Cool Reader on Android

[Eskarina]

Originally Posted by dkperez

...with 3-0-45-7, changes from user options take a "Next Page" and approximately 35 seconds to reformat the book. Page turns are fine, but changes to the options take a VERY long time.

SO, went back to the market and downloaded 3.0.54-09 from the market. It did an update, and I don't know how everything will work because as soon as I started Cool Reader it tried to load the book I was reading, which was one that wouldn't load previously. And with this version, it won't load now.

I can live without the menu button, but it'd be nice to be able to count on Cool Reader loading epubs reliably. Is there some change I need to make - library? font? something else? to get this back to working? Is there someplace I can get versions between 3-0-45-07 and 3-0-54-09 so I can see when this broke?

I have the 3.0.54.5 version which works fine. However, I have noticed the same issue with coolreader hanging or taking a while to load a book once I make some changes from the user menu especially changing the font style/size. I know nothing about programming but I figured out that cool reader creates a mirror-type file for each ebook that it opens and stores it in the cr3 folder of the SD card. I think that each time I change the font size/style, coolreader goes through a process where it "re-creates" this file - maybe that's why it takes so long? Of course I'm probably wrong about this.

I never use my menu key either since I read in full screen mode. The combination of Button Savior and the title bar to keep track of battery and time means I don't miss the CM7 status bar. Also, the 18 programmable tap zones take care of a lot of the navigating I need to do while in a book.

Try using ES File Explore to back up any apps you use regularly before updating. It makes it easier to go back in case an update is buggy.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by Eskarina

I think that each time I change the font size/style, coolreader goes through a process where it "re-creates" this file - maybe that's why it takes so long? Of course I'm probably wrong about this.

I think that you are absolutely correct!
CoolReader does create a preformatted cache file of a book the first time that you open it. That makes subsequent openings much faster, since formatting again is not necessary. However, when you change any formatting (font face, font size, line spacing, etc. etc.) in the book it is going to require rebuilding that cache file all over again.

[dkperez]

Fortunately, in later versions it APPEARS that generally the reformat time is less than it was in the earlier version. So, that isn't as much of a problem as it was.

BUT, there's still something going on that 3.0.49-07 works fine, 3.0.49-08 and any newer version I tried, won't load some epub books. Aldiko loaded them fine, Moon reader loaded them fine, I could open them in Calibre. But, Cool Reader would not load them. It just hung and never got anywhere.

I"m just curious whether, since it works with an earlier version, did the developer change something that makes it not work with some ebooks, or do I have something configured wrong...

[dkperez]

It's anecdotal, but I did a bit more playing......

Installed 3.54.05 that the earlier poster said worked. It opened the same books I was previously able to open, and failed on the same two books that have been failing...

So, I went to the newest version 3.54.14, with the same results.....

So, I took one of the books that won't open, and in Calibre I reformatted it to .fb2 format (not because I figure fb2 is any better since I know nothing about that format, but because I'd seen that format mentioned in here). I then formatted it AGAIN, back to epub.

I put both the fb2 format and the epub on the Nook. The fb2 format opened almost instantly, far faster than any of my epubs open, despite being over twice as large as the epub. AND, when I tried it, it reformatted epub ALSO opened.

Again, the original epub will open fine in 3.49.07, but won't open in any newer version that I"ve tried. But, reformatting to fb2 then back to epub APPEARS, at least in this specific case, to open. As near as I can tell, the format looks about the same as when I read the book - it doesn't start chapters on a new page, but other than that it seems fine.

Does the developer or team of developers generally monitor conversations here? If not, is this a situation of sufficient seriousness that it's worth let him/them know? And if so, where/how do I do that?

[Buggins]

Originally Posted by dkperez

SO, I went back to sourceforge and started the "brute force and massive ignorance" method of finding the last version that worked... Having tried every major version from 3-45 through 3-54, I finally got it down to 3.0.49-07 works fine, 3.0.49-08 will NOT LOAD SOME EPUB BOOKS.

So, at the moment I appear to be stuck using 3.0.49-07. Is there some change I need to make - library? font? something else? to get back to a current working version that'll reliably load all my epub books?

Could you send me some sample epub which does not open?
buggins (at) fromru.com

[Buggins]

Originally Posted by dkperez

Does the developer or team of developers generally monitor conversations here? If not, is this a situation of sufficient seriousness that it's worth let him/them know? And if so, where/how do I do that?

Developer team is me

I'll try to monitor this thread frequently.

[Buggins]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

I think that you are absolutely correct!
CoolReader does create a preformatted cache file of a book the first time that you open it. That makes subsequent openings much faster, since formatting again is not necessary. However, when you change any formatting (font face, font size, line spacing, etc. etc.) in the book it is going to require rebuilding that cache file all over again.

After format settings change, cache file is not being updated completely.
Only style and sizes/rectangles data is to be updated.
CoolReader needs to reformat book completely (split text into lines/paragraphs/pages) after change of settings which affect formatting.
Full reformatting is slow (comparing to partial formatting, only for visible part of book, as in some other readers), but it gives "real" page bounds, and number of pages, which do not jump while navigating.

[dkperez]

Thanks for your responses Buggins. First, let me say, despite this minor problem with a few books, you've created an AWESOME reader. I'm using Cool Reader for all my epub books because I find it the most intuitive and easiest to customize. I really like being able to access the CSS - just last night I reformatted my paragraphs because I thought the publisher's indent was too large...

As far as sending an epub that won't open, I'm not sure what the legalities are... The two I have are both from the public library and have DRM. Can I distribute one of these without running afoul of any laws? If not, is there something I can do from my end to get you more information?

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Buggins

Developer team is me

I'll try to monitor this thread frequently.

It is great to have you monitoring the forum. By the way, did you know you can set a RSS feed to ensure you get early updates? I really like coolreader and particularly the use on Jinke devices.

Dale

[cliemonster]

I just started using this program this week, and its awesome. However, I have a problem today that the setting for landscape mode isn't working. I have it set to one page in landscape, but every time I turn it to landscape, it displays in two pages. I have to set it to two pages, go out of settings, and then go back to settings and set it to one page for it to display properly. I'm running Cool Reader on a stock T-Mobile G2X running Android 2.3.3, if that helps. I love this program, but since I switch between landscape and portrait a lot, I'd love to have that setting work properly.

Thanks!!!

[iza]

First off, big thanks to Bugggins for a very nice application! I am very impressed with the functionality. Thank you!
I am using Cool Reader (current android market version) on my phone for a couple of weeks and love it.


However something weird happened yesterday. I must have accidentally pressed something, and all of the sudden I see two pages in landscape mode. Not a good thing on a small phone screen... I found the settings where you chose between one or two pages in landscape, and it was set to one page. I tried changing and re-changing this setting, to no avail. Even reinstalling Cool Reader did not help. What is even stranger, page shows as single page if I chose "scroll" as page view. But I like "pages" as page view and miss my previous beautiful display.

Does anyone know what could I have messed up, and, more importantly, how to get the original, single-page display with "pages" view?

Many thanks in advance

[iza]

apologies... I have not noticed that "my" issue has been already entered... BTW I am using CoolReader also on G2x, but for me, no resetting works. I just can not get rid of 2-page display unless I switch to scroll mode.

Cliemonster, have you tried switching to scroll in Page settings? Like me, you may not like it very much, but it is better than seeing 2 pages until some kind soul advises us on better solution

[Buggins]

Originally Posted by iza

First off, big thanks to Bugggins for a very nice application! I am very impressed with the functionality. Thank you!
I am using Cool Reader (current android market version) on my phone for a couple of weeks and love it.


However something weird happened yesterday. I must have accidentally pressed something, and all of the sudden I see two pages in landscape mode. Not a good thing on a small phone screen... I found the settings where you chose between one or two pages in landscape, and it was set to one page. I tried changing and re-changing this setting, to no avail. Even reinstalling Cool Reader did not help. What is even stranger, page shows as single page if I chose "scroll" as page view. But I like "pages" as page view and miss my previous beautiful display.

Does anyone know what could I have messed up, and, more importantly, how to get the original, single-page display with "pages" view?

Many thanks in advance

Fixed in last update on Market.
Alternatively, you can download APK from SourceForge

[Buggins]

Originally Posted by dkperez

Thanks for your responses Buggins. First, let me say, despite this minor problem with a few books, you've created an AWESOME reader. I'm using Cool Reader for all my epub books because I find it the most intuitive and easiest to customize. I really like being able to access the CSS - just last night I reformatted my paragraphs because I thought the publisher's indent was too large...

As far as sending an epub that won't open, I'm not sure what the legalities are... The two I have are both from the public library and have DRM. Can I distribute one of these without running afoul of any laws? If not, is there something I can do from my end to get you more information?

I'm not sure where you're located or what library access you have, but the two books I know of that had problems are

Stephen White, The Last Lie - I got this one to open one time, but every other time Cool Reader hung.

Stuart Woods, Santa Fe Edge - this one hangs every version of Cool Reader I tried newer than 3.49.07. Including 3.54.14.

I'm not sure whether sending someone non-free book is legal.

Does it crash or hang?
In case of crash, application log could help a bit - it can be collected using Android System Info app.

[iza]

Originally Posted by Buggins

Fixed in last update on Market.
Alternatively, you can download APK from SourceForge

Buggins, you are the best. I wish my IT department was as responsive as you! Works beautifully now. Thank You!