Show the old-style reader

stdedos · 07-19-2020, 07:20 PM

I preferred the reader layout used in 3.46.0 - with all the buttons showed, page numbers, etc.
I also don't like that so much nested, making quick navigation and tinkering complicated.

Is there a way to stay on 4.20.0, but get the old look&feel? (even if that means getting the old icons or downright downgrading)

gbm · 07-19-2020, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stdedos

I preferred the reader layout used in 3.46.0 - with all the buttons showed, page numbers, etc.
I also don't like that so much nested, making quick navigation and tinkering complicated.

Is there a way to stay on 4.20.0, but get the old look&feel? (even if that means getting the old icons or downright downgrading)

See screenshots:

bernie

ownedbycats · 07-19-2020, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stdedos

I preferred the reader layout used in 3.46.0 - with all the buttons showed, page numbers, etc.
I also don't like that so much nested, making quick navigation and tinkering complicated.

Is there a way to stay on 4.20.0, but get the old look&feel? (even if that means getting the old icons or downright downgrading)

If you're unable to get ebook-viewer the way you like, you can download Calibre Portable 3.48 and use that (either with the "open with" plugin or these directions). I did that for a while.

JSWolf · 07-20-2020, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

If you're unable to get ebook-viewer the way you like, you can download Calibre Portable 3.48 and use that (either with the "open with" plugin or these directions). I did that for a while.

The solution is in post #2 of this thread. The thing is, it's not good idea to try to keep using the viewer from 3.48.

stdedos · 07-23-2020, 04:32 PM

Indeed #2 seems to be exactly what I was looking for. Thank you :-D

And I agree with JSWolf - 3.48 is old enough version.
It is generally a good idea to update your software, as long as it does not interfere too much with the UI you like.

rpresser · 08-24-2020, 12:53 PM

I use a Windows laptop connected to a USB-C hub that provides two external monitors. QT does not support this graphics setup. It does fine on the internal laptop monitor, but I am not going to give up my external monitors, nor am I going to switch from using the USB-C hub to using the internal HDMI port. It is simply far too convenient to be able to take my laptop with me and reconnect it a single cable when I get home.

Using --disable-gpu does nothing. I have verified three times that the environment variable is present within all running calibre processes, yet the viewer window stubbornly remains blank.

If there is movement towards making all of Calibre dependent upon QT, I fear this will suffer the same problem as the viewer, and the entire app will be thoroughly unusable on my external monitors. Please tell me this is not a planned change.

I am going to use the 3.48 portable viewer.

JSWolf · 08-24-2020, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stdedos

Indeed #2 seems to be exactly what I was looking for. Thank you :-D

And I agree with JSWolf - 3.48 is old enough version.
It is generally a good idea to update your software, as long as it does not interfere too much with the UI you like.

Sometimes you have to deal with an updated UI in order to get the features you need like support for a newer Reader.

rpresser · 08-24-2020, 01:01 PM

If the updated UI is completely incompatible with my hardware, using it is not an option, and the features you claim I need are thoroughly unavailable anyhow.

USB-C hubs are not alien technology. They are popular, useful tools that have a growing acceptance. For QT to not support them is a very bad decision. I realize it's not the fault of the calibre team that QT doesn't support them. But deliberately excluding an audience by choosing software tools that are known to be incompatible is another bad decision.

rpresser · 08-24-2020, 01:04 PM

This blank-window bug was reported to the QT team two years ago.
https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBU...hmentOrder=asc

It has not been closed.

theducks · 08-24-2020, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpresser

I use a Windows laptop connected to a USB-C hub that provides two external monitors. QT does not support this graphics setup. It does fine on the internal laptop monitor, but I am not going to give up my external monitors, nor am I going to switch from using the USB-C hub to using the internal HDMI port. It is simply far too convenient to be able to take my laptop with me and reconnect it a single cable when I get home.

Using --disable-gpu does nothing. I have verified three times that the environment variable is present within all running calibre processes, yet the viewer window stubbornly remains blank.

If there is movement towards making all of Calibre dependent upon QT, I fear this will suffer the same problem as the viewer, and the entire app will be thoroughly unusable on my external monitors. Please tell me this is not a planned change.

I am going to use the 3.48 portable viewer.

I use 2 USB2 Graphics (DisplayLink type) adapters (1920x1080) with Calibre viewer, all the time (W10 v 2004)
FWIW my mainboard stopped playing nice with the graphics slot , so I just use my monitors via USB: Slower, but I just normally edit files)

stdedos · 08-24-2020, 01:54 PM

I hate to be the pedantic guy - but please don't pollute threads with irrelevant posts.

I am sorry it's not working for you, and I still prefer the old UI (even with the workaround); however, as it is said already: sometimes updates need to happen for feature or security reasons.

I only hope that the maintainer(s) really weighted their options and user feedback to account for the "somewhat drastic" change in the UI.

07-19-2020, 07:20 PM	#1
stdedos Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2019 Device: Mobiscribe	Show the old-style reader I preferred the reader layout used in 3.46.0 - with all the buttons showed, page numbers, etc. I also don't like that so much nested, making quick navigation and tinkering complicated. Is there a way to stay on 4.20.0, but get the old look&feel? (even if that means getting the old icons or downright downgrading)

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07-23-2020, 04:32 PM	#5
stdedos Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2019 Device: Mobiscribe	Indeed #2 seems to be exactly what I was looking for. Thank you :-D And I agree with JSWolf - 3.48 is old enough version. It is generally a good idea to update your software, as long as it does not interfere too much with the UI you like.

08-24-2020, 12:53 PM	#6
rpresser Member Posts: 17 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Ebookwise1150, Treo 600	I use a Windows laptop connected to a USB-C hub that provides two external monitors. QT does not support this graphics setup. It does fine on the internal laptop monitor, but I am not going to give up my external monitors, nor am I going to switch from using the USB-C hub to using the internal HDMI port. It is simply far too convenient to be able to take my laptop with me and reconnect it a single cable when I get home. Using --disable-gpu does nothing. I have verified three times that the environment variable is present within all running calibre processes, yet the viewer window stubbornly remains blank. If there is movement towards making all of Calibre dependent upon QT, I fear this will suffer the same problem as the viewer, and the entire app will be thoroughly unusable on my external monitors. Please tell me this is not a planned change. I am going to use the 3.48 portable viewer.

08-24-2020, 01:01 PM	#8
rpresser Member Posts: 17 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Ebookwise1150, Treo 600	If the updated UI is completely incompatible with my hardware, using it is not an option, and the features you claim I need are thoroughly unavailable anyhow. USB-C hubs are not alien technology. They are popular, useful tools that have a growing acceptance. For QT to not support them is a very bad decision. I realize it's not the fault of the calibre team that QT doesn't support them. But deliberately excluding an audience by choosing software tools that are known to be incompatible is another bad decision.

08-24-2020, 01:04 PM	#9
rpresser Member Posts: 17 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Ebookwise1150, Treo 600	This blank-window bug was reported to the QT team two years ago. https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBU...hmentOrder=asc It has not been closed.

08-24-2020, 01:54 PM	#11
stdedos Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2019 Device: Mobiscribe	I hate to be the pedantic guy - but please don't pollute threads with irrelevant posts. I am sorry it's not working for you, and I still prefer the old UI (even with the workaround); however, as it is said already: sometimes updates need to happen for feature or security reasons. I only hope that the maintainer(s) really weighted their options and user feedback to account for the "somewhat drastic" change in the UI.