the new koreader folder from the build download .zip onto your .kobo directory. No further need to add the .png or copyover the KoboRoot.tgz.

For future pbchess/Coolreader builds you just need to copyover the KoboRoot.tgz into the .kobo directory.

Luck;
Ken

KOreader Wiki: https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki

Now with these installed you might want to consider "tshering's" "Kobo Start Menu"

For those who are trying the Alternate readers because you prefer a "File Manager" approach over the corruptible database book management approach that Kobo uses; you can easily hide your ebook files from Kobo's database and processing. All that is neccessary is to place the files and folders of your ebook collection in a hidden directory/folder. For a Linux device "hidden" files folders or directories are those that are named with a dot/period before the name ( like .kobo or perhaps for this use .library ) To make such a folder/directory using Windows Explorer you just name the folder with a dot/period both before and after the name (like this ".Library.") the trailing dot/period will disappear leaving the "hidden" name you want (like ".Library")

It can also be done using the commandline command MD.

[I have all my ebook files on my external uSD card within a "hidden" directory, ~7000.]

For calibre: (Stolen from a Davidfor post)
An alternative way if you are not using nickel is to disable the KoboTouch driver in calibre. Then use "Connect to folder". That will prompt for the folder to treat as a device. You can use any folder on the device. (Including a hidden folder, like .library) Calibre will then scan the folder looking for books.

11-06-2013, 12:50 PM	#1
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Adding alternative readers to Kobo devices -------------------------------------------------------------- How to install or recover from bad install ------------------------------------------------------- New KOReader has its own Forum Adds; fmon, Coolreader, Chess, other games and utilities, and Koreader ---------------------------------------- Due to some issues with Nickel and KOreader functionality; IT is greatly advised that you use one of the two methods below The install Guide using the Kobo Start Menu. This is one that works with the new H2o, and I highly recommend this approach. ------------------------------------------ An even easier way to install just Koreader. ------------------------------------------- ** The old launching method, to launch from within the stock Kobo software if you have version earlier than pbchess 1.2.6.31 installed, then you also need to rename .kobo/KoboLauncher to .kobo/vlasovsoft in your Kobo before upgrading pbchess. . 1. Connect to your PC with your USB cable. Open the KoboReader drive that appears on your PC. Note that this is the Root directory for this process. Skip to step 4. if you haven't tried to install the alternative readers before. 2. On your Kobo, delete any launcher .png files from the Library. On your PC, the .png files should disappear, if not Right click on the page and select Refresh. OK, first if you have any script files that you have modified/tweaked for Koreader or the KoboLauncher, save them to your PC. 3. On PC; navigate to the .kobo directory. Delete the following folders: fmon, KoboLauncher or vlasovsoft, and koreader. You should think of the install process as two separate installs, first adding the PNG file to your Kobo and having the Kobo software process the Image adding it to its database and home page. Then installing the software that will be launched using that image file. It is critical that the image file function normally, as an image that your Kobo displays before reconnecting the USB cable to install the rest of the program. 4. Go to here and download the current build of pbchess. Or try Here. 5. Copy "launcher.png" from the zip file to the Root directory (See 1. above). Now safely eject the KoboReader drive from your PC. (Right click on the drive and select Eject). Then disconnect the USB cable. You should then see, on your kobo, the message that it is processing data/media and then the home page. Poweroff your kobo and restart it. If the .png file was not processed fully you should see the processing message during the startup. 6. The launcher image tile should be on your kobo's home page now, select it. It is just an image at this point, and you should see a full page image. Return to the home page. Do not continue with the install until you can do Step 6. If this is a real problem you might want to consider "tshering's" Kobo Start Menu 7. Now that you are sure that the launcher png file has been correctly and completely processed by your kobo. Reconnect with your USB cable and copy the "KoboRoot.tgz" file from the .zip file to the .kobo directory. (Be sure it is in the .kobo directory.) Then safely eject the Koboreader drive and disconnect the USB cable. You should then see the Updating message on your kobo. 8. You should now have Sergey's launcher and fmon installed on your kobo. Selecting the launcher tile should now open a menu page With Coolreader and Chess, other games and utilities (including a good USBnet). Once you are sure that all is working, Exit the launcher and return to your home page. (You may have to tap the picture a few times to return to the home page.) 9. Now for Koreader: Go to; https://github.com/koreader/koreader/releases and download the current nightly kobo build. 10. Do the same as 5.&6. above for the koreader.png, this is important, you need to be sure that the launching image has been fully and properly processed, before going further. 11. Copy the koreader folder from the zip file to the .kobo directory of your kobo. 12. Now do 7. above again. That's it, both launchers should work and you should have added some interesting capabilities to all that your kobo can do. Touch N905C users may need to fix the Koreader touch coordinates as shown here. For future Koreader builds you will just have to copyover/merge the new koreader folder from the build download .zip onto your .kobo directory. No further need to add the .png or copyover the KoboRoot.tgz. For future pbchess/Coolreader builds you just need to copyover the KoboRoot.tgz into the .kobo directory. Luck; Ken KOreader Wiki: https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki Now with these installed you might want to consider "tshering's" "Kobo Start Menu" For those who are trying the Alternate readers because you prefer a "File Manager" approach over the corruptible database book management approach that Kobo uses; you can easily hide your ebook files from Kobo's database and processing. All that is neccessary is to place the files and folders of your ebook collection in a hidden directory/folder. For a Linux device "hidden" files folders or directories are those that are named with a dot/period before the name ( like .kobo or perhaps for this use .library ) To make such a folder/directory using Windows Explorer you just name the folder with a dot/period both before and after the name (like this ".Library.") the trailing dot/period will disappear leaving the "hidden" name you want (like ".Library") It can also be done using the commandline command MD. [I have all my ebook files on my external uSD card within a "hidden" directory, ~7000.] For calibre: (Stolen from a Davidfor post) An alternative way if you are not using nickel is to disable the KoboTouch driver in calibre. Then use "Connect to folder". That will prompt for the folder to treat as a device. You can use any folder on the device. (Including a hidden folder, like .library) Calibre will then scan the folder looking for books. Last edited by Ken Maltby; 04-18-2016 at 08:50 PM.