Kobo Start Menu

[tshering]

Originally Posted by boriar

I don't have any problem starting nickel (H20-3.12.0). All options from menu go very well. The only thing that don't go like expected is the icon to launch koreader (swichtkoreader.png) from inside nickel. I don¡t know way. Well, don't know if run_test_scrip.png run correctly because i don't know what script is supposed to run.

Concerning switchtokoreader.png, cf. this post.

run_test_script.png calls .kobo\kbmenu\fmonsh\run_test_script.sh. This script file is thought as a placeholder for testing purposes, and should have been empty. KSM 06 was an emergency release (I was worried by the reports of people trying themselves to adjust the previous version for H2O). Even though KSM 06 was not yet ready, I took what was then running on my device, cleaned it a little up and published it. The content of run_test_script.sh is part of what should have been deleted, but was not.

[tshering]

Originally Posted by boriar

@tshering:
When I touch some option in any menu all same menu appear again but moved downwardly and over the original. I can see one line of the first copy and seems like i have touched other option. It's really annoying.
Can you tell if is a fail or run well?

Unfortunately this is the way it works/fails on Aura H2O. On other devices this is not happening. I suspect that this distortion of the screen is happening, after the menu application has already exited, and the next application (which might be again the menu application) is starting. Showing the ghostbuster (white image) in that moment might help. But even if it prevents the screen distortion, this might still be annoying. If you like we could test this.

[libertango]

Originally Posted by tshering

For test purposes, I upload here a package that provides random selection of the poweroff screen image.
After installing the package, select "scripts > poweroff.sh" in order to test how it works. For this test package I borrowed the images from the kobolauncher sleep folder. They are now in .kobo/kbmenu/poweroffimages. You can replace them by your own jpg or png files. The file names must not contain spaces.
If you are content with the results of your testing and wish to use it for real, copy the file poweroff.sh from kobo.\kbmenu\scripts to kobo.\kbmenu\onstart (replacing thereby the original poweroff.sh file).

This is only for KSM version 06.

Edit: It is preferable if the ratio of the images corresponds roughly to the screen ratio, the actual dimensions are not so important. Real large images might possibly cause problems. I tried 2136x2848 / 3 MB images without problem.

I tested the poweroff.sh script, putting in the poweroff folder some 800*600 jpg and png. The screen saver works randomly, but it shows the images in a windows-style window named Image viewer. The same with the original images in the poweroff folder. This was on Kobo Touch.

[tshering]

Originally Posted by libertango

I tested the poweroff.sh script, putting in the poweroff folder some 800*600 jpg and png. The screen saver works randomly, but it shows the images in a windows-style window named Image viewer. The same with the original images in the poweroff folder. This was on Kobo Touch.

Cf. this post.

[guomian]

Originally Posted by tshering

For FW 6.0.0 to 3.12.0; expected to run on H2O too.
Tested on Kobo Touch (mark 3, FW 6.2.0), Kobo Touch (mark 4, FW 3.8.0, 3.11.0 and 3.12.0), Kobo Glo (FW 3.8.0, 3.11.0 and 3.12.0), Mini, Aura HD, Aura, Aura H2O. On Kobo Aura H2O KSM shows some short-time disorder on the screen after an entry has been selected.

New features:

• slightly changed layout
• connect device as USB mass storage; enable USBnet (and dropbear if vlasovsoft is installed)
• handle wifi connections (rather limited; can currently handle only network names and passwords that contain only english letters and numbers)
• check for Kobo firmware updates and download them
  
  Spoiler:

  Note: After a firmware update, please run nickel at least once. Otherwise KSM cannot ascertain the current firmware version.[/SPOILER See for further information here.
• choose from several versions of koreader if available
  Spoiler:

  home: koreader additions > select koreader version
  If there are several versions of koreader on your device, you can select one of them. To have several versions of koreader, just rename the folders according to the pattern koreaderX (e.g, koreader_256). Do not use spaces in the name.
• user can define geometry (= screen position and size) of KSM applications
  
  Spoiler:

  Cf. this post
• auto start of nickel if there is no user input for 20 seconds (kind of safety net if KSM is unresponsive to touch input for some reason)
• execution of autoscript.sh as soon as it is detected on the external SD (for emergency cases)

I will provide more detailed information when I find some time.

First time installation (consists of 2 steps)

Spoiler:

Step 1

1. connect the Kobo to the PC
2. copy the folder kbmenupngs to the root of the device (e.g. K:\)
3. eject safely and disconnect
4. check that the four images (exit_nickel.png, run_test_script.png, simulate_usb_connection.png, switchtokoreader.png) are listed in the library and their thumbnails are displayed. Only then proceed to step two.

Step 2

1. connect the Kobo to the PC
2. copy KoboRoot.tgz to .kobo of the device
3. eject safely and disconnect
4. wait until the update is finished

Consult also the helpful guide to Adding alternative readers using Kobo Start Menu by Ken Maltby.

Installation on devices that have or had already KSM installed (consists of 2 [and maybe a halve] steps)

Spoiler:

Step 1

1. uninstall the previous version of KSM (use KBStartMenu_04_udate01_un_re_install.zip of this post)
2. delete the folder .kobo/kbmenu (do not delete .kobo)

Check that the folder kbmenupngs contains the necessary images. If not update the folder and verify that the images appear in the library view.

Step 2

1. same as Step 2 of "First time installation"

Be aware that you cannot easily downgrade the Kobo firmware without doing a factory reset. The reason for this is that the Kobo Start Menu tries to work with all FW versions starting with 2.6.0. In order to do this it determines the currently running FW version by looking whether specific files are available on the device. After downgrading (without factory reset), these version specific files are still living on the device, and this fact results in false identification.

The package contains materials provided by Sergey (Qt libraries), Cecell3000 (modified Qt mouse/touch driver), NiLuJe (FBGrab).


KBStartMenu_06_update01b.zip
Use this update package only if KSM 06 is already running on your device!

Spoiler:

How to install:

• extract KoboRoot.tgz from KBStartMenu_06_update01b.zip, and copy it to .kobo
• select in KSM "handle update > install update"

This upadate concerns the following points

• Some bug fixes; cf. this post
• Upside down power-off screen, cf. this post.
• Problems when switching between nickel and koreader, cf. this post.
• Bezel covering parts of the viewport, cf. part two of this post, and this post.
• (Re)enable optional password check
• Version of kobomessage, which is used for showing information texts and the power-off message, without frames and scrollbars
• activate side loaded dictionaries
• activate device (circumvent official device activation; "tools > kobo diverse.msh > activate device.sh")
• improvement of update script
• notification when there is an update file in .kobo

Further items (not included in KBStartMenu_06_update01b.zip):

• identify in the same way as nickel when connecting as usb storage
• show randomly images on power off screen

Uninstall KSM

Spoiler:

In KBStartMenu_04_udate01_un_re_install.zip, which you can find here, you find a folder uninstall, which has several subfolders who's name indicate to which FW version they belong (e.g., KoboRoot_2.10.0_3.1.1 belongs to the FW versions 2.10.0 to 3.1.1). Copy the file KoboRoot.tgz of the folder that corresponds to your FW to the folder .kobo of your device. Then select in KSM "handle update > install update".
You can use KoboRoot_3.3.1_3.4.1 for all FW versions from 3.3.1 to 3.12.0.

Note: Do not use reinstall of KBStartMenu_04_udate01_un_re_install.zip, since this is meant only to be used together with KSM 04.

USE THIS PACKAGE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Hi,
I`d like to know how to change the fonts size of the KSM V.06?

[tshering]

Originally Posted by guomian

Hi,
I`d like to know how to change the fonts size of the KSM V.06?

Edit the file .kobo\kbmenu\usersettings.txt
Change

#kobomenuFontsize=35

to

kobomenuFontsize=55

Instead of 55 set a value according to your wishes. The currently used value for H20 is 40. I know this is rather small. If you tell me what is a reasonable size for H2O I will preset it in the next version.

Use a unix-style editor!

[Elaxon]

Using the KBStartMenu_06_update01b.zip breaks my nickel on H20 Aura for some reason. Without the update it works flawlessly.

Originally Posted by Elaxon

Using the KBStartMenu_06_update01b.zip breaks my nickel on H20 Aura for some reason. Without the update it works flawlessly.

Does nickel start, reach the home screen, then reboot? I had that problem, and it turned out that the update was stuck in the .kobo directory but was never being applied. If I recall correctly, an option to apply the update appeared in the main KSM menu. I ran it, and all was okay.

[Elaxon]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Does nickel start, reach the home screen, then reboot? I had that problem, and it turned out that the update was stuck in the .kobo directory but was never being applied. If I recall correctly, an option to apply the update appeared in the main KSM menu. I ran it, and all was okay.

I did apply the update from the KSM menu and it rebooted. And I have no koboupdate stuck there. Should I update it again?

[tshering]

Originally Posted by Elaxon

Using the KBStartMenu_06_update01b.zip breaks my nickel on H20 Aura for some reason. Without the update it works flawlessly.

Strange! Last time it did not work even without the update. Right?

If you like we could try something:

• copy start_nickel_test.sh (of the uploaded archive) to .kobo/kbmenu/scripts
• eject the reader and disable usb
• select "scripts > start nickel test.sh"

You should find in .kobo\kbmenu\log a log file start_nickel_test.log. Please post it.

[Elaxon]

Originally Posted by tshering

Strange! Last time it did not work even without the update. Right?

If you like we could try something:

• copy start_nickel_test.sh (of the uploaded archive) to .kobo/kbmenu/scripts
• eject the reader and disable usb
• select "scripts > start nickel test.sh"

You should find in .kobo\kbmenu\log a log file start_nickel_test.log. Please post it.

Here is the link, http://pastebin.com/JqCQ1M7H
also it didn't work for me with the update before as well.

[tshering]

The log shows that nickel is actually started. Everything looks ok, but then it evidently exits for some reason. One reason could be a problem with fmon. Let us try start nickel without starting fmon. If it works this time you can not exit nickel via exit_nickel.png, but rather have to use the slider.

[Elaxon]

Originally Posted by tshering

The log shows that nickel is actually started. Everything looks ok, but then it evidently exits for some reason. One reason could be a problem with fmon. Let us try start nickel without starting fmon. If it works this time you can not exit nickel via exit_nickel.png, but rather have to use the slider.

It works now, what do you mean. What slider?

[tshering]

Originally Posted by Elaxon

It works now, what do you mean. What slider?

I mean the power on/off switch.

I guess on your home screen, there is shown one or several of the KSM pngs. Open the library view and have a look at them (in order to cause nickel to produce the thumb nails), do also open them as book to be on the save side.

Next time you should be able to run nickel by selecting "start nickel" from the KSM home.

[Elaxon]

Originally Posted by tshering

I mean the power on/off switch.

I guess on your home screen, there is shown one or several of the KSM pngs. Open the library view and have a look at them (in order to cause nickel to produce the thumb nails), do also open them as book to be on the save side.

Next time you should be able to run nickel by selecting "start nickel" from the KSM home.

Doesn't work I've finished viewing all the thumbnails but it still doesn't work to press start nickel. Only works without fmon started.