How does Kobo Utilities set the time on a device?

[Dal Bhat]

Seems to work. How?

[PeterT]

Through the same means as Kobo desktop used to. It creates a file in the
.Kobo directory called epoch.conf that contains a Linux epoch time, number of seconds from January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC.

The code is found in the Kobo Utilities source file action.py
[code]def set_time_on_device(
device: KoboDevice,
gui: ui.Main,
dispatcher: Dispatcher,
load_resources: LoadResources,
):
del dispatcher, load_resources
debug("start")
now = calendar.timegm(time.gmtime())
debug("time=%s" % now)
epoch_conf_path = os.path.join(
device.path, KOBO_ROOT_DIR_NAME, KOBO_EPOCH_CONF_NAME
)
with open(epoch_conf_path, "w") as epoch_conf:
epoch_conf.write("%s" % now)
gui.status_bar.show_message(
_("Kobo Utilities") + " - " + _("Time file created on device."), 3000
)
debug("end")
[code]

[bluepeter]

I'm also curious. Thank you for that, but I'm afraid that the code quoted above means nothing to me: I lack the relevant education.

I was aware that KU creates a file on the device. But what does the device then do with that file? My assumption is that when it's disconnected, it somehow sees that the new file exists, reads it, checks the file's datestamp against the internal clock, takes the time written by the source computer in the file, adds the elapsed time between creation and now, and then sets the clock to the resulting time. Is that correct?

[JSWolf]

But then the time is not accurate as it takes time to eject, read the file, and set the time.

[PeterT]

I know it's not accurate but how i.portant is it to have the device time precise to the millisecond?

[Dal Bhat]

Plus or minus a few seconds won't cast a shadow over my reading on the device.

[JSWolf]

I just changed the time on my Libra 2 using the Date and Time settings. It was roughly 4 minutes ahead. That's not bad considering I've not change the time in a long time.

I like the way Sony did the date/time. It got updated when you plugged the Reader into the USB port.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by bluepeter

I'm also curious. Thank you for that, but I'm afraid that the code quoted above means nothing to me: I lack the relevant education.

I was aware that KU creates a file on the device. But what does the device then do with that file? My assumption is that when it's disconnected, it somehow sees that the new file exists, reads it, checks the file's datestamp against the internal clock, takes the time written by the source computer in the file, adds the elapsed time between creation and now, and then sets the clock to the resulting time. Is that correct?

I expect the logic on the Kobo is that if the file exists it's read and the value from it is used to set the device Time. (Beaware that on Linux systems the time is stored as the number of seconds from 1970/01/01 00:00:00). Once the file has been processed it is removed from the device.

Sent from my SM-X238U using Tapatalk

[Dal Bhat]

Once the file has been processed it is removed from the device.

I was going to ask about that because I just looked for it. No can find.

Now we know. I learn something new here everyday.

PeterT, take the rest of the day off.