Remove icons from PocketBook desktop and app drawer

[jrw174]

I made changes to the following files:
/mnt/ext1/system/config/desktop/view.json
/mnt/ext1/system/config/desktop/apps.json
/ebrmain/config/desktop/view.json
/ebrmain/config/desktop/apps_db.json
/ebrmain/config/desktop/apps/apps.json

After doing this, the icon has disappeared for view. While not the intended result, this is interesting. Something in one of these files has made the icon disappear. Now to find which file that could be

[jrw174]

I removed all references to KOReader from the files:
/mnt/ext1/system/config/desktop/view.json
/mnt/ext1/system/config/desktop/apps.json
/ebrmain/config/desktop/view.json
/ebrmain/config/desktop/apps_db.json
/ebrmain/config/desktop/apps/apps.json

Added the entry back into /mnt/ext1/system/config/desktop/view.json. The entries I added:
U_koreader
U_KOReader
koreader
KOReader

After reboot, I saw an 2 errors that it couldn't find koreader and KOReader.

Removing both those entries, and having U_KOReader and U_koreader remaining, the icon disappeared again.

So it seems the change can be made in /mnt/ext1/system/config/desktop/view.json. Just need to figure out exactly what we need

[neil_swann80]

Got it!

Add this to the start of the file mnt/ext1/system/config/desktop/view.json:

{
    "version": "5",
    "applications": {
		"U_Koreader": {
			"path": "/mnt/ext1/applications/koreader.app",
			"title": "KOReader",
			"icon": "/mnt/ext1/applications/icons/koreader.bmp",
			"focused_icon": "/mnt/ext1/applications/icons/koreader_f.bmp"
		},
        "_comment": [
...

Then add: "U_Koreader",
to whichever group list you want the icon to appear in further down the file.

If it's the last entry in the section no comma at the end: "U_Koreader"
All apps listed before it MUST have a comma however.

[jrw174]

GREAT WORK!

Looks good on my side! I'll create a github project with all this info and share the link later.

I'll post on the Dutch form, and KOReader project as well. Might be helpful for users and maybe bring on some new ideas

Thanks again everyone

[EastEriq]

[I take that the finding applies to FW 6.X. On my device I simply don't have the *.jsons mentioned, I have a different set of *.cfg and *.json in not exactly the same folders].

Still not resolved about what is the ideal pixel height of the icons in my case. The attached is a high-contrast stylish 112px, which still looks a couple of pixels too short.

[neil_swann80]

Likely is a 6.x firmware difference. I don't have a PB device running 5.x to confirm.

I'm going to try and find a system icon file next so we can get the exact dimensions.

Thanks for new icon @EastEriq!

[jrw174]

Any changes made to /ebrmain/ don't change after reformat or factory reset fyi. I am doing a from scratch guide for this and wanted to make sure you don't need root. I'll mention other quirks if I find them

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by jrw174

Any changes made to /ebrmain/ don't change after reformat or factory reset fyi. I am doing a from scratch guide for this and wanted to make sure you don't need root. I'll mention other quirks if I find them

I haven't made any changes at all under root for this (and Ive hidden items, created and removed groups etc), so can all be undone by deleting the userspace versions of en.txt and view.json. So a factory reset would work correctly.

en.txt only really needed for renaming stock apps (or renaming "USER'S" group in apps menu) as user apps and groups can be renamed in view.json.

I guess you could even (mostly) ditch en.txt for simplicity and add the stock apps to the applications section of view.json too; then you could keep renaming to a single file and all the custom icons for stock and user apps in a single easily referenced directory. As there are loads of different xx.txt language files this may be a good idea! - FYI tested this and it works, you can set title and set a path for icons for stock apps - app path not required for stock apps (will generate an error), only needed for user apps

Add stock apps to applications section of "view.json" like so:

"PB_Calc": {
    "title": "",
    "icon": "",
    "focused_icon": ""
},

With the quotes empty the default app name/text and icons will be shown, but they can be easily populated and customised in the future.

If you want to hide an app from the Apps menu, stock or user, remove the reference to it in the groups section further down the file.

[jrw174]

Here is the Github link to the guide: https://github.com/jjrrw174/PocketBo...Customizations

I'll edit the first post I made to use this link instead of the steps I had.

Thanks all

[neil_swann80]

Just realised there's a better way to hide the apps in "view.json". Just add a underscore to the start of the app name in the groups section and it's treated as a comment and ignored. Easier to disable/enable in future then.

"PB_Gallery",
"PB_Library",
"_PB_Notes",

PB_Notes would be hidden.

[jrw174]

Found a slight problem

The open with Koreader option doesn't seem to work after these changes. Going to take a look

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by jrw174

Found a slight problem

The open with Koreader option doesn't seem to work after these changes. Going to take a look

Working fine for me. I can long-press from the library and open with KOReader just fine. It then remembers and opens that book again with KOReader as default after a reboot.

[jrw174]

Oh. Strange. When I long press and the open with menu appears I see KOReader (use to be koreader.app) and it does nothing.

Maybe I need to clean install KOReader

Edit: Found it. I didn't put the system folder in system lol

[EastEriq]

I decided that the optimal icon height on PB631 is 116px.

In my last attempts I didn't even need to reboot the device to see the changed icons.

[kaznelson]

Another icons variant for KOReader.