H2O and wasted space question

[Kaysclie]

Love the large screen of the Kobo H2o. I don't have one yet but have been watching videos and reading this forum for more info. But my question is..
does the wasted space at the top and bottom still exist, or is there a way to get rid of it. Has the newer firmware eliminated it? I read about a patch, but is this still needed? Please advise..I am seriously contemplating a H2o.

[GeoffR]

The current firmware has an option for a full-screen reading mode which has no header (title) or footer (progress indicator). So the amount of unusable space depends on which format of book you choose (kepub or epub) and which reading mode you choose (full-screen or normal):

• EPUB in full-screen reading mode: no unusable space at all, every single pixel of the screen is avaliable for book content.

• KEPUB in full-screen reading mode: a small (2%) minimum margin on all four sides.

• EPUB in normal reading mode: a tiny (1%) minimum top margin and a very large (8%) footer.

• KEPUB in normal reading mode: a very large (8%) header and very large (8%) footer, and small (2%) minimum left/right margins.

There are patches which can remove the minimum margins in kepubs, and reduce or remove the normal-mode footer in epubs and kepubs, but there is no way to remove the kepub normal-mode header.

[Uschiekid]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

The current firmware has an option for a full-screen reading mode which has no header (title) or footer (progress indicator). So the amount of unusable space depends on which format of book you choose (kepub or epub) and which reading mode you choose (full-screen or normal).

Where is this setting for full-screen in the current firmware?

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by Uschiekid

Where is this setting for full-screen in the current firmware?

To enable the option initially you need to edit the configuration file .kobo/Kobo/Kobo eReader.conf (using a unix-aware editor such as Notepad++ if doing it from Windows) and add the feature setting:

[FeatureSettings]
FullScreenReading=true

Thereafter you can switch between normal and full-screen mode with the "Show header and footer" option on the reading settings menu:

[howyoudoin]

There's also the showpageheader=false line that can be added under the [Reading] section of the Kobo eReader.conf file.

It removes the part of the header (but not the footer) and provides one extra line on my Aura H2O, provided the [FeatureSettings] FullScreenReading=true is also inserted into the .conf file and the setting enabled on the device.

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

To enable the option initially you need to edit the configuration file .kobo/Kobo/Kobo eReader.conf (using a unix-aware editor such as Notepad++ if doing it from Windows) and add the feature setting:

[FeatureSettings]
FullScreenReading=true

Thereafter you can switch between normal and full-screen mode with the "Show header and footer" option on the reading settings menu:

Thanks for that info Geoff.

How do I see the page number if I use the Full Screen setting. Where else would I find it?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

How do I see the page number if I use the Full Screen setting. Where else would I find it?

The page number is on the navigation bar. Tap wherever to bring up the top and bottom bars and then tap the navigation icon.

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

How do I see the page number if I use the Full Screen setting. Where else would I find it?

You can see the page number by opening the Navigation <--> menu. With the latest firmware (3.15.0) the menu is sticky, so if you don't close it before returning to the book then it is just one tap to see the page number while reading (and another tap to return to reading the book).

[Lynx-lynx]

Thank you Davidfor and GeoffR, works as you both describe!!

Edit
One other question, will I need to update the file each time I update the version?

[Kaysclie]

GeoffR
Where do I find the configuration file .kobo/Kobo/Kobo eReader.conf ? Looks like I may need some hand holding here. Right now I still have my regular Glo and am looking at for these files....or are they only on the H2o?
Trying to get a jump on what to do before I have the H2o in my hands.

[Smartie]

my problem is why those ereaders' bezel is so big, H2o might be ok since it is 6'8. but Kindle really should make their ereader's bezel smaller

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

One other question, will I need to update the file each time I update the version?

No, the option remains after you upgrade firmware.

Originally Posted by Kaysclie

Where do I find the configuration file .kobo/Kobo/Kobo eReader.conf ?

It is on the device's user filesystem. On my Linux system it shows as /media/KOBOeReader/.kobo/Kobo/Kobo eReader.conf, on Windows I'm not sure, I guess something like F:\.kobo\Kobo\Kobo eReader.conf.

[Kaysclie]

Never Mind
I found an article from the eBook Reader.com that explains how to do this!
It works! Thanks for your replies and help. Most likely I will be back when I run into any problems. Thank goodness for this site and people willing to share their knowledge!!
Thanks GeoffR for your extra reply to my question.

[filmo]

To see kobo reader's cofig file must have Windows set to show hidden files.

[Patricius]

Just to clarify: it's not 'showpageheader=false' but 'showPageHeader=false'.