What happened to Kobo's epub support?

qfQqiQWo · 08-14-2022, 08:27 PM

Recently I sideloaded a few epubs to my Clara HD and found that the formatting has completely degraded compared to previous updates.

I've attached what I mean below. The Kobo_Old image is from a Clara HD with the original firmware (4.8.11090) and the Kobo_New reflects the newest firmware update (4.33.19759). No settings were altered in either case and were taken after a factory and manual reset of the Clara HD. The same epub was also sideloaded in the examples (not through Calibre/any other manager) as well.

Is there a setting I've missed to fix the formatting for the newer firmwares?

JSWolf · 08-14-2022, 08:46 PM

In the old photo, you have the header off and a smaller line height. Also, you have patches applied in the old photo. So yeah, there are differences. But it's user differences. Nothing has changed with ePub in the new firmware that would make them display differently.

qfQqiQWo · 08-14-2022, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In the old photo, you have the header off and a smaller line height. Also, you have patches applied in the old photo. So yeah, there are differences. But it's user differences. Nothing has changed with ePub in the new firmware that would make them display differently.

Thank you for responding.
I took the "old" picture just today after factory and manually resetting my device, so there shouldn't be any residual patches in effect. Even if there were, I've never added any patches to my device (I don't even know how to at the moment). The "new" photo was after doing another factory and manual reset after I took the "old" picture. I never touched the settings or added patches before either picture. The only thing I did was sideload the ebook for the pictures.

davidfor · 08-14-2022, 10:12 PM

I think the question is actually about the font size and possible difference margins.

The answer is simply that it change. The scaling used in epubs changed a little bit a few firmware versions ago when there were a lot of changes in how fonts were handled. And I think there was another change somewhere after 4.8 (I don't remember exactly what or when). But, it will mean that you need to select the font size and use that going forward.

For the margins, this also changed somewhere. From memory, epubs could be set so the text was against the bezel (though each device was slightly different). There is some space now when the margin settings are at the leftmost and I have margins set to zero in the book. I have don't remember when that changed, but, it has been this way for a while.

Quoth · 08-15-2022, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

IThere is some space now when the margin settings are at the leftmost and I have margins set to zero in the book. I have don't remember when that changed, but, it has been this way for a while.

But negligible compared to Amazon Kindle that has crazy big minimal margins, though using -45px in the CSS seems to work.

BamaJodie · 08-15-2022, 11:49 AM

Is there a solution for this increased font size? I just got my Libra 2 yesterday and tried to transfer my kindle books over to Kobo. They transferred okay, but when opening them on my Libra 2, the font size is huge! Obviously I can adjust that on the device itself, but then I will continually have to change font size when moving between books were purchased on Kobo and those that were imported. I also transferred them to the Kobo app on my phone, and the font size is normal there. Any thoughts on why the font becomes so huge when transferring books to the Libra 2 and what the easiest fix is?

Sirtel · 08-15-2022, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaJodie

Is there a solution for this increased font size? I just got my Libra 2 yesterday and tried to transfer my kindle books over to Kobo. They transferred okay, but when opening them on my Libra 2, the font size is huge! Obviously I can adjust that on the device itself, but then I will continually have to change font size when moving between books were purchased on Kobo and those that were imported. I also transferred them to the Kobo app on my phone, and the font size is normal there. Any thoughts on why the font becomes so huge when transferring books to the Libra 2 and what the easiest fix is?

There is a patch that fixes this. Another solution is to convert your sideloaded books to kepub instead of epub (for example, using the KoboTouch Extended Driver).

Quoth · 08-15-2022, 12:28 PM

I don't find I've ever needed a patch on Kobo and I don't like kepub.
I don't buy any books from Kobo, but if I did, I'd want to convert them to epub. IMO kepub is too proprietary. I convert all Amazon ebooks to epub too.

The Kepubs mess up font size for next opened epub. The problem is Kobo and kepub. There is a patch for that, which IMO is better than using kepub for all ebooks.

PeterT · 08-15-2022, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

I don't find I've ever needed a patch on Kobo and I don't like kepub.
I don't buy any books from Kobo, but if I did, I'd want to convert them to epub. IMO kepub is too proprietary. I convert all Amazon ebooks to epub too.

The Kepubs mess up font size for next opened epub. The problem is Kobo and kepub. There is a patch for that, which IMO is better than using kepub for all ebooks.

No need to convert; one can also download epub format from the kobo website.

Quoth · 08-15-2022, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

No need to convert; one can also download epub format from the kobo website.

Obviously that's the simplest solution!
I may eventually buy from Kobo, but my TBR pile is high.

JSWolf · 08-15-2022, 03:05 PM

I do use the patch that patches the L/R margins. With this patch, you get to the edge of the screen if you want proving the eBook has no L/R margin for the main text.

John F · 08-15-2022, 03:24 PM

I can't say as I see a font size problem with kepubs on Kobos.

99% of the time my source is an epub.
I always do a epub to epub conversion.
I use Calibre/extended driver to send kepub on-the-fly.

Sirtel · 08-15-2022, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

I can't say as I see a font size problem with kepubs on Kobos.

99% of the time my source is an epub.
I always do a epub to epub conversion.
I use Calibre/extended driver to send kepub on-the-fly.

The problem is the difference between epub and kepub font size. If all your books are kepub, you won't see the issue.

JSWolf · 08-15-2022, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

I can't say as I see a font size problem with kepubs on Kobos.

99% of the time my source is an epub.
I always do a epub to epub conversion.
I use Calibre/extended driver to send kepub on-the-fly.

The problem is if you read ePub & KePub. The font sizes are different so you have to adjust for one and that changes the other. There is a patch to make ePub & KePub font sizes match so there is no problem.

John F · 08-15-2022, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

The problem is the difference between epub and kepub font size. If all your books are kepub, you won't see the issue.

I guess I'm still a little surprised, even though I only use kepub.

Browsing through other posts, it seems that publishers can set body text font sizes to whatever they like, and yet all my kepubs look like the body font size are the same. *

* please note that I am ignorant of html/css**

** please further note I am not looking for a detailed explanation of html/css.

08-14-2022, 08:27 PM	#1
qfQqiQWo Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2022 Device: none	What happened to Kobo's epub support? Recently I sideloaded a few epubs to my Clara HD and found that the formatting has completely degraded compared to previous updates. I've attached what I mean below. The Kobo_Old image is from a Clara HD with the original firmware (4.8.11090) and the Kobo_New reflects the newest firmware update (4.33.19759). No settings were altered in either case and were taken after a factory and manual reset of the Clara HD. The same epub was also sideloaded in the examples (not through Calibre/any other manager) as well. Is there a setting I've missed to fix the formatting for the newer firmwares? Attached Thumbnails

08-15-2022, 11:49 AM	#6
BamaJodie Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Having the same issue Is there a solution for this increased font size? I just got my Libra 2 yesterday and tried to transfer my kindle books over to Kobo. They transferred okay, but when opening them on my Libra 2, the font size is huge! Obviously I can adjust that on the device itself, but then I will continually have to change font size when moving between books were purchased on Kobo and those that were imported. I also transferred them to the Kobo app on my phone, and the font size is normal there. Any thoughts on why the font becomes so huge when transferring books to the Libra 2 and what the easiest fix is?

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08-14-2022, 08:46 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	In the old photo, you have the header off and a smaller line height. Also, you have patches applied in the old photo. So yeah, there are differences. But it's user differences. Nothing has changed with ePub in the new firmware that would make them display differently.

08-14-2022, 10:12 PM	#4
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I think the question is actually about the font size and possible difference margins. The answer is simply that it change. The scaling used in epubs changed a little bit a few firmware versions ago when there were a lot of changes in how fonts were handled. And I think there was another change somewhere after 4.8 (I don't remember exactly what or when). But, it will mean that you need to select the font size and use that going forward. For the margins, this also changed somewhere. From memory, epubs could be set so the text was against the bezel (though each device was slightly different). There is some space now when the margin settings are at the leftmost and I have margins set to zero in the book. I have don't remember when that changed, but, it has been this way for a while.

08-15-2022, 12:28 PM	#8
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,035 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I don't find I've ever needed a patch on Kobo and I don't like kepub. I don't buy any books from Kobo, but if I did, I'd want to convert them to epub. IMO kepub is too proprietary. I convert all Amazon ebooks to epub too. The Kepubs mess up font size for next opened epub. The problem is Kobo and kepub. There is a patch for that, which IMO is better than using kepub for all ebooks.

08-15-2022, 03:05 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I do use the patch that patches the L/R margins. With this patch, you get to the edge of the screen if you want proving the eBook has no L/R margin for the main text.

08-15-2022, 03:24 PM	#12
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,941 Karma: 70766125 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	I can't say as I see a font size problem with kepubs on Kobos. 99% of the time my source is an epub. I always do a epub to epub conversion. I use Calibre/extended driver to send kepub on-the-fly.

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