pdf's on the JBL

[GA Russell]

Has anyone experimented with the pdf reflow that comes with the v16e firmware of the JBL?

I added the firmware last week, and started my first pdf last night. The reflow worked perfectly, but the font and spacing were both a little too big. So I went to the zoom feature, and found that it had been automatically set at 200%.

The next lower option is 150% percent, and that's pretty small. Not too small for me to enjoy, but probably too small for a lot of people.

So I wonder...Is this all a function of the pdf file to start with? It would seem to me that it is - that a pdf with larger text would be that much more readable at 150%. But maybe I'm wrong.

Anybody know?

[Ken Maltby]

The available zoom levels has been an issue with the Jetbooks for as long as I have
been looking into it. The contention has always been around the size of the steps
near the default 200%. (For those with the 0.16 FW who might be confused at this
point; you can see the % numbers by going to "Settings">"Zoom Level" with the "Menu"
button.)

I find that there is a great deal of difference between the display of the PDF with the
Reflow ON compared to with the Reflow OFF. (When you go to the Menu and there is the
option "Reflow ON" that means that the Reflow is off.) With Reflow off the "Full Screen"
and "Fit Width" options are available/not disabled, and the page is displayed as if it were
an image of the full page. This provides the best display of the graphics and text
features, as they would normally appear if the screen of the JBL were large enough to do
the page justice. To be able to see parts of that full page image, at a larger, more
readable, size on the JBL's smaller screen you need to zoom into the image.

With the Reflow on (and the Menu item "Reflow OFF" showing) the Text is treated as
separate from the graphic data on the page and the text display on the JBL can be
formatted to fit the JBL's screen size.

Now to address your question, I don't know how Adobe is implementing the Reflow or
if the Adobe Mobile Reader as implemented on the JBL offers any ability to control the
display of the Reflowed Text, for font size or line spacing. I would guess that the reflow
starts with the text from the PDF at a size related to the normal full page display of the
PDF. Zooming with the Reflow on could be effectively zooming the page image of the
PDF that Adobe is using to extract the Text for reflow. But I don't know.

At this point it may be that you will have to live with the limited zoom options of the
Reflow mode, and the resulting effects on text size and placement -or- Remake/Edit the
PDF to match your preferences and the display parameters of the JBL, then view it with
Reflow off.

Luck;
Ken

[kabir]

Use soPdf to get rid of white margins from your pdf files. It works wonders on my JBL with 0.16e. You can search MobileRead forums on where to download soPdf.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

...I find that there is a great deal of difference between the display of the PDF with the
Reflow ON compared to with the Reflow OFF. (When you go to the Menu and there is the
option "Reflow ON" that means that the Reflow is off.) With Reflow off the "Full Screen"
and "Fit Width" options are available/not disabled, and the page is displayed as if it were
an image of the full page. This provides the best display of the graphics and text
features, as they would normally appear if the screen of the JBL were large enough to do
the page justice. To be able to see parts of that full page image, at a larger, more
readable, size on the JBL's smaller screen you need to zoom into the image.

With the Reflow on (and the Menu item "Reflow OFF" showing) the Text is treated as
separate from the graphic data on the page and the text display on the JBL can be
formatted to fit the JBL's screen size.

Now to address your question, I don't know how Adobe is implementing the Reflow or
if the Adobe Mobile Reader as implemented on the JBL offers any ability to control the
display of the Reflowed Text, for font size or line spacing. I would guess that the reflow
starts with the text from the PDF at a size related to the normal full page display of the
PDF. Zooming with the Reflow on could be effectively zooming the page image of the
PDF that Adobe is using to extract the Text for reflow. But I don't know.

Luck;
Ken

Where do you find Reflow on and off? Not to mention Adobe Mobile? Neither of my JBLs have those. They both use Foxit Reader. Now, my JBLs do have a Fit Width option that eliminates margins on image only PDFs. Between that, the zoom, and the choice between portrait and landscape pretty much gives me the options I need to make my PDFs readable.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Where do you find Reflow on and off? Not to mention Adobe Mobile? Neither of my JBLs have those. They both use Foxit Reader. Now, my JBLs do have a Fit Width option that eliminates margins on image only PDFs. Between that, the zoom, and the choice between portrait and landscape pretty much gives me the options I need to make my PDFs readable.

The 0.16e firmware upgrade was a major change that in some ways makes
it a whole new experience. If you like the FoxIt based implementation then
you might want to keep your current firmware and not use the 0.16e or above
firmware.

You have the option, with the JBL. It is just a matter of picking the firmware
that matches your preferences. It is easy enough to try both and decide.

Although I consider Adobe an evil empire, their Adobe Reader Mobile as it has
been implemented on the JBL, seems a major improvement for both .epub and
.pdf reading.

When you have the 0.16e firmware on your JBL, you can select an .epub or
.pdf from the "eBooks" menu. Then use the "Menu" button and select
"Settings" then "About pdf". It will display the version number for Adobe
Reader Mobile.

Luck;
Ken

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Being a firm believer in not "fixing what ain't broke," methinks I'll leave well enough alone. Thanks for the info.