Using external keyboard with KOReader's Text Editor

[paperwhite13]

I know this has been asked before, but I wonder if it's possible in 2024.

[paperwhite13]

2026, up!

[alllexx]

It's possible, but with newer Kindles (PW5 and PW6 at least, as far as I know): https://github.com/zampierilucas/kindle-hid-passthrough
It allows a BT keyboard to be connected and also installs a companion KOReader plugin. I've tested it on mine PW5SE, an older version of the BT manager + plugin. It worked just fine.

[paperwhite13]

Originally Posted by alllexx

It's possible, but with newer Kindles (PW5 and PW6 at least, as far as I know): https://github.com/zampierilucas/kindle-hid-passthrough
It allows a BT keyboard to be connected and also installs a companion KOReader plugin. I've tested it on mine PW5SE, an older version of the BT manager + plugin. It worked just fine.

Thank you for your reply, that's great to know! All these years for some reason I thought PW3 had bluetooth ) I'll stick with my tmux Kindle as a mirror which lets me go as far as my attic to write, at least now I know I really have no other options with this model. Thanks again!

[alllexx]

You're welcome I think PW4+ have BT, but currently BCM4343 board support that Kindle 8th-10th gen run on, is WIP: see https://github.com/zampierilucas/kin...hrough/pull/33
Newer ones, on MT8512 SoC, are fully supported.

[kdusr]

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=341123

[paperwhite13]

Originally Posted by kdusr

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=341123

Hey, that's great, but it doesn't work with an external keyboard, right?

[lzampier]

Originally Posted by paperwhite13

Hey, that's great, but it doesn't work with an external keyboard, right?

Oh but it does, someone contributed full keyboard support!

[kaspar]

I think it's finally time to start developing an RTF editor.

[kbarni]

There is already Wordgrinder which is a minimalist - but very capable word processor. It has ODT export (Word and Libreoffice format - much better than RTF) besides HTML, Latex and Markdown.

My second choice is Markdown editing with Textadept, then convert to any format using Pandoc. It's really a full featured editor.

(Note that these programs work from the main Kindle interface, not from Koreader)

[kaspar]

Originally Posted by kbarni

There is already Wordgrinder which is a minimalist - but very capable word processor. It has ODT export (Word and Libreoffice format - much better than RTF) besides HTML, Latex and Markdown.

My second choice is Markdown editing with Textadept, then convert to any format using Pandoc. It's really a full featured editor.

(Note that these programs work from the main Kindle interface, not from Koreader)

Wow, where have I been!? This is fantastic. Been waiting for this combination for more than a decade. Thanks.

[kbarni]

What's even better: these are desktop apps ported to the Kindle, not dumbed down versions, as it's often the case for mobile devices. It's really hard to find good quality text editors for Android tablets.

They have a small learning curve - these are not Word clones, and not Notepad either - but once you understand how to use them, they become extremely capable.

One more recommendation: Use Syncthing to set up a sync folder between the Kindle and your computer, it will automatically synchronize all your documents when on the same network.

[kaspar]

Originally Posted by kbarni

What's even better: these are desktop apps ported to the Kindle, not dumbed down versions, as it's often the case for mobile devices. It's really hard to find good quality text editors for Android tablets.

They have a small learning curve - these are not Word clones, and not Notepad either - but once you understand how to use them, they become extremely capable.

One more recommendation: Use Syncthing to set up a sync folder between the Kindle and your computer, it will automatically synchronize all your documents when on the same network.

I have WordGrinder working now with a Bluetooth keyboard. I was wondering, do you know an easy way to do a full refresh the screen? Right now my best way is to tap two fingers on the screen to get the kterm menu, and then I tap menu to close it. This performs a full page refresh. I have a Pomera DM30 (Japanese e-ink word processor), and it has F12 mapped to perform a page refresh. If there isn't a better solution already, maybe I will write to the dev who ported WordGrinder.