Touch CoolReader experts?

nmyshkin · 03-08-2026, 02:38 PM

I'm not very informed about CoolReader and I've run into something that seems so odd it must be a setting or something that I have not found.

This is for version 3.1.2-52, but it looks like earlier versions all had it the same. What is the deal with word selection for dictionary look-up? Right now I have to open the menu, tap on "toggle select" and then return to the page and long-press on the word. On the next word I have to attend the same circus all over again because the toggle apparently switches "off" after one use. I can set every long-tap zone to "toggle select" and then I have to long-press, wait for the prompt, lift my finger and long-press again. It just seems so stupid.

I've been trying to think of why someone would intentionally do this but so far don't have a clue. This leads me to suspect there is some kind of settings combination I have not yet tried.

I know AlReader is similar in trying to make it difficult for some reason to select a word for look-up, but in that case there actually is a way to circumvent the nonsense and have a long-press open the dictionary without any other hocus-pocus.

Is there a way with CoolReader?

Edit yes, there is, but I think it's a little dopey.

Dictionary definitions should be accessed with double-taps.....
Set "Text selection with double tap"
Set "Single Selection action" = Find in dictionary.

nellie27 · 03-10-2026, 10:17 AM

I use CoolReader, but I'm no expert.

I set mine up for text selection with double-tap. A little menu pops up on the bottom with several buttons. The a>z icon is for the dictionary.

I'm not sure how you are going about this, to have to toggle something.

I like CoolReader quite a bit, but it's certainly not the most straightforward of applications.

nmyshkin · 03-10-2026, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nellie27

I use CoolReader, but I'm no expert.

I set mine up for text selection with double-tap. A little menu pops up on the bottom with several buttons. The a>z icon is for the dictionary.

Yes, that works also, similar to FBReader.

I don't think I'd want to do any of the other options on that little menu (whatever they are) so I think I prefer setting the "Single Selection action" to "Find in dictionary". That makes it one less selection to get a definition, just a double-tap and you're there.

Now if there were only some way to get the clock and battery to disappear from the Title bar.

nellie27 · 03-11-2026, 10:38 AM

Did you get that single tap set up to your liking then? (That would be in the settings menus>hand-with-pointing-finger>single selection action, in case you missed it) I was poking through the settings and saw that option, but I prefer to have the option to search in book as well as dictionary lookup, so I'll tolerate those other unneeded functions.

i like a lot of info on my title bar, so I have everything selected for that. But you can deselect them. Or even not have a title bar, if you choose. (settings menus>page-with-folded-corner>title bar options)

If you're taking about the clock and battery icons in the android status bar, full screen mode will take care of it. Same as above> page-with-folded-corner menu>fullscreen mode.

You may already have found these things. If so, sorry for being over-explain-y. Also, I see that you have various nooks, which I gave up on several years ago and haven't a clue what they can do anymore. (They run android applications?)

nmyshkin · 03-11-2026, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nellie27

Did you get that single tap set up to your liking then?

Well, the double-tap, but yes, thanks.

Quote:

i like a lot of info on my title bar, so I have everything selected for that. But you can deselect them. Or even not have a title bar, if you choose. (settings menus>page-with-folded-corner>title bar options)

And that's why there are settings options for different people. I hate all that stuff. All I want is a page number, and I wish it was at the bottom of the screen :-( Unfortunately I see no options to untick for the time and battery display in the title bar--at least not on the version I am running.

Quote:

Also, I see that you have various nooks, which I gave up on several years ago and haven't a clue what they can do anymore. (They run android applications?)

All the Nooks are Android devices so, yes, then can run other apps when persuaded to do so.

nellie27 · 03-15-2026, 10:49 AM

Yes, so many different settings on so many different applications, yet the ones you really want all together in one package..... doesn't seem to exist.

CoolReader single tap seems to be reserved for tap zones. (I don't use them except page forward and back.) Perhaps that's why single tap for text selection isn't an option.

Have you used KOReader at all? It's pretty configurable. There are so many ways to customize, I forget what I set up, so I very rarely use it. That may be an option for you.

My nook b/w ereaders were plain old nook software. I don't have them anymore. Also I had a nook color that I dual booted Gingerbread from a card.

I did dig out an HD+ that had been in storage. I originally bought it new, then booted KitKat from a card, finally wiped the nook stuff and installed Marshmallow. It's set up for some old games (klondike, word search, montezuma puzzles, stuff like that), and about 8-9 reader apps for testing. The hardware is excellent, frankly. I expected lag, but it's pretty usable.

Hopefully you'll find something you can live with. For me, CoolReader works better than other other applications I've tried.

03-08-2026, 02:38 PM	#1
nmyshkin Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 56675 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: NST (3), NSTG (3), NG	CoolReader experts? I'm not very informed about CoolReader and I've run into something that seems so odd it must be a setting or something that I have not found. This is for version 3.1.2-52, but it looks like earlier versions all had it the same. What is the deal with word selection for dictionary look-up? Right now I have to open the menu, tap on "toggle select" and then return to the page and long-press on the word. On the next word I have to attend the same circus all over again because the toggle apparently switches "off" after one use. I can set every long-tap zone to "toggle select" and then I have to long-press, wait for the prompt, lift my finger and long-press again. It just seems so stupid. I've been trying to think of why someone would intentionally do this but so far don't have a clue. This leads me to suspect there is some kind of settings combination I have not yet tried. I know AlReader is similar in trying to make it difficult for some reason to select a word for look-up, but in that case there actually is a way to circumvent the nonsense and have a long-press open the dictionary without any other hocus-pocus. Is there a way with CoolReader? Edit yes, there is, but I think it's a little dopey. Dictionary definitions should be accessed with double-taps..... Set "Text selection with double tap" Set "Single Selection action" = Find in dictionary. Last edited by nmyshkin; 03-09-2026 at 02:51 PM. Reason: Solved

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03-10-2026, 10:17 AM	#2
nellie27 Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 184 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Galaxy Tab A, Boox Nova Air C, Kobo Libra2	I use CoolReader, but I'm no expert. I set mine up for text selection with double-tap. A little menu pops up on the bottom with several buttons. The a>z icon is for the dictionary. I'm not sure how you are going about this, to have to toggle something. I like CoolReader quite a bit, but it's certainly not the most straightforward of applications.

03-11-2026, 10:38 AM	#4
nellie27 Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 184 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Galaxy Tab A, Boox Nova Air C, Kobo Libra2	Did you get that single tap set up to your liking then? (That would be in the settings menus>hand-with-pointing-finger>single selection action, in case you missed it) I was poking through the settings and saw that option, but I prefer to have the option to search in book as well as dictionary lookup, so I'll tolerate those other unneeded functions. i like a lot of info on my title bar, so I have everything selected for that. But you can deselect them. Or even not have a title bar, if you choose. (settings menus>page-with-folded-corner>title bar options) If you're taking about the clock and battery icons in the android status bar, full screen mode will take care of it. Same as above> page-with-folded-corner menu>fullscreen mode. You may already have found these things. If so, sorry for being over-explain-y. Also, I see that you have various nooks, which I gave up on several years ago and haven't a clue what they can do anymore. (They run android applications?)

03-15-2026, 10:49 AM	#6
nellie27 Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 184 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Galaxy Tab A, Boox Nova Air C, Kobo Libra2	Yes, so many different settings on so many different applications, yet the ones you really want all together in one package..... doesn't seem to exist. CoolReader single tap seems to be reserved for tap zones. (I don't use them except page forward and back.) Perhaps that's why single tap for text selection isn't an option. Have you used KOReader at all? It's pretty configurable. There are so many ways to customize, I forget what I set up, so I very rarely use it. That may be an option for you. My nook b/w ereaders were plain old nook software. I don't have them anymore. Also I had a nook color that I dual booted Gingerbread from a card. I did dig out an HD+ that had been in storage. I originally bought it new, then booted KitKat from a card, finally wiped the nook stuff and installed Marshmallow. It's set up for some old games (klondike, word search, montezuma puzzles, stuff like that), and about 8-9 reader apps for testing. The hardware is excellent, frankly. I expected lag, but it's pretty usable. Hopefully you'll find something you can live with. For me, CoolReader works better than other other applications I've tried.