Removed percent from book progress bar

[statethatiamin]

Hi all,

Lately I've been reading a really long book and I found the percentage read field really distracting because, in the back of my head, I would count the number of page turns it took for the percent to increment and start doing math instead of reading. ANYWAY, I tried the progress bar remover hack for some reason it didn't work so well for me, and I realized that I don't mind the progress bar, just the percent. I made a really gross hack to remove it and I thought I share it so other people can use it. Also, if you have suggestions for improvements, that would be greatly appreciated.

What I did:
1) Made a folder called "percrem" in /mnt/us/
2) In that folder, made percrem.sh. That's the script that does the work. Mind the permissions. It's nice to put the script there so you can tweak it from the mounted kindle instead of ssh-ing in and traversing the filesystem.

#!/bin/sh

while :; do
  # write whitespace directly over the percent
  eips 0 38 "      "
  # sleep for a tenth of a second
  usleep 100000
done

3) created /etc/init.d/percrem. Here's the code I used:

#!/bin/sh
# /etc/init.d/percrem
case "$1" in
  start)
    echo "Starting progrem"
    /mnt/us/percrem/percrem.sh &
    ;;
  stop)
    echo "Stopping progrem"
    killall percrem.sh
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/percrem {start|stop}"
    exit 1
    ;;
esac
exit 0

4) Symbolically linked the init.d entry to rc5.d/ directory
ln -s /etc/init.d/percrem /etc/rc5.d/S97percrem

5) Restarted (init 6)

==

I find the it works great for me. What it does is constantly write whitespace to that area. Unfortunately it does this all the time, not just while you a reading a book. If you want the script to wait unit the kindle is done starting up, you can add "usleep 60000000" to the script in /mnt/us/percrem. The refresh speed hasn't really been an issue for me, but I'd always like to make it faster

Anyway, if the percentage read is something that bothers you, you may want to try this hack, especially as I improve it. As always, ideas for improvements are very welcome!

[sinan]

Here is a Kual extension to remove progress bar on Kindle PW 1 which is quite easy to adapt for other Kindles also.

It is not a perfect solution, basically what it does is to draw white rectangle over progress bar, but still works.

[moderator deleted attachment - please see below]

How to install:
1. You need to install Kual
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=203326
2. Extract the content of the zip into extensions folder on Kindle's main directory.

Spoiler:

#!/bin/sh
  echo "Stopping hideProgressBar"
  # draw black rectangle over the percent to remove traces of information
  eips -d l=000,w=758,h=48 [-x 0 -y 977 -w 0]
  while :; do
  # draw white rectangle directly over the progress bar periodically
  eips -d l=FFF,w=758,h=48 [-x 0 -y 977 -w 0]
  eips -d l=FFF,w=758,h=48 [-x 0 -y 977 -w 0]
  usleep 1000
done

[twobob]

or alternately:
(since this thread is not exclusively for the PW and that script will crash older devices)

#!/bin/sh

PLATFORM="$(cat /sys/devices/platform/mxc_epdc_fb/graphics/fb0/modes)"

echo $PLATFORM

if [ -z "$PLATFORM"  ]; then
	# it's probably something ancient
	

	if [ ! -e /proc/fiveway_wake   ] ; then

	echo "k2 or something detected"

		echo "" > /var/log/messages; tail -f /var/log/messages 2>/dev/null | \
		awk '/.*PageAction*./ || /.*acxmgrd*./ || /.*NextPage*./ || /.*Reader*./ {system("/mnt/us/extensions/hideProgressBar/bin/wiperk2.sh &")}  '
		exit 0


		else
	echo "k3 or k4 or something detected"

		echo "" > /var/log/messages; tail -f /var/log/messages 2>/dev/null | \
		awk '/.*PageAction*./ || /.*acxmgrd*./ || /.*NextPage*./ || /.*Reader*./ {system("/mnt/us/extensions/hideProgressBar/bin/wiperk4.sh &")}  '
		exit 0

	fi

fi

if [ -n "$PLATFORM"  ]; then
	if [ "$PLATFORM" != "${PLATFORM/758/}" ]; then

	echo "PW detected"

	echo "" > /var/log/messages; tail -F /var/log/messages 2>/dev/null | exec /usr/bin/parselog | \
	awk '/.*PageTurnAction*./ || /.*JunoExecutionManager*./  {system("eips -d l=FFF,w=758,h=48 -x 0 -y 977")}  '

	else
	# it's something else, probably older

	echo "Non-PW detected"

	echo "" > /var/log/messages; tail -F /var/log/messages 2>/dev/null | exec /usr/bin/parselog | \
	awk '/.*PageAction*./ || /.*acxmgrd*./ {system("eips -d l=FFF,w=600,h=40 -x 0 -y 760 ")}  '

	fi
fi

[sinan]

Unfortunately attached version does not work on Kindle PW (v. 5.3.4).

[twobob]

err yeah. There was an error.

it's PageTurnAction not PageAction on a PW. fixed it now. check the script in the version you have:

(tested now on 5.3.6)

Also: read this https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...0&postcount=22

[sinan]

It is working. Thank you.

[twobob]

well - you could do me a favour then

what does

showlog -f | grep Page

output on yours when you click a page turn?

also - this wont work on the FIRST page you load. just when you TURN a page...
(since it greps for the Page*Turn log entries)

I get:

.. cvm[10993]: I ContentPanel:UserActionInfo: PageTurnAction=NextPage:
.. cvm[10993]: I ContentPanel:UserActionInfo: PageTurnAction=PreviousPage:

On a PW 5.3.6...

[twobob]

actually here is an even better test:

run this via ssh:

echo "" > /var/log/messages; tail -F /var/log/messages 2>/dev/null | exec /usr/bin/parselog | awk '/.*PageTurnAction*./ || /.*JunoExecutionManager*./  {system("echo matched; eips -d l=FFF,w=758,h=48 -x 0 -y 977")}  '

This should ALSO match the "startup" use-case now.

simply match up the value of /.*PageTurnAction*./ to the output of showlog -f | grep Page and the matches are spat out on the STDOUT so you can see when it is working...

(The first-time open use-case will harmlessly match about 5 times...)

[sinan]

Could you give me some time? I will run the test as soon as possible but right now I have some errands to attend to.

[twobob]

sure.

If anyone else is finding this doesnt work - please pipe up now.

I'll add the 1st time open use-case to the attachment for now.

EDIT:

ah - I see you edited your post to state it IS working now. bonus. I'll stop derping.

also... I noted that on page backs very occasionally the page back will take SO LONG to render that it will actually miss the overwrite. meh. shove a ulseep in or live with it.

[sinan]

I don't know if I am doing this right but here is the result for

echo "" > /var/log/messages; tail -F /var/log/messages 2>/dev/null | exec /usr/bin/parselog | awk '/.*PageTurnAction*./ || /.*JunoExecutionManager*./  {system("echo matched; eips -d l=FFF,w=758,h=48 -x 0 -y 977")}  '

Spoiler:

131105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 1 down 1383602418.677745
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I ReadingTimerController:Information::NextPage,Verdict:Processed,PageStartPos:MobiPosition: 118570,IntervalTime:527,IntervalWords:106,IntervalWPM:12068.31119544592,ScreenStart:MobiPosition: 117452,ScreenEnd:MobiPosition: 118569,Interval%:0.0034611296854616946,TotalTime:1630833,TotalWords:35398,TotalWPM:4893.62934221199,Total%:1.301710114121222,BookInfoKnownWords:41008,BookInfoKnown%:1.5013339447892469,LogDataReturnCode:106,GlobalWPM:4575.337913019471,GlobalTime:1630833,GlobalWords:97346,CurrentPos:MobiPosition: 118570,EndPos:MobiPosition: 322660,PosLeft:204090,%Left:0.6323920837116199,CurrentPagePosDiff:1194,TimeForPage:1,PosPassed:false,NewTimeLeft:180,OldTimeLeft:792,TimeLeftInBookString:3 mins left in book,TimeLeftInSectionString:Learning reading speed...;
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonPress button=1 time=1383602418.700312
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MousePressed] time=1383602418700
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 5 down 1383602418.796273
131105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 5 up 1383602418.796405
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MousePressed] time=1383602418802
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM POINTER_CLICKED-gen btn=5  -> radius=0.0 time=1383602418802
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MouseRelease] time=1383602418803
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MouseClicked] time=1383602418803
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonPress button=5 time=1383602418.802140
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonRelease button=5 time=1383602418.802710
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I ContentPanel:Information::Swipe West action start - swipe detected at java.awt.Point[x=424,y=656]
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I ContentPanel:UserActionInfo:PageTurnAction=NextPage:
131105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 1 up 1383602418.952464
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonRelease button=1 time=1383602418.980799
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MouseRelease] time=1383602418980
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I ReadingTimerController:Information::NextPage,Verdict:Processed,PageStartPos:MobiPosition: 119765,IntervalTime:402,IntervalWords:96,IntervalWPM:14328.358208955222,ScreenStart:MobiPosition: 118570,ScreenEnd:MobiPosition: 119764,Interval%:0.0036997214363843067,TotalTime:1631235,TotalWords:35494,TotalWPM:4986.283497258797,Total%:1.3054098355576063,BookInfoKnownWords:41104,BookInfoKnown%:1.5050336662256312,LogDataReturnCode:96,GlobalWPM:4575.337913019471,GlobalTime:1631235,GlobalWords:97442,CurrentPos:MobiPosition: 119765,EndPos:MobiPosition: 322660,PosLeft:202895,%Left:0.6286892636810679,CurrentPagePosDiff:1201,TimeForPage:1,PosPassed:false,NewTimeLeft:180,OldTimeLeft:785,TimeLeftInBookString:3 mins left in book,TimeLeftInSectionString:Learning reading speed...;
131105:000019 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 1 down 1383602419.245270
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MousePressed] time=1383602419288
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000019 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonPress button=1 time=1383602419.287519
131105:000019 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 5 down 1383602419.324939
131105:000019 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 5 up 1383602419.325364
131105:000019 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonPress button=5 time=1383602419.340616
131105:000019 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonRelease button=5 time=1383602419.341183
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MousePressed] time=1383602419340
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I def:print::

and for showlog -f | grep Page I got

Spoiler:

31105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 1 down 1383602418.677745
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I ReadingTimerController:Information::NextPage,Verdict:Processed,PageStartPos:MobiPosition: 118570,IntervalTime:527,IntervalWords:106,IntervalWPM:12068.31119544592,ScreenStart:MobiPosition: 117452,ScreenEnd:MobiPosition: 118569,Interval%:0.0034611296854616946,TotalTime:1630833,TotalWords:35398,TotalWPM:4893.62934221199,Total%:1.301710114121222,BookInfoKnownWords:41008,BookInfoKnown%:1.5013339447892469,LogDataReturnCode:106,GlobalWPM:4575.337913019471,GlobalTime:1630833,GlobalWords:97346,CurrentPos:MobiPosition: 118570,EndPos:MobiPosition: 322660,PosLeft:204090,%Left:0.6323920837116199,CurrentPagePosDiff:1194,TimeForPage:1,PosPassed:false,NewTimeLeft:180,OldTimeLeft:792,TimeLeftInBookString:3 mins left in book,TimeLeftInSectionString:Learning reading speed...;
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonPress button=1 time=1383602418.700312
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MousePressed] time=1383602418700
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 5 down 1383602418.796273
131105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 5 up 1383602418.796405
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MousePressed] time=1383602418802
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM POINTER_CLICKED-gen btn=5  -> radius=0.0 time=1383602418802
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MouseRelease] time=1383602418803
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MouseClicked] time=1383602418803
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonPress button=5 time=1383602418.802140
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonRelease button=5 time=1383602418.802710
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I ContentPanel:Information::Swipe West action start - swipe detected at java.awt.Point[x=424,y=656]
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I ContentPanel:UserActionInfo:PageTurnAction=NextPage:
131105:000018 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 1 up 1383602418.952464
131105:000018 root: perfScenario CVM received X11 ButtonRelease button=1 time=1383602418.980799
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MouseRelease] time=1383602418980
131105:000018 cvm[1476]: I def:print::
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I ReadingTimerController:Information::NextPage,Verdict:Processed,PageStartPos:MobiPosition: 119765,IntervalTime:402,IntervalWords:96,IntervalWPM:14328.358208955222,ScreenStart:MobiPosition: 118570,ScreenEnd:MobiPosition: 119764,Interval%:0.0036997214363843067,TotalTime:1631235,TotalWords:35494,TotalWPM:4986.283497258797,Total%:1.3054098355576063,BookInfoKnownWords:41104,BookInfoKnown%:1.5050336662256312,LogDataReturnCode:96,GlobalWPM:4575.337913019471,GlobalTime:1631235,GlobalWords:97442,CurrentPos:MobiPosition: 119765,EndPos:MobiPosition: 322660,PosLeft:202895,%Left:0.6286892636810679,CurrentPagePosDiff:1201,TimeForPage:1,PosPassed:false,NewTimeLeft:180,OldTimeLeft:785,TimeLeftInBookString:3 mins left in book,TimeLeftInSectionString:Learning reading speed...;
131105:000019 Xorg: I GestureEngine:perfScenario::Sending button 1 down 1383602419.245270
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I def:print::perfScenario CVM posting MouseEvent[MousePressed] time=1383602419288
131105:000019 cvm[1476]: I def:print::

[twobob]

errrr... I dont see how "grep Page" can return any results that don't contain the word Page?

and the other one should say like:

matched
matched
matched

and nothing else?

hmm.. mondo weirdness?

ah well as long as the thing is now working for you...

[sinan]

No problem. Thank you.

Can't wait to get rid of progressbar once and for all.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by twobob

errrr... I dont see how "grep Page" can return any results that don't contain the word Page?

and the other one should say like:


and nothing else?

hmm.. mondo weirdness?

ah well as long as the thing is now working for you...

Probably did not enter the pipe symbol.

Capital \

on a normal keyboard

[Kenneth_irl]

Sorry to bump this old bird, but this was the most relevant thread on the matter that I could find. Maybe I should have made a new 'what should I buy' thread and linked to this thread instead, but this will be at least somewhat relevant, but not totally.

So, I'm looking to buy a new e-reader and hiding any progress information is one of my highest priorities. While others like to know where in the book that they're at and when the book will end, I like not knowing such spoiling information. I recommend that people should try reading a book while not knowing how long that it is or when it'll end - because it can make for a much more interesting read. This is a strength for the e-reader, well, it could have been.

Anyhow, right now I'm using my Kindle 3 and the 'kindle-progress-bar-remover' put together by 'muness' (others share credits), but after finding this thread I realised that it might be possible to also acquire a PW2 and achieve the same goal. However, I have to ask a few questions before making the purchase to be sure.

1) Will the script @ #3 work on a jailbroken PW2 with firmware 5.4.5? (I strongly assume it will work)

2) What is the quarks of the script @ #3? (the hack on my Kindle 3 removes the progress bar after each page refresh, so it's visible for a half a second (not an issue, I just don't look at it). There's also some ghosting left behind and therefore the progress bar is actually not 100% hidden if you look carefully (an actual shortcoming for me).

3) (somehow off topic question) Is there any other non-Kindle e-reader that has an native option (or at least through access to root) to hide the progress information?

If I crossed the line here then I'll be sure to delete this post and follow an alternative suggestion for how to go about posting it. Thank you.