Koreader running on Kobos (all of them, hopefully!)

[roger64]

Suspending

I have been using Koreader regularly these last weeks. When I put it to sleep, the screen was dimmed and the cover page was displayed.

However, this reverted to the old way - dimmed screen with the word "suspended".

I probably did something wrong that I was unaware of. Could some good soul put me back on the right track? I did not update Koreader before this change.

Edit: I have a Kobo Glo

[invention13]

I just downloaded koreader for my kobo h2o (2014.04-stable). After following the instructions to install the start menu and koreader, when I start it, it drops me into the file manager. If I select any of the files, I get a "copy-delete-..." type floating menu. At that point nothing responds further and I have to reboot to get out.
I am looking through the documentation and don't see anything like a simple user manual. I'm not sure what I _should_ see when koreader is launched.
Any suggestions?

- Ian

[tshering]

Originally Posted by invention13

I just downloaded koreader for my kobo h2o (2014.04-stable). After following the instructions to install the start menu and koreader, when I start it, it drops me into the file manager. If I select any of the files, I get a "copy-delete-..." type floating menu. At that point nothing responds further and I have to reboot to get out.
I am looking through the documentation and don't see anything like a simple user manual. I'm not sure what I _should_ see when koreader is launched.
Any suggestions?

- Ian

Select the file by touching the menu entry only shortly. What you see is the result of a long touch.

[Ken Maltby]

There has been a good deal of development since the "Stable" release, and you may even find you have better more stable performance for your newer device, using one of the "Nightly Builds". The naming of a "Stable" release is something to have a reference point in the program development. A point where all the major components are functioning as expected and you can return to, if a new/different programming approach you try is not working or playing well with the rest of the programming. That there is a "Stable" release does not mean that the other "Nightly" releases are "Unstable". Koreader has matured to a point where you only see problems/issues when new devices are added. When a new feature is added, that particular feature may need adjustments or face unexpected conflicts, but the rest of the program remain fully functional.

It is easy to try the different releases. You just copy over/merge the koreader folder from the download zip, to where the existing koreader folder is on your device.

Luck;
Ken

[Markismus]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It is easy to try the different releases. You just copy over/merge the koreader folder from the download zip, to where the existing koreader folder is on your device.

Or you put it next to the existing koreader folder and start whatever version you like with KSM. That would be a nice way to try it out.

Or you use OTA Update in koreader itself and choose between channels "stable" and "nightly" and update to whatever works for you. You can always downgrade by copying an older release on top of your koreader folder.

[invention13]

I tried the latest nightly build and it's much better. I still get dropped into the file manager (is this normal?) but I can open some of the epubs (a couple cause a reset). Are there any special tricks/tweaks necessary with the H2O?

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by invention13

I tried the latest nightly build and it's much better. I still get dropped into the file manager (is this normal?) but I can open some of the epubs (a couple cause a reset). Are there any special tricks/tweaks necessary with the H2O?

Yes, you would want to start in the File Manager, unless you have it set to start with the last open file. I guess it is not starting with the File Manager on the first page of your book library? You should set the page the File Manager opens in, by navigating to that folder and long pressing on the link to that folder. It should then give you the option to "Set as HOME directory".

The long press to set as default, is usable for many of the options in Koreader.

You should be able to open any .epub and not have a reset happen.

Luck;
Ken

[invention13]

Thank you very much for your help. A lightbulb finally went on (touch the top to get the menu - duh!). I have tons of pdf's (a lot of technical books, data sheets, etc...) and the pdf reader alone makes this worth it - light years better than the native one on the kobo.
Anyway, the only thing remaining are some of the DRM'd epubs I have downloaded from google play. When I try to look at the one I am reading now, the whole screen just goes black - should you be able to look at DRM'd books with this?

[Ken Maltby]

I don't remember Koreader having any DRM support, but then I would never feed any infected files to my device. I usually run a new ebook, epub or otherwise, through calibre, so it can't keep any DRM anyway.

Luck;
Ken

[roger64]

Trouble for adjusting font-size

I use the latest nightly build (26th of June) with a Kobo Glo. I have a variety of side-loaded fonts (mainly ttf, a few otf). With Koreader, it seems difficult to change their font-size. After a long press on the selected Aa size, a small pop-up window is displayed which offers to choose between cancelling or validating the new default font-size, say 22.

Most of the time, the "validate" button stays frozen. After a while, I have to cancel my intended change of font-size. I got sometimes better results when I open a new book, though I cannot see why it should be difficult to change font-size at any time.

Worse, even if I manage to "validate" my choice, nothing happens... The use of "Réglage fin - diminuer - augmenter" (Tuning - Lower - Increase) also changes nothing.

Am I the only one to face this? Are they any way to improve it?

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by roger64

Trouble for adjusting font-size

I use the latest nightly build (26th of June) with a Kobo Glo. I have a variety of side-loaded fonts (mainly ttf, a few otf). With Koreader, it seems difficult to change their font-size. After a long press on the selected Aa size, a small pop-up window is displayed which offers to choose between cancelling or validating the new default font-size, say 22.

Most of the time, the "validate" button stays frozen. After a while, I have to cancel my intended change of font-size. I got sometimes better results when I open a new book, though I cannot see why it should be difficult to change font-size at any time.

Worse, even if I manage to "validate" my choice, nothing happens... The use of "Réglage fin - diminuer - augmenter" (Tuning - Lower - Increase) also changes nothing.

Am I the only one to face this? Are they any way to improve it?

I suspect that you are not waiting long enough for the font size to change. This is one operation that takes a little longer in Koreader. A change of font size can result in a change in page count and layout. You don't need to do a long press to just change the font size in the document you are reading. It can take some few minutes for the change to take place though. Also, the css in the ebook can effect the attempt to make changes. I am not sure what the long press default setting of the font size does.

Luck;
Ken

[roger64]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It can take some few minutes for the change to take place though.

Ah! I certainly did not expect this (and certainly never more than a minute). I will be more patient. This is a marked difference with Nickel.

Edit

I built again the defaults.persistent.lua regarding font-size and chose a much narrower choice (ten values between 20 to 30 instead of between 16 to 44. I also use the short tap instead of the long one and get now quick enough results.

Thanks for your help.

[Ken Maltby]

I guess that "some few minutes" is an exaggeration, it just seems much longer than you get used to for things to happen in Koreader. Also, a really large ebook with a complex layout probably takes the longest.

Luck;
Ken

[roger64]

A display bug?

I remarked on one EPUB a display bug. I isolated it in a demo EPUB and could reproduce it so I submit it here.

Take two justified paragraphs. For the first one, insert right after the opening tag a link like this one:

<a id="page_196"></a>

On my Koreader, the first paragraph is not displayed anymore as a justified paragraph but as a "ragged right" one. The second paragraph is displayed normally. If the link is somewhere within the paragraph but not right at the beginning, the paragraph stays justified.

[trekk]

Originally Posted by roger64

I also use the short tap instead of the long one and get now quick enough results.

A long tap won't change the font-size of your current book. It will just set the default font-size for every new book you open for the first time.

To change the font-size of the actual book, you just have to short tap the Aa buttons, or use the increase/decrease buttons. Usually the change should take place after a few seconds; the Song Of Ice And Fire-Bundle including the first four books - which means there are a lot of pages to render (allmost 11k) - needs exactly 20 seconds on a Glo HD for changing to the next font-size.