07-31-2013, 01:01 PM | #1 |
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Modifications for bad eyes
In the last years, the Modifications for bad eyes went through several transformations. For user instructions for patching more recent versions of the firmware, cf. this post which describes the process with regard to FW 4.3.8842 and Aura One.
##### Some time ago I started modifying libnickel in an attempt to make the Touch more useful for people with bad eyesight. Because of copyright concerns I didn't upload the files in this forum, but offered to share them per PM. Several people asked for some changes, or asked for a modified version of one FW in order to compare them to the original and apply them to the file of another FW or for another device. For these and some other reasons, I thought it might be better to share information and patch files, so that everybody can produce her own modified version. Therefore, I put together a package consisting of one executable (for Windows), several patch files and a punch of batch files (for Windows). [The patch files, by the way, can be opened and edited with a simple text editor and show in detail what changes are made to libnickel; they contain also comments for easier maintenance. So they might be useful for people who don't intend to use the other parts of the package too.] The current package is for FW 2.6.1b. (There are packages for FW 2.8.1[a], FW 3.0.0, FW 3.0.1, FW 3.1.1, FW 3.2.0, FW 3.3.0, FW 3.5.0, FW 3.8.0 (For install instructions for these packages see those for 2.8.1[a]); FW 3.12.0, FW 3.12.1, FW 3.13.1, FW 3.14.0, FW 3.15.0, FW 3.16.0, FW 3.17.0, FW 3.17.3, FW 3.18.0, FW 3.19.5613, FW 3.19.5761, FW 4.0.7523, FW 4.1.7729, FW 4.2.8110, FW 4.2.8283, FW 4.2.8432, FW 4.3.8842, FW 4.3.8871, FW 4.3.8929, 4.3.8945 and 4.3.8966,FW 4.3.9084, FWs 4.4.9298, 4.4.9344, 4.4.9349, 4.5.9587 , 4.4.9995) The current package modifies - the library view (books, shelves) - the annotation list and details view - the search list - some menus - the dictionary - the header and footer texts - as an option it can set the user language to en_GB If everything goes as planned, the whole process can be achieved with some mouse clicks. I prepared the package mainly for the Touch. I did however change the values for Glow/Mini/Aura whenever I easily found them. Since I only own a Touch, I had to guess the values for the other devices without checking the results (so some of them are probably off). If you have some findings or suggestions, please share them. I attach one picture here. See here and here more pictures of earlier attempts (the current results however are slightly better). Instructions are included in the package. I put it here too for your convenience: Spoiler:
Last edited by tshering; 11-04-2017 at 12:27 PM. |
09-02-2013, 02:43 AM | #2 |
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This wouldn't work with 2.8.1 I suppose? Are you planning to upgrade this patch? What if one would use this and metazoas patch together?
So many questions... To get this one for the latest Firmware would be a real bless for me, cause I actually use magnifying glasses to adjust settings on the aura, would be nice to be able to do that without 'em... |
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09-05-2013, 06:20 AM | #3 |
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You are right.[QUOTE=miyata;2610414]
Yes, I do. Since in 2.8.1 much of the relevant data is compressed, it has become a little bit more difficult to do. Immediately after the release of 2.8.1, I made a minimal bad-eyes-version for Touch (I changed only the size of menus, dictionary and annotations, since those data are still not compressed and are therefore easy to deal with). Yesterday night, I had another look into it. I think I am able now to handle the compressed data too. At the moment, I don't know exactly how to go about it in detail in order to make it easily usable. Maybe, I could produce a configuration file for matazoa's patcher. A problem is that metazoa's patcher only deals with libnickel, but we need to change nickel too. Another problem is, that I only have a Touch. This makes it difficult to know, whether what I do has the intended effect on other devices, especially since the Touch and Mini on the on hand, and the Glo and Aura (HD) on the other seem to drift apart more and more concerning the user interface. [On a side note, I did not get any feedback telling how the 2.6.1 patch worked for Glo and Aura. Therefore, it is not easy to continue working on that branch] If both are for the same FW version [for the time being this can only be 2.6.1], there should not be any problem, I guess. Changing the font size of the setting screens is especially difficult. The reason is, that these screens tend to be crowded and thee positions of the elements are fixed. Increasing the font size leads therefore easily to overlapping elements. |
10-11-2013, 08:34 AM | #4 |
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Modification for Bad Eyes FW 2.8.1[a]
Since it is unclear when the next major FW will be released for devices other than the Aura, and I don't know if I will be able to make a bad eyes patch for it, I publish a patch for FW 2.8.1[a] (9a63806202) now, even though this FW is not any longer available for download.
As there have been some major changes since 2.6.1, I reworked the package completely. It is now easier to use, but still flexible, and compatible with Metazoa-style patch definitions. Usage: - double click on 281a.bat - copy the newly created KoboRoot.tgz, which you will find in the folder 281a_target, to the .kobo folder on your device. This is, if you have a Touch. If you want to use the patch for another model, you have to edit the configuration files (you can find them in the folder 281a_source). Some notes on the configuration files: Spoiler:
USE THIS PACKAGE AT YOUR OWN RISK! Make sure your reader is on FW 2.8.1[a] (9a63806202)! I add some pictures so that you can see advantages and disadvantages (look at the long title in the Books list). Last edited by tshering; 10-11-2013 at 08:40 AM. |
10-12-2013, 11:16 AM | #5 | |
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Quote:
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10-12-2013, 05:46 PM | #6 |
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There are some points we should keep in mind (in addition to what I said in my previous post, especially in the spoiler).
Code:
<patch> name=ReadingFooter enabled=true action=replace_zlib ... some lines skipped here newpart=* {\n\tfont-size: 28px;\n}\n\n newpart=[deviceCodeName="kraken"], \n[deviceCodeName="phoenix"] {\n\tfont-size: 20px;\n}\n\n newpart=[deviceCodeName="dragon"] {\n\tfont-size: 26px;\n}\n\n newpart=[localeName="ja_JP"] {\n\tfont-family: A-OTF Gothic MB101 Pr6N;\n} combineparts </patch> One important point is,that the action is replace_zlib. As I explained in my previous post (in the spoiler), with this action, the compressed size of the modified data has to be equal or smaller than the compressed original data. This is something that is sometimes hard to guess. For instance, if you replace 20 by 32, the size remains the same, if you replace it by 34, the size increases by 1 byte. If you take 36, the size remains again the same. If you run 281a.bat, there will be an error message telling that in the patch with the name ReadingFooter the size of the new data is too large (if this is the case). Trying for each patch, whether the changes increase the compressed data or not, is cumbersome. Therefore, to be on the safe side, you can put the sign # in front of the line Code:
newpart=[deviceCodeName="dragon"] {\n\tfont-size: 26px;\n}\n\n Try to treat the other patches accordingly. Don't forget to consider the different types of action! (As for editing, I would recommend you turn off word wrapping.) If you have some questions let me know. |
11-18-2013, 07:53 AM | #7 |
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Modification for Bad Eyes FW 3.0.0
As always, my main target was the Kobo Touch. However, I also changed the values for Mini, Glo, HP Aura, if applicable. Since I had to guess the values for these later models, they will probably need some fine tuning. If anyone modifies the values for any of the models, it would by nice if she could share the configuration files here in order to benefit other users.
This version changes the font size of
As an example of how to include Metazoa-style patch definitions, I included
Usage: - double click on 3.0.0.bat - copy the newly created KoboRoot.tgz, which you will find in the folder 3.0.0_target, to the .kobo folder on your device. Make sure your reader is on FW 3.0.0 (0cbc3626b3)! USE THIS PACKAGE AT YOUR OWN RISK! |
11-20-2013, 11:08 AM | #8 |
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I would like to increase the font size of many more elements. If I follow the same procedure as up to now, this would mean that I have to handle each of these elements individually (which is more time consuming than I can afford), and the resulting configuration files would become too large to be comfortably handled by users.
As a compromise, I increased the font size of all elements that I could easily find by 10 percent (for all models), apart from the elements covered by the configuration files. Make sure your reader is on FW 3.0.0 (0cbc3626b3)! USE THIS PACKAGE AT YOUR OWN RISK! |
11-26-2013, 09:45 PM | #9 |
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Hello tshering, I'd try install 2.6.1 patch for my kobo glo, but I can't see any different. Does anything I missed or need to set?
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11-27-2013, 04:33 AM | #10 |
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Hi questerymj,
As I said in my first post, I had to guess the values for Mini/Glow/Aura HD. Therefore, it is very likely that I choose a too small font size for the Glow. However, I am surprised that you see no difference at all. I guess you executed 03_libnickel_glo_dict_ryumin.bat. If so, then try changing values in kobo261_libnickel_glo_dict_ryumin.txt. Replace Code:
font-size:(20)30px;(20)line-height:(20)34px; Code:
font-size:(20)40px;(20)line-height:(20)42px; Generally, I would recommend that you update your Glow to 3.0.0 and use the patch for this version. The handling of this patch is much more user friendly and the configuration files are easier to read and edit. If you do this, open the file conf_libnickel.txt and look for the Dictionary entry, there you find this line Code:
oldpart=* { font: %1px %2; line-height: %4em; }\n Code:
newpart=* { font-family: A-OTF Gothic MB101 Pr6N;font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; }\n Code:
newpart=* { font-family: A-OTF Ryumin Pr6N ;font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; } \n Code:
newpart=* { font-family: Georgia ;font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; } \n I am preparing the patch for 3.0.1 right now. But since I am trying to improve over the previous patches, it might take me some more days. If you want to install FW 3.0.1 now, the new position of the definition (which is still the same) is Code:
position=113D6F4 Last edited by tshering; 11-27-2013 at 04:41 AM. |
11-28-2013, 02:10 AM | #11 |
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Hello tshering:
Thanks for your detailed reply! After a fail I hard reset my glo and reinstall 3.0 and your patch, now everything worked like a charm!!! The font of dictionary is smaller in GLO due to the higher resolution but I think it is nice fairly. Thank you again for your great MOD! Last edited by questerymj; 11-28-2013 at 04:01 AM. |
11-28-2013, 06:29 AM | #12 |
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questerymj,
I am glad it worked for you. Thank you for the feedback. |
11-29-2013, 08:25 AM | #13 |
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Modification for Bad Eyes FW 3.0.1
Configurable font size for
Usage: - double click on 3.0.1.bat - copy the newly created KoboRoot.tgz, which you will find in the folder 3.0.1_target, to the .kobo folder on your device. If you see fit, make changes to the configuration files in the folder 3.0.1_source. I provide in 3.0.1_plus_source a pre-patched libnickel. There, I tried to increase the font size of as many elements by 15 percent as I was able to find them (apart from those configurable via the configuration file). Put the folder 3.0.1_plus_source in the same folder as 3.0.1_source, and run 3.0.1_plus.bat in order to generate a KoboRoot.tgz from it. It will be created in 3.0.1_plus_target. (I had to remove the 3.0.1_plus_source folder from KBPatcher04.zip because of the size limit for uploads.) Make sure your reader is on FW 3.0.1! Attention: This firmware was released in a revised version too. Make sure the libnickel.so.1.0.0 and nickel of this package and the ones on your device are identical!!! USE THIS PACKAGE AT YOUR OWN RISK! Last edited by tshering; 03-09-2014 at 05:51 PM. |
12-15-2013, 12:20 PM | #14 |
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tshering, any plans for an update compatible with 3.1.1?
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12-15-2013, 03:01 PM | #15 |
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Since the Touch N905C has some difficulties with 3.1.1, I did not plan to make a version for this FW. But since you show some interest, I did it nonetheless; however without any testing (be warned!) and only a small version (only the user configurable part).
Make sure your reader is on FW 3.1.1! USE THIS PACKAGE AT YOUR OWN RISK! Last edited by tshering; 12-15-2013 at 04:45 PM. |
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