default viewer program: calibre doesn't adhere to xdg-mime settings

schmittlauch · 02-14-2019, 05:18 AM

Hi,

I have the following issue: When double-clicking on a file (this case: PDF), Calibre doesn't respect the desktop-wide "open with" filetype associations:

PDF files are supposed to be opened with "okular" on my system, but are instead opened with "calibre" again which then tries to re-import them.
The "View specific format (Alt+V)" dialogue is also only partially functional:
While "View -> View specific format -> Open PDF with -> Okular" opens the correct program Okular, even a "View -> View specific format" and the double-clicking on the big PDF symbol again triggers the wrong program, in this case calibre.

Can someone point me to the relevant parts of Calibre's code responsible for opening a book after a double-click and the logic behind selecting which program to use for that? I then can try to debug this myself.

I already started with a fresh ~/.config/calibre/, that didn't help either.

I'm running Calibre on Linux, precisely on NixOS. NixOS can be a bit quirky sometimes, so I'm willing to debug this myself if someone can give me a starting point in the code.

Thanks

davidfor · 02-14-2019, 05:34 AM

What format calibre opens can be configured on the Behavior page of the preferences. Look at the "Use internal view for" list.

schmittlauch · 02-14-2019, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

What format calibre opens can be configured on the Behavior page of the preferences. Look at the "Use internal view for" list.

Thanks, but that doesn't solve my problem:
The "use internal viewer" checkbox was unticked all the time for PDF. When I wrote that pdf books are opened with calibre I mean that they are opened like with any other external program, just that the external program is calibre itself and not my PDF viewer "Okular".

kovidgoyal · 02-14-2019, 08:21 AM

calibre uses Qt which in turn uses xdg-open. Fix xdg-open on your system and you will be fine.

schmittlauch · 02-14-2019, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

calibre uses Qt which in turn uses xdg-open. Fix xdg-open on your system and you will be fine.

`xdg-open book.pdf` does indeed open my PDF viewer, while opening the same file from within calibre still has the issues I described.

@kovidgoyal: As NixOS plays some dirty tricks with enironment variables or paths I don't expect you to devote time for fixing this. But can you please point me to some code and to the Qt methods you call there? This'd really help me investigating this.

PS: as today is the "I love Free Software" day, I want to thank you for that useful piece of software you're working on (=

kovidgoyal · 02-14-2019, 09:47 AM

https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...nit__.py#L1120

02-14-2019, 05:18 AM	#1
schmittlauch Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: PocketBook TouchHD 2	default viewer program: calibre doesn't adhere to xdg-mime settings Hi, I have the following issue: When double-clicking on a file (this case: PDF), Calibre doesn't respect the desktop-wide "open with" filetype associations: PDF files are supposed to be opened with "okular" on my system, but are instead opened with "calibre" again which then tries to re-import them. The "View specific format (Alt+V)" dialogue is also only partially functional: While "View -> View specific format -> Open PDF with -> Okular" opens the correct program Okular, even a "View -> View specific format" and the double-clicking on the big PDF symbol again triggers the wrong program, in this case calibre. Can someone point me to the relevant parts of Calibre's code responsible for opening a book after a double-click and the logic behind selecting which program to use for that? I then can try to debug this myself. I already started with a fresh ~/.config/calibre/, that didn't help either. I'm running Calibre on Linux, precisely on NixOS. NixOS can be a bit quirky sometimes, so I'm willing to debug this myself if someone can give me a starting point in the code. Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[iOS] Problems using default settings when connecting to Calibre.	svenlind	Calibre Companion	6	12-20-2016 05:52 AM
Calibre Viewer Default Format	slantybard	Calibre	13	09-25-2016 05:08 PM
I need a solution to set default calibre viewer's window	ClientAlive	Calibre	2	02-15-2013 09:21 AM
Set Calibre e-book viewer as default	Huisie	Library Management	12	03-11-2011 08:53 PM
What Default Settings in Calibre for a Sony 505??	Ler0y Jenkins	Sony Reader	8	11-27-2008 08:26 AM

02-14-2019, 05:34 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,907 Karma: 47303748 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	What format calibre opens can be configured on the Behavior page of the preferences. Look at the "Use internal view for" list.

02-14-2019, 08:21 AM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre uses Qt which in turn uses xdg-open. Fix xdg-open on your system and you will be fine.

02-14-2019, 09:47 AM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...nit__.py#L1120