Dictionary for Sony PRS500/5 (autorun from SD card)

[lisak]

Originally Posted by =X=

Okay I re-read my last post, definitaly as confuion as my first. Let me have one more go at it.

Put a function call 'this.prepareScript()' in the loadDict() method, or in the 'init()' method. This way when the app is loaded it calls the calls the 'init()' which calls then prepareScript. This way the libfskLoad.so file is copied to the /tmp directory when the application is loaded and not on the first word search.

=X=

Ah yeah, stupid me . Yes, this is clearly inefficient. Actualy, we should probably do a getFileInfo check on existence of the library in /tmp and skip the copying altogether if the file exists.

I promise from now on I'll be paying more attention to what you're trying to get across.

[lisak]

Originally Posted by rhadin

LATER: I must have done something wrong becuase I can't get the dictionary to work. Here is what I did: After extracting the files from the zip file, I copied the PRS folder and all of its contents to my Reader. I then copied the Card folder and all of its contents to the SD card.

Just to be sure: Did you copy only the content of the respective directories, or the directories themselves? The correct result is that you should have libsfkLoad.so and myvm.xml (together with all the rest) in the root of the card, not in "card" subdirectory. The same is valid for prs folder (only its content should be copied to root of the internal memory of the reader).

If you did it correctly, at least the dictionary screen should show up. Anyway, try to use this new version, it has some improvements so that eventual errors should be identified more easily (changelog here)

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by lisak

Just to be sure: Did you copy only the content of the respective directories, or the directories themselves?

Lisak, I apologize again for being such a twerp about this but here goes :

I copied the directories themselves because I couldn't figure out how to copy just the contents using the Sony software. I could use Windows Explorer to copy the PRS files to the Reader, but not the Card files to the SD card because Explorer doesn't recognize the SD card as a separate entity.

How do you copy the files only to the SD card?

[lisak]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Lisak, I apologize again for being such a twerp about this but here goes :

I copied the directories themselves because I couldn't figure out how to copy just the contents using the Sony software. I could use Windows Explorer to copy the PRS files to the Reader, but not the Card files to the SD card because Explorer doesn't recognize the SD card as a separate entity.

How do you copy the files only to the SD card?

Hmm, I am not sure whether Sony program allows you to copy the files into the root directory of the Reader - when you transfer them as normal books, they'll end with other books in a different directory. In my case, both the card and the reader's internal memory are identified as a two separate removable discs in Windows... Strange.

But never mind that - if this is really the case, you can use any card reader for copying files onto the card and the rest we can sort out - it actualy doesn't matter where the files in the internal memory reside, it's possible to set the paths in the program accordingly. But at least autorun.* files need to be in the right place first.

[Clemenseken]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Lisak, I apologize again for being such a twerp about this but here goes [...]

@rhadin

Hi! I am not replying specifically to your problem - but then again I may...

Just to exclude one possibility you should have a look at your unzip's preferences; it must NOT have the option "change line endings to win/dos" (or similar) selected!

I speak from experience, as my MacOS unzipper did change line endings by default!
So "Sudoku" would not run - so I got really deep down into its code - so I got the idea to build on its code - so I developped (the first two versions of) "DictioLauncher".
If your dictionary file somehow is not "recognized" this might be the cause. This is just a far shot - but when I asked all the "wizards" here at MobileRead about my problem nobody thought of it...

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by lisak

But never mind that - if this is really the case, you can use any card reader for copying files onto the card and the rest we can sort out - it actualy doesn't matter where the files in the internal memory reside, it's possible to set the paths in the program accordingly. But at least autorun.* files need to be in the right place first.

Thanks, Lisak. Here's the current status.

I got the Card files onto the SD card correctly -- I know because the GUI for the dictionary appeared on my Reader. And I now have the dictionary accessible.

My question now is this: Do you know where I can find an English dictionary to put on the reader?

[lisak]

Originally Posted by rhadin

And I now have the dictionary accessible.

My question now is this: Do you know where I can find an English dictionary to put on the reader?

Excellent! And the answer to your question is: yes, for example here. Just put it into "dictionary" folder in the reader's internal memory and use "Change dictionary" button - input "wb", press enter and you should be set.

BTW, =X=, today I noticed that after the implementation of your suggestion the search times were mysteriously and surprisingly cut down to 1-2 sec. - before that, it was always 10 sec for the first search after the program started. I can't believe that delays were caused just by the act of copying library itself (it's very small and file copy is rather quick), but maybe library (and information cached by "grep") stay now in the memory...
Well, I don't know. But whatever the reason is, the fact is that it's now pretty much immediate, so big thanks to you that you insisted on implementation!

[=X=]

Originally Posted by lisak

Well, I don't know. But whatever the reason is, the fact is that it's now pretty much immediate, so big thanks to you that you insisted on implementation!

Well being extremely impatient is not something to take credit for but thank you.

Anyhow I think the slow down is due to how slow the Reader reads the SD card. I wonder how much faster the original solution would be if the dictionary was moved to the HD in the first place. No where near as fast as grep/sed but probably faster than 1min.

=X=

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by lisak

Excellent! And the answer to your question is: yes, for example here. Just put it into "dictionary" folder in the reader's internal memory and use "Change dictionary" button - input "wb", press enter and you should be set.

Thank you, Lisak. I followed your instructions and it works great. Have some karma .

[G@0]

Originally Posted by lisak

If you did it correctly, at least the dictionary screen should show up. Anyway, try to use this new version, it has some improvements so that eventual errors should be identified more easily (changelog here)

Hi Lisak, Clemenseken & =X=,

Thank you guys for the great work, and it's definately a handy add-on which makes the reader versatile.

However, I have two problems with the dictionary since I'm using PRS-500 with direct page control that'll be great if you can give me some guidelines making the tool work on my reader:

1. ENTER seems to have been re-defined after I installed direct page control which comes from https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13003 How can I make your dictionary work with this setting?

2. The DictioLaunchX-0.85 seems to have more neat features than version 0.7b, but it doesn't seem to have a comparable PRS-500 version after I've read this thread over many times. Do you guys plan to have any PRS-500 update in the near future?

I'd love to contribute if I can, but I'm a novice in Javascript & XML. Maybe you can give me some guidelines on your code structure and some references on how to hacking sony ereader.

Thanks again for the nice job~

[lisak]

Originally Posted by G@0

1. ENTER seems to have been re-defined after I installed direct page control which comes from https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13003 How can I make your dictionary work with this setting?

Well, I am not sure how the hack is implemented, but if the behavior of Bookmark key was not changed as well, you can try to open "autorun.xml" file which resides on the card and change this:

<function id="doMark">
this.clearInput();
this.clearLines();
</function>

to this:
<function id="doMark">
this.centerKey();
</function>

After that, you should be able to search the term by pressing "Bookmark" button. You lose the functionality of clearing the input line by single button press, but you can still use virtual key << at the "keyboard". Another option would be to use the Zoom key, but so far I was not able to find any reference on what function ID this key has.

Originally Posted by G@0

Do you guys plan to have any PRS-500 update in the near future?

Well, I personaly don't have the access to 500 model, so any serious work/testing would have to be done by somebody else. However, if you have some specific problem here, just describe it (either here or here) and we try to sort it out.

Originally Posted by G@0

I'd love to contribute if I can, but I'm a novice in Javascript & XML. Maybe you can give me some guidelines on your code structure and some references on how to hacking sony ereader.

I am afraid that as far as references go, we're stuck with the code that's at hand (eg. sudoku game is an excellent sample code). If you're curious about something in this program, just write me an email (it should be possible through mobileRead, I hope) - guess it would be better than to clutter the forum here...

And thanks for all the praise!

[Clemenseken]

Hi @ Lisak and G@O!

Originally Posted by lisak

Well, I personaly don't have the access to 500 model, so any serious work/testing would have to be done by somebody else.

As obviously you cannot test your modified version on a PRS500 I tried to collect information for such a version, and attached a suitable "skinMain500.png".

The array in autorun.js must be:

target.keyMap = new Array(
	new Array('w','s','x'),
	new Array('e','d','c'),
	new Array('r','f','v'),
	new Array('t','g','b'),
	new Array('y','h','n'),
	new Array('u','j','m'),
	new Array('i','k','CD'),
	new Array('o','l','CLR'),
	new Array('p',' ','BS'),
	new Array('q','a','z')		);

Then your functions "clearLines" and "printLines" (and maybe others) need be reduced to 6 text lines. These lines are longer ("lineLength" about "50"?) each than in the 505 version (see autorun.xml).

In your function "arrowKey" "lineCursor.changeLayout" should (hopefully) be:
(541, undefined, undefined, 553+ this.xCol *48, undefined, undefined)
Maybe "this.xCol *48" needs a correction, though...

The positions for text lines in autorun.xml should be:

<!-- At top defined "id=sometext" has size="48" (instead of "40").
(L/R/T/H) "inputLine": 50/30/85/60
(TOP) "line1".."line6": 200,235,270,305,340,375
(L/R/H) "line1".."line6": 45/30/60
"statusLine": not defined - see "skinMain500.png".-->

You can of course run a PRS500 app/layout on your PRS505. It just feels a little "funny".
I hope to have made an easy adaption for us "505 oldies" possible. For more information just ask me. THANX!

[G@0]

Clemenseken & Lisak,

Thank you guys for such detailed explanation. I'll definately try it out once I have some down time and let you know how it works.

One more puzzle to me, the prs-505 version dictionary seems to put dictionary text file on internal memory, but prs-500 don't have direct access to it:

1. what's the advantage of putting dictionary file on internal memory? Does it consume less battery power and/or because of faster I/O speed?

2. Is there any walkaround for prs-500 on accessing internal memory? a) Do I have to use Igorsk's universal flash to copy files onto internal memory? b) Where in your codes can I specify it myself if I decide to put dictionary file on memory stick instead of internal memory?

I'll definately check out the Sudoku game on my reader Actually back to the school days I tried to solve sudoku by integer programming solely using Excel solver, but it requires over 280 binary variables whereas solver only support up to 200 variables maybe I'll try it in matlab next time

Anyway, thanks again for your time, you guys are awesome~!

G@0

[joeanne12]

Oh please please help, I have done somthing terribly wrong and frozen my 505. I unzipped DictoLaunchX-0.85 into a folder on my desk top and then connected my reader. I then double clicked on the card folder and copy and pasted the files onto my card. I then did the same with the prs folder and copy and pasted the database file onto the root directory of my reader and over wrote the database file that was already there. I think I was not supposed to do this. I did not back up my original database file and now the only way I can start my reader is by pushing the reset button and then it come up with the menu and is frozen. I can still get into the reader via my computer as it still comes up as a removable disk but ebook library wont see the reader. Also what files should I have on the reader memory?

I am running windows XP please help

[=X=]

Originally Posted by G@0

Clemenseken & Lisak,

1. what's the advantage of putting dictionary file on internal memory? Does it consume less battery power and/or because of faster I/O speed?

The real reason for putting the dictionary on the memory card is that the 'grep' utility cannot access the memory stick. Sony developed a library so they could access the memory card. However this library does not work from the command line.

However there is a side benefit that the internal memorycard is quicker and requires less battery usage.

Originally Posted by G@0

2. Is there any walkaround for prs-500 on accessing internal memory? a) Do I have to use Igorsk's universal flash to copy files onto internal memory? b) Where in your codes can I specify it myself if I decide to put dictionary file on memory stick instead of internal memory?

There is, you can either use your recommendation above. Or change the code in the autorun.js to copy the files for you to the /Data/media/database directory (of course you would have to create the directory too).

The real question is does the libfskLoad.so library works for the PRS500 if it does then updated support for the PRS500 will be easy. If it does not then the recent updates will not work with the PRS500.

At that point I would recommend PRS500 folk stick with Clemenseken original solution with version 7b.

=X=