Missing font on children's epub/kepub on device (Kobo)

[mgrimace]

Hello,

I have a series of children's books that appear normally in Calibre, but when copied to their Kobo Libra H2O the book appears without fonts. It's a children's book and does have pictures, just no words (blank where the text would be). It happens for the entire series.

I tried changing through every font on the device but nothing. I tried viewing the 'edit' of a book and clicking on the 'bug' icon, it gives the error 'Unexpected Missing Generic Font Family'.

I'm not sure how to fix this for each book in the series, and I'm a total novice in any sort of book editing (I can click plugins just fine though). Any advice would be well appreciated, thank you.

[theducks]

I think you have a missing (not a device standard ) font on the device.

For YOUR use (only): You could just add the font file(s) to the fonts folder on each Kobo.
or you could embed them in each book.
Calibre editor has a and item under Tools: embed referenced fonts
(this may work if the font is found on your system: You say the font works for these books )

If the books are for ANY KIND of distribution, there are legal hoops dictated by the font creator that MUST be followed. (Not all involve spending money ).

There is a slightly different method for when the above embed fails.
You must use the File menu to add a font (use) to the book. it imports the files AND suggests (a clipboard) the @font to add *paste and edit) to the CSS or (where used) HTML file .

[fogice]

Have you tried selecting the area where there should be words while viewing a book on the Kobo? I'm guessing that the words are present, but are displayed in a bad color (e.g., white on white).

Quick and dirty fix: Convert Book > Look & Feel > Styling > Filter style information > select 'colors' to remove all color references.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by fogice

Have you tried selecting the area where there should be words while viewing a book on the Kobo? I'm guessing that the words are present, but are displayed in a bad color (e.g., white on white).

Quick and dirty fix: Convert Book > Look & Feel > Styling > Filter style information > select 'colors' to remove all color references.

Since these were reported as working in the Calibre viewer, I don't think this (more common than we like ) problem is theirs. OTOH it may if the OP has the Kobo set to NOT use Publishers styles (AKA override).

[mgrimace]

Originally Posted by theducks

I think you have a missing (not a device standard ) font on the device.

For YOUR use (only): You could just add the font file(s) to the fonts folder on each Kobo.
or you could embed them in each book.
Calibre editor has a and item under Tools: embed referenced fonts
(this may work if the font is found on your system: You say the font works for these books )

If the books are for ANY KIND of distribution, there are legal hoops dictated by the font creator that MUST be followed. (Not all involve spending money ).

There is a slightly different method for when the above embed fails.
You must use the File menu to add a font (use) to the book. it imports the files AND suggests (a clipboard) the @font to add *paste and edit) to the CSS or (where used) HTML file .

Thanks! Yes, it is for our own family's personal use, no distribution.

Errors:
Ok, I received a 'no embeddable fonts found' and strangely, if I view the book in the calibre viewer it shows the fonts, but if I view it in the editor the page is blank (images still showing).

More specifically, the error is 'unexpecteded missing generic font family (stylesheet.css).' So I clicked the stylesheet.css, and it looks like it's a font called 'oppjfiltckennerleypro', which with some google looks like ltc kennerly pro.

[mgrimace]

Originally Posted by fogice

Have you tried selecting the area where there should be words while viewing a book on the Kobo? I'm guessing that the words are present, but are displayed in a bad color (e.g., white on white).

Quick and dirty fix: Convert Book > Look & Feel > Styling > Filter style information > select 'colors' to remove all color references.

Just quick checked this to rule it out as well, and no the text is not selectable at all or 'invisible' on the device.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mgrimace

Just quick checked this to rule it out as well, and no the text is not selectable at all or 'invisible' on the device.

Have you loaded the eBook in the editor to have a look at the CSS? It could be that the font is not embedded but if on your system. If that's the case, then viewing it in the viewer would work because if you have the font, all you need is the font-family line in CSS to use it. But on Kobo, it's not there and not embedded so it won't work.

You could post the relevant HTML/CSS code so we can see what's going on.

[mgrimace]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Have you loaded the eBook in the editor to have a look at the CSS? It could be that the font is not embedded but if on your system. If that's the case, then viewing it in the viewer would work because if you have the font, all you need is the font-family line in CSS to use it. But on Kobo, it's not there and not embedded so it won't work.

You could post the relevant HTML/CSS code so we can see what's going on.

Thank you, it looks like that might be the case.
Yes, in the editor:
- the 'bug' icon states: unexpected missing generic font family at stylesheet.css (line: 38 column: 17)
- selecting 'Tools: embed referenced fonts', gives an error: 'no embeddable fonts found'

CSS:

.calibre {
    display: block;
    font-size: 0.58333em;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0 5pt
    }
.calibre1 {
    display: block;
    height: 770;
    overflow: hidden;
    position: relative;
    width: 600;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0
    }
.calibre2 {
    letter-spacing: -1px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.calibre3 {
    letter-spacing: 1px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.calibre4 {
    letter-spacing: 2px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.calibre5 {
    letter-spacing: -2px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.hlink {
    color: inherit;
    text-decoration: none
    }
.justify {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic;
    font-size: 1.28571em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify1 {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1.28571em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify2 {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1.71429em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify3 {
    color: transparent;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify4 {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1.71429em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none;
    white-space: nowrap
    }
.lpage {
    background-image: url(images/00003.jpeg);
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-size: 600px 770px;
    display: block;
    height: 770px;
    position: absolute;
    width: 600px;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0
    }
.lpage1 {
    background-image: url(images/00004.jpeg);
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-size: 600px 770px;
    display: block;
    height: 770px;
    position: absolute;
    width: 600px;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0
    }

Then, it just continues page2, 3 and so on so I didn't copy/paste that. FWIW I don't understand CSS at all and I'm not sure what's important here. The Line error points to the item `oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic`

[fogice]

Originally Posted by theducks

Since these were reported as working in the Calibre viewer, I don't think this (more common than we like ) problem is theirs.

If the Calibre viewer has a black background, while the Kobo displays on a white background, white-colored text will show in Calibre viewer and not on Kobo.

But you were right in this case, this wasn't OP's issue.

[gbm]

Open the ebook in the editor then do a find/replace all:

find:

font-family: oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic;

replace:

font-family:oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic, sans-serif;

That should work.

bernie

Originally Posted by mgrimace

Thank you, it looks like that might be the case.
Yes, in the editor:
- the 'bug' icon states: unexpected missing generic font family at stylesheet.css (line: 38 column: 17)
- selecting 'Tools: embed referenced fonts', gives an error: 'no embeddable fonts found'

CSS:

.calibre {
    display: block;
    font-size: 0.58333em;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0 5pt
    }
.calibre1 {
    display: block;
    height: 770;
    overflow: hidden;
    position: relative;
    width: 600;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0
    }
.calibre2 {
    letter-spacing: -1px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.calibre3 {
    letter-spacing: 1px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.calibre4 {
    letter-spacing: 2px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.calibre5 {
    letter-spacing: -2px;
    line-height: 1.2
    }
.hlink {
    color: inherit;
    text-decoration: none
    }
.justify {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic;
    font-size: 1.28571em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify1 {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1.28571em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify2 {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1.71429em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify3 {
    color: transparent;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none
    }
.justify4 {
    color: #211d1e;
    font-family: oppjfhltckennerleypro;
    font-size: 1.71429em;
    font-variant-ligatures: none;
    white-space: nowrap
    }
.lpage {
    background-image: url(images/00003.jpeg);
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-size: 600px 770px;
    display: block;
    height: 770px;
    position: absolute;
    width: 600px;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0
    }
.lpage1 {
    background-image: url(images/00004.jpeg);
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-size: 600px 770px;
    display: block;
    height: 770px;
    position: absolute;
    width: 600px;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0
    }

Then, it just continues page2, 3 and so on so I didn't copy/paste that. FWIW I don't understand CSS at all and I'm not sure what's important here. The Line error points to the item `oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic`

[mgrimace]

Originally Posted by gbm

Open the ebook in the editor then do a find/replace all:

find:

font-family: oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic;

replace:

font-family:oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic, sans-serif;

That should work.

bernie

Thanks, unfortunately it did not work. I also tried ...pro, sans-serif; along with the ...proitalic, sans serif; and both didn't work either.
Each time I made a change, I saved the .epub, deleted the .kepub and re-converted a fresh .kepub.

[DNSB]

You should not change the @font-face declarations. Only in the body of the CSS. If the font is being used as the body font, I just place it in the body declaration.

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: normal;
    font-style: normal;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILR.ttf');
}

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: normal;
    font-style: italic;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILI.ttf');
}

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: bold;
    font-style: normal;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILB.ttf');
}

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: bold;
    font-style: italic;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILBI.ttf');
}

body {
  display: block;
  font-family: "Charis SIL", serif;
  font-size: 1em;
  margin: 0 0 0 0;
  padding: 0 0 0 0;
  text-indent: 0;
  widows: 1;
  orphans: 1;
}

[theducks]

Originally Posted by mgrimace

Thanks! Yes, it is for our own family's personal use, no distribution.

Errors:
Ok, I received a 'no embeddable fonts found' and strangely, if I view the book in the calibre viewer it shows the fonts, but if I view it in the editor the page is blank (images still showing).

More specifically, the error is 'unexpecteded missing generic font family (stylesheet.css).' So I clicked the stylesheet.css, and it looks like it's a font called 'oppjfiltckennerleypro', which with some google looks like ltc kennerly pro.

Calibre viewer can use the OS fonts.
It may also be doing a fallback on its own

Which is the topic of the last message> It is advising that you just did not specify a fallback in the @font
(not usually a big problem if you are embedding the font. OTOH if you are depending on the device to HAVE the font, having a fallback OF CHOICE is advised. common generic: serif, sanserif. But you can also have alternates in order of preference.)

[Martinoptic]

Originally Posted by gbm

Open the ebook in the editor then do a find/replace all:

find:

font-family: oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic;

replace:

font-family:oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic, sans-serif;

That should work.

bernie

Should there be a space after font-family: ?

So

font-family: oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic, sans-serif;

Im not good with CSS but might it be worth a try?

[mgrimace]

Originally Posted by DNSB

You should not change the @font-face declarations. Only in the body of the CSS. If the font is being used as the body font, I just place it in the body declaration.

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: normal;
    font-style: normal;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILR.ttf');
}

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: normal;
    font-style: italic;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILI.ttf');
}

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: bold;
    font-style: normal;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILB.ttf');
}

@font-face {
    font-family: 'Charis SIL';
    font-weight: bold;
    font-style: italic;
    src: url('../Fonts/CharisSILBI.ttf');
}

body {
  display: block;
  font-family: "Charis SIL", serif;
  font-size: 1em;
  margin: 0 0 0 0;
  padding: 0 0 0 0;
  text-indent: 0;
  widows: 1;
  orphans: 1;
}

I'm not sure I fully understand what to do with that (my error, I don't understand CSS coding/formatting). As far as I can tell there is nothing that says '@Font-Face' in any of the book files for this book/series, but I genuinely don't understand CSS and the formatting so I could be missing something obvious.

Everything I did the find/change for font-family was labelled either 'style' or 'justify'.

EDIT my bad, I see that there is @font-face in page_styles.css, I totally missed that. Here's what it looks like:

@page {
    margin-bottom: 5pt;
    margin-top: 5pt
    }
@font-face {
    font-family: "oppjfhltckennerleypro";
    src: url(fonts/00001.otf)
    }
@font-face {
    font-family: "oppjfiltckennerleyproitalic";
    src: url(fonts/00002.otf)
    }