Dictionary lookup in iBooks 1.1: "Dictionary not available for this language"

kjk · 06-21-2010, 04:08 PM

I'm getting a "Dictionary not available for this language" in some ePubs I've converted from other sources, when trying to use the iBooks Dictionary.
It works fine in some ePubs I've created myself, just not in others.
It works fine in books purchased in iBooks.

Is there a metadata I need to have in the ePub to specify English?

tlrowley · 06-21-2010, 04:30 PM

Same here - I haven't purchased any from iBooks, but I have side-loaded some epubs and the dictionary works on those, but not on the Calibre converted ones.

GRiker · 06-21-2010, 04:33 PM

I'm downloading it right now, I'll take a look. It might be a mismatched language declaration in the metadata causing the problem.

G

kjk · 06-21-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlrowley

Same here - I haven't purchased any from iBooks, but I have side-loaded some epubs and the dictionary works on those, but not on the Calibre converted ones.

Phew, ok, glad its not just me

I'll ask on the ePub forum-maybe its just a simple metadata thing we can add to Calibre's settings.

It is odd but not unexpected that "copy text" is also only available on my converted books..not on purchased ones.

kjk · 06-21-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRiker

I'm downloading it right now, I'll take a look. It might be a mismatched language declaration in the metadata causing the problem.

G

Cool, thanks!

HarryT · 06-21-2010, 04:36 PM

This is definitely a new "feature" of 1.1. Dictionary lookup used to work fine in the ePubs I'd created myself - now it gives this error.

tlrowley · 06-21-2010, 04:40 PM

Hey - we have sepia, now, too!

tyche · 06-21-2010, 04:41 PM

All the books I've tested now with 1.1 fail the dictionary but they worked in the older version.

HarryT · 06-21-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyche

All the books I've tested now with 1.1 fail the dictionary but they worked in the older version.

The dictionary works in Baen's ePub books, but not in the ones I've created myself with Calibre.

kjk · 06-21-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRiker

I'm downloading it right now, I'll take a look. It might be a mismatched language declaration in the metadata causing the problem.

G

Did you want me to send in a ticket, GRiker?

GRiker · 06-21-2010, 05:06 PM

Already fixed for next release.

Here's what I found in my quick test: If iBooks 1.1 finds either 'en' or 'en-US' in <dc:language>, the dictionary works. It's possible that this is country-specific, as I'm on a US iPad. I'm adding code that forces the <dc:language> declaration to 'en-US' for now.

Harry, can you take a look at Winnie-the-Pooh's OPF file, and tell me what its <dc:language> is declared as?

Calibre may need to allow the user to specify language for different countries, I'll discuss with Kovid.

G

kjk · 06-21-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRiker

Already fixed for next release.

Here's what I found in my quick test: If iBooks 1.1 finds either 'en' or 'en-US' in <dc:language>, the dictionary works. It's possible that this is country-specific, as I'm on a US iPad. I'm adding code that forces the <dc:language> declaration to 'en-US' for now.

Harry, can you take a look at Winnie-the-Pooh's OPF file, and tell me what its <dc:language> is declared as?

Calibre may need to allow the user to specify language for different countries, I'll discuss with Kovid.

G

cool, thanks again for the quick response!

tlrowley · 06-21-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRiker

Already fixed for next release.

Here's what I found in my quick test: If iBooks 1.1 finds either 'en' or 'en-US' in <dc:language>, the dictionary works. It's possible that this is country-specific, as I'm on a US iPad. I'm adding code that forces the <dc:language> declaration to 'en-US' for now.

Harry, can you take a look at Winnie-the-Pooh's OPF file, and tell me what its <dc:language> is declared as?

Calibre may need to allow the user to specify language for different countries, I'll discuss with Kovid.

G

I'm not Harry, but Winnie shows

<dc:language>en</dc:language>
(dictionary lookup works)

and a book I converted in Calibre shows
<dc:language>UND</dc:language>
(dictionary lookup fails)

You're awesome, Gregory, thanks.

Tracey

GRiker · 06-21-2010, 05:31 PM

tlrowley, I assume you using the US book store as I am?

I need folks that are not using the US bookstore to check that declaration. If international iPads are shipped with different dictionaries, it could be a country-by-country matter.

G

tlrowley · 06-21-2010, 05:36 PM

I'll stop trying to be helpful

06-21-2010, 04:08 PM	#1
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	Dictionary lookup in iBooks 1.1: "Dictionary not available for this language" I'm getting a "Dictionary not available for this language" in some ePubs I've converted from other sources, when trying to use the iBooks Dictionary. It works fine in some ePubs I've created myself, just not in others. It works fine in books purchased in iBooks. Is there a metadata I need to have in the ePub to specify English?

06-21-2010, 05:06 PM	#11
GRiker Comparer of the Ephemeris Posts: 1,496 Karma: 424697 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad	Already fixed for next release. Here's what I found in my quick test: If iBooks 1.1 finds either 'en' or 'en-US' in <dc:language>, the dictionary works. It's possible that this is country-specific, as I'm on a US iPad. I'm adding code that forces the <dc:language> declaration to 'en-US' for now. Harry, can you take a look at Winnie-the-Pooh's OPF file, and tell me what its <dc:language> is declared as? Calibre may need to allow the user to specify language for different countries, I'll discuss with Kovid. G Last edited by GRiker; 06-21-2010 at 05:09 PM.

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06-21-2010, 04:30 PM	#2
tlrowley Quilt Geek Posts: 472 Karma: 91775 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA Device: Kindle	Same here - I haven't purchased any from iBooks, but I have side-loaded some epubs and the dictionary works on those, but not on the Calibre converted ones.

06-21-2010, 04:33 PM	#3
GRiker Comparer of the Ephemeris Posts: 1,496 Karma: 424697 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad	I'm downloading it right now, I'll take a look. It might be a mismatched language declaration in the metadata causing the problem. G

06-21-2010, 04:36 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	This is definitely a new "feature" of 1.1. Dictionary lookup used to work fine in the ePubs I'd created myself - now it gives this error.

06-21-2010, 04:40 PM	#7
tlrowley Quilt Geek Posts: 472 Karma: 91775 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA Device: Kindle	Hey - we have sepia, now, too!

06-21-2010, 04:41 PM	#8
tyche Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 2530 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, iPad	All the books I've tested now with 1.1 fail the dictionary but they worked in the older version.

06-21-2010, 05:31 PM	#14
GRiker Comparer of the Ephemeris Posts: 1,496 Karma: 424697 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad	tlrowley, I assume you using the US book store as I am? I need folks that are not using the US bookstore to check that declaration. If international iPads are shipped with different dictionaries, it could be a country-by-country matter. G

06-21-2010, 05:36 PM	#15
tlrowley Quilt Geek Posts: 472 Karma: 91775 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA Device: Kindle	I'll stop trying to be helpful