Calibre viewer does not display epubs

TheCakeIsNaOH · 02-11-2019, 10:47 AM

Running Calibre 3.39.1 on Windows 10.

When I try to open an epub in the Caliber viewer, the viewer opens but it only shows white and no text. This happens for every epub in my library. I tried a reset to default preferences in the viewer to no effect.

The epubs all open and display normally in other viewers. They also open normally in the Calibre ebook editor.

Let me know if there is anything I can try. Thanks.

DNSB · 02-11-2019, 11:18 AM

Not certain is this applies since the reset may remove it but is there a user stylesheet associated with viewer?

edit: never mind, I checked and the user stylesheet is removed. One question is if you change the background color, does that change apply?

TheCakeIsNaOH · 02-11-2019, 02:51 PM

Changing the background color does apply. I also checked the text color and it is black.

BetterRed · 02-11-2019, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCakeIsNaOH

Changing the background color does apply. I also checked the text color and it is black.

Try running the viewer directly from C:\Program Files\Calibre2\ebook-viewer.exe and opening an epub via the file open button (3rd button)?

If that doesn't work, try installing calibre portable somewhere, and see if you can read the Quick Start Guide.

And let us know what happens of course

BR

TheCakeIsNaOH · 02-11-2019, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Try running the viewer directly from C:\Program Files\Calibre2\ebook-viewer.exe and opening an epub via the file open button (3rd button)?

I tried that, no change.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If that doesn't work, try installing calibre portable somewhere, and see if you can read the Quick Start Guide.

The current portable version still does not work. I went back and tried with older portable versions, 3.5.0 and older work, 3.6.0 and newer do not. I am still testing.

Edit, all Calibre versions tested working in a Windows 10 1809 VM and in a Windows 10 1803 so this is probably a windows configuration problem.

BetterRed · 02-11-2019, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCakeIsNaOH

I tried that, no change.

Didn't expect it to work, but thought it was worth a try

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCakeIsNaOH

The current portable version still does not work. I went back and tried with older portable versions, 3.5.0 and older work, 3.6.0 and newer do not. I am still testing.

Edit, all Calibre versions tested working in a Windows 10 1809 VM and in a Windows 10 1803 so this is probably a windows configuration problem.

If its OK in 1809 and 1803, in what version of Windows doesn't it work?

I'm guessing an Insider Preview version.

- what sort of monitor setup do you have?

BR

TheCakeIsNaOH · 02-11-2019, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Didn't expect it to work, but thought it was worth a try

If its OK in 1809 and 1803, in what version of Windows doesn't it work?

I'm guessing an Insider Preview version.

- what sort of monitor setup do you have?

BR

It is actually 1809. So it works in both an 1809 VM and an 1809 laptop, but not on my 1809 desktop. So I assume that is it some sort of incompatibility with another program I have installed or windows config problems since both portable and installed versions are not working on that desktop in particular.

I have dual monitors, so yes playing with that is something I will try.

kovidgoyal · 02-11-2019, 10:04 PM

does the text show up if you drag to select?

BetterRed · 02-11-2019, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCakeIsNaOH

It is actually 1809. So it works in both an 1809 VM and an 1809 laptop, but not on my 1809 desktop. So I assume that is it some sort of incompatibility with another program I have installed or windows config problems since both portable and installed versions are not working on that desktop in particular.

I have dual monitors, so yes playing with that is something I will try.

Another thing to try would be to boot up in Safe Mode - that would eliminate most 3rd party applets, hopefully Winkey+R, msconfig, Enter still works on 1809.

BR

TheCakeIsNaOH · 02-12-2019, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

does the text show up if you drag to select?

No

Also using a single monitor does not change behavior. Neither does safe mode.

TheCakeIsNaOH · 02-12-2019, 12:03 PM

I just fixed it.

The Liberation fonts were broken, I uninstalled and then re-installed LibreOffice to fix them. I did not expect that because I have not been having font issues elsewhere.

Thank you, everyone, for your time.

DNSB · 02-13-2019, 01:04 PM

Thanks for the feedback on the problem resolution.

theducks · 02-13-2019, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCakeIsNaOH

I just fixed it.

The Liberation fonts were broken, I uninstalled and then re-installed LibreOffice to fix them. I did not expect that because I have not been having font issues elsewhere.

Thank you, everyone, for your time.

I think Calibre GUI (and maybe the viewer) defaults to Liberation.

BetterRed · 02-13-2019, 04:06 PM

↑ ↑ ↑

Half right, on Windows the Calibre GUI defaults to Segoe UI (9Pt), but the viewer does default to Liberation.

If the font was 'broken' I'm surprised the viewer didn't detect it and throw an error and/or revert to an alternative font.

BR

02-11-2019, 10:47 AM	#1
TheCakeIsNaOH Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: Nook simple touch	Calibre viewer does not display epubs Running Calibre 3.39.1 on Windows 10. When I try to open an epub in the Caliber viewer, the viewer opens but it only shows white and no text. This happens for every epub in my library. I tried a reset to default preferences in the viewer to no effect. The epubs all open and display normally in other viewers. They also open normally in the Calibre ebook editor. Let me know if there is anything I can try. Thanks.

02-11-2019, 11:18 AM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 45,151 Karma: 168808723 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Not certain is this applies since the reset may remove it but is there a user stylesheet associated with viewer? edit: never mind, I checked and the user stylesheet is removed. One question is if you change the background color, does that change apply? Last edited by DNSB; 02-11-2019 at 11:26 AM.

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02-11-2019, 02:51 PM	#3
TheCakeIsNaOH Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: Nook simple touch	Changing the background color does apply. I also checked the text color and it is black.

02-11-2019, 10:04 PM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,231 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	does the text show up if you drag to select?

02-12-2019, 12:03 PM	#11
TheCakeIsNaOH Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: Nook simple touch	I just fixed it. The Liberation fonts were broken, I uninstalled and then re-installed LibreOffice to fix them. I did not expect that because I have not been having font issues elsewhere. Thank you, everyone, for your time.

02-13-2019, 01:04 PM	#12
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 45,151 Karma: 168808723 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Thanks for the feedback on the problem resolution.

02-13-2019, 04:06 PM	#14
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,647 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	↑ ↑ ↑ Half right, on Windows the Calibre GUI defaults to Segoe UI (9Pt), but the viewer does default to Liberation. If the font was 'broken' I'm surprised the viewer didn't detect it and throw an error and/or revert to an alternative font. BR

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