PRS-500 layout values in cache.xml

kenbaldwin · 01-03-2007, 07:44 PM

Does anyone understand the values of the <layout> elements in the cache.xml file on the memory card?

For example, see the cache.xml file posted here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7713

Ken

kenbaldwin · 01-03-2007, 07:47 PM

A short example is attached.

Ken

kovidgoyal · 01-03-2007, 07:59 PM

As a first step its encoded in base64. Attached is the decoded version for The_World_Turned_Upside_Down part=0 scale=0

Dont be fooled by the txt extension. You will need to look at it in a hexeditor.

cmumford · 01-03-2007, 08:45 PM

It looks like this might be a FreeType font.

kovidgoyal · 01-03-2007, 08:55 PM

Isn't it too small to be a font? Besides I would imagine it only specifies a font size...the rest is pagination information. layout sections are present for LRF files as well where there isn't an embedded font. They can be generated by either the CONNECT software or the reader itself, when it first opens a book.

kenbaldwin · 01-04-2007, 11:13 AM

Is it possible to reverse engineer the encoding scheme? Doing so would make it possible to develop (lighter, faster, crossplatform) tools to replace the CONNECT software for simple file transfers.

I'm on Windows and use CONNECT to transfer books to the memory card in order to get the books pre-paginated, but the process is painfully slow. I'd really like a simple app for transferring books that was smart enough to update the cache.xml appropriately, to avoid delays when a new book is opened or re-scaled.

Ken

kovidgoyal · 01-04-2007, 11:30 AM

Its on my todo list
https://libprs500.kovidgoyal.net/ticket/20

However, its not a high priority, so unless you're willing to do some reverse engg, don't hold your breath.

NatCh · 01-04-2007, 12:30 PM

I have a question about libprs500, kovidgoyal: is it going to be (or is it now -- I haven't had a chance to play with it yet) something that I could install and run from, say, a flash drive?

I'd love to have a portable replacement for Connect, and I very much like the looks of what you're doing there.

kovidgoyal · 01-04-2007, 12:57 PM

libprs500 itself is a single file alongwith a couple of 3 line executable scripts to launch the CLI and GUI. Provided that the computer you plug your flash drive into meets the dependency requirements, yes, it is portable.

NatCh · 01-04-2007, 01:16 PM

Excellent! Thanks.

kenbaldwin · 03-03-2009, 06:20 PM

Did anyone ever figure out the format of the layout elements? I see that the libprs500/calibre ticket was closed because "with EPUB output no precalculation is required". Thanks,

Ken

JSWolf · 03-03-2009, 07:00 PM

Thing is, to leave in the bugs for the LRF part of Calibre is doing a disservice to the owners of 500s. They don't have ePub support and never will. So bu ignoring all the fixes that could be done for LRF, they get left out in the cold (so to speak).

kovidgoyal · 03-03-2009, 07:02 PM

It's a question of priorities

01-03-2007, 07:44 PM	#1
kenbaldwin Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony PRS-500	layout values in cache.xml Does anyone understand the values of the <layout> elements in the cache.xml file on the memory card? For example, see the cache.xml file posted here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7713 Ken

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01-03-2007, 08:45 PM	#4
cmumford Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 34 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Device: PRS-500	It looks like this might be a FreeType font.

01-03-2007, 08:55 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,163 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Isn't it too small to be a font? Besides I would imagine it only specifies a font size...the rest is pagination information. layout sections are present for LRF files as well where there isn't an embedded font. They can be generated by either the CONNECT software or the reader itself, when it first opens a book.

01-04-2007, 11:13 AM	#6
kenbaldwin Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony PRS-500	Is it possible to reverse engineer the encoding scheme? Doing so would make it possible to develop (lighter, faster, crossplatform) tools to replace the CONNECT software for simple file transfers. I'm on Windows and use CONNECT to transfer books to the memory card in order to get the books pre-paginated, but the process is painfully slow. I'd really like a simple app for transferring books that was smart enough to update the cache.xml appropriately, to avoid delays when a new book is opened or re-scaled. Ken

01-04-2007, 11:30 AM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,163 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Its on my todo list https://libprs500.kovidgoyal.net/ticket/20 However, its not a high priority, so unless you're willing to do some reverse engg, don't hold your breath.

01-04-2007, 12:30 PM	#8
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I have a question about libprs500, kovidgoyal: is it going to be (or is it now -- I haven't had a chance to play with it yet) something that I could install and run from, say, a flash drive? I'd love to have a portable replacement for Connect, and I very much like the looks of what you're doing there.

01-04-2007, 12:57 PM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,163 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	libprs500 itself is a single file alongwith a couple of 3 line executable scripts to launch the CLI and GUI. Provided that the computer you plug your flash drive into meets the dependency requirements, yes, it is portable.

01-04-2007, 01:16 PM	#10
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Excellent! Thanks.

03-03-2009, 06:20 PM	#11
kenbaldwin Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony PRS-500	Did anyone ever figure out the format of the layout elements? I see that the libprs500/calibre ticket was closed because "with EPUB output no precalculation is required". Thanks, Ken

03-03-2009, 07:00 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,001 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Thing is, to leave in the bugs for the LRF part of Calibre is doing a disservice to the owners of 500s. They don't have ePub support and never will. So bu ignoring all the fixes that could be done for LRF, they get left out in the cold (so to speak).

03-03-2009, 07:02 PM	#13
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,163 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	It's a question of priorities