MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Kobo-Adding alternative readers using Kobo Start Menu

Ken Maltby · 05-31-2014, 01:17 PM

Kobo-Adding alternative readers using Kobo Start Menu

UPDATE:
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Adds; Kobo Start Menu, Coolreader, Chess, other games and utilities, and Koreader
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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.

2. Now for tshering's "Kobo Start Menu" You can find the Version 7 here (FW 2.6.0-3.12.1, all models including H2O). Do not use older versions, especially on H2O. Version 8, here.
Copy the "kbmenupngs" folder into the root directory of your device (See 1. above). Then safely eject the Koboreader drive and disconnect the USB cable. You should then see the "Processing" message on your kobo. Reboot your device and check that the pngs are in the Library.

3. Reconnect to your PC 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.

4. Now for Koreader: Go to; https://github.com/koreader/koreader/releases and download the current nightly kobo build. New nightly download site.
Copy the koreader folder from the zip file to the .kobo directory of your kobo. [As of KSM7, copy it to the .adds directory.]

5. And for Coolreader:
Download the current pbchess build. Or here. Then easiest way to do it was to just 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. Now, it is even easier, just place the "valasovsoft" folder, from the download .zip, into the ".adds" folder.

6. That's it, you should now see the Start Menu or Nickel on powering up your device. It defaults with the option set to alternate how it starts. If you open "runsettings.txt" in "Notepad++" it will be easy to change to your preference. (and easier to read)
(A note from the program's author: Not everybody likes editing configuration files. There is also the possibility to change the start settings via the menu. From the home menu select "scripts" > "activate" > "set runmenu settings.msh." There you will find the options "always," "once," etc. Choose "always" to make the Kobo Start Menu appear after each time you power the device on.)

*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 .adds directory.

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

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

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 necessary 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.

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.

Luck;
Ken

05-31-2014, 01:17 PM	#1
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Kobo-Adding alternative readers using Kobo Start Menu Kobo-Adding alternative readers using Kobo Start Menu UPDATE: ---------------------------------------- Adds; Kobo Start Menu, Coolreader, Chess, other games and utilities, and Koreader ---------------------------------------- 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. 2. Now for tshering's "Kobo Start Menu" You can find the Version 7 here (FW 2.6.0-3.12.1, all models including H2O). Do not use older versions, especially on H2O. Version 8, here. Copy the "kbmenupngs" folder into the root directory of your device (See 1. above). Then safely eject the Koboreader drive and disconnect the USB cable. You should then see the "Processing" message on your kobo. Reboot your device and check that the pngs are in the Library. 3. Reconnect to your PC 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. 4. Now for Koreader: Go to; https://github.com/koreader/koreader/releases and download the current nightly kobo build. New nightly download site. Copy the koreader folder from the zip file to the .kobo directory of your kobo. [As of KSM7, copy it to the .adds directory.] 5. And for Coolreader: Download the current pbchess build. Or here. Then easiest way to do it was to just 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. Now, it is even easier, just place the "valasovsoft" folder, from the download .zip, into the ".adds" folder. 6. That's it, you should now see the Start Menu or Nickel on powering up your device. It defaults with the option set to alternate how it starts. If you open "runsettings.txt" in "Notepad++" it will be easy to change to your preference. (and easier to read) (A note from the program's author: Not everybody likes editing configuration files. There is also the possibility to change the start settings via the menu. From the home menu select "scripts" > "activate" > "set runmenu settings.msh." There you will find the options "always," "once," etc. Choose "always" to make the Kobo Start Menu appear after each time you power the device on.) 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 .adds directory. For future pbchess/Coolreader builds you just need to copyover the KoboRoot.tgz into the .kobo directory. KOreader Wiki: https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki 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 necessary 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. 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. Luck; Ken Last edited by Ken Maltby; 11-10-2016 at 08:42 PM.