Kindle Scribe toolbar missing

ReaderGabe · 12-20-2024, 05:47 PM

Hi,

I bought a new Kindle Scribe because I like reading nonfiction and wanted to be able to highlight with the pen and annotate my books. However, the very first book I bought, “Restarting the Future” does not appear to support this. The toolbar is not present and the book does not recognize when I touch the screen with the pen. I can highlight using my finger, as with a regular Kindle, but none of the Scribe-only functions seem to work. I have removed and redownloaded the book and rebooted the device.

Is anyone aware of a way to rectify this?

The Scribe functions work on all the other books in my library.

Thanks for any suggestions

Smoit · 12-20-2024, 08:50 PM

Hi, the only thing I can think of is that this particular book is in an old format that is not compatible with the new functions.

ReaderGabe · 12-20-2024, 11:38 PM

Thanks. I agree. It must be the format of the book. (It’s a 2022 book, so it is odd that it was published in an old format that doesn’t work with the scribe).

tomsem · 12-21-2024, 12:16 AM

It supports enhanced typesetting. That is not 'old format'. Something else is going on.

'Of course' make sure you have not hidden the toolbar.

jhowell · 12-21-2024, 10:08 AM

While the Amazon listing for that book shows it supporting Enhanced Typesetting, examination of it reveals that it uses MathML, which is unsupported on Kindle devices in KFX format. Because of that it will download to a Scribe in KF8 (azw3) format. And that format does not allow writing on the book.

tomsem · 12-21-2024, 09:39 PM

I got curious about this and downloaded this ePub with MathML in it:

https://github.com/IDPF/epub3-sample...r-algebra.epub

It converts to KFX successfully and looks fine when I side load and view it on Scribe (there is some weird formatting that interferes with active canvas but the writing toolbar displays).

Then I converted the KFX to ePub: no more MathML, it is all replaced with inline SVG!

The same ePub, sent to Send To Kindle, downloads as AZW3 on Scribe and Kindle for PC (the version I have 'pinned', not the current one). It appears iPadOS/macOS/Android get KFX (Justification option, page flip). Since this is DRM free maybe I can get the KFX to look at ?(didn't think of that).

The AZW3's in this case are garbage, the mathML expressions are gone and only what text was in there is left. But the KFX is fine. So there is some issue with S2K and MathML when it tries to convert to AZW3.

...

This appears to mirror the behavior of the sample for the Restarting The Future book: AZW3 on Kindle and Kindle for PC, KFX in the other Kindle apps. I assume the whole book in AZW3 does not have issues rendering MathML but the sample didn't have any such expressions. But maybe there are issues (as in my test), but they are not obvious because book does not have many MathML expressions in there?

BTW @jhowell how did you determine it had MathML?

At any rate it is puzzling why they cannot just deliver KFX everywhere since converting MathML to SVG works.

(Some months ago I became very unhappy for some reason with one of my math books, which started life in Topaz format, and after converting to ePub -- and fixing MANY typos because Topaz is not WYSIWYG -- I set about converting SVG objects to MathML as 'an exercise.' I got about half way before other things shelved the project. I probably won't get back to it, but found it instructive and even fun.)

jhowell · 12-22-2024, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

Then I converted the KFX to ePub: no more MathML, it is all replaced with inline SVG!

The KFX renderer does not actually support MathML. It is replaced by KVG (Amazon's proprietary version of SVG) during conversion to KFX format.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

The AZW3's in this case are garbage, the mathML expressions are gone and only what text was in there is left. But the KFX is fine. So there is some issue with S2K and MathML when it tries to convert to AZW3.

MathML markup is carried through unchanged when AZW3 is produced but the renderer for that format does not support it at all. The result is an unreadable mess.

That is a huge flaw in Amazon's implementation of MathML. They should really deliver it in KFX to more apps/devices and block delivery in cases where KFX is unsupported.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

BTW @jhowell how did you determine it had MathML?

I looked at the contents of the full book. There is a single MathML equation in the "Notes" appendix.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

At any rate it is puzzling why they cannot just deliver KFX everywhere since converting MathML to SVG works.

It is odd. It appears to me that support for MathML was started but it was never fully completed.

12-20-2024, 05:47 PM	#1
ReaderGabe Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2024 Device: Kindle Scribe (2024)	Kindle Scribe toolbar missing Hi, I bought a new Kindle Scribe because I like reading nonfiction and wanted to be able to highlight with the pen and annotate my books. However, the very first book I bought, “Restarting the Future” does not appear to support this. The toolbar is not present and the book does not recognize when I touch the screen with the pen. I can highlight using my finger, as with a regular Kindle, but none of the Scribe-only functions seem to work. I have removed and redownloaded the book and rebooted the device. Is anyone aware of a way to rectify this? The Scribe functions work on all the other books in my library. Thanks for any suggestions

12-21-2024, 12:16 AM	#4
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,933 Karma: 27060151 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	It supports enhanced typesetting. That is not 'old format'. Something else is going on. 'Of course' make sure you have not hidden the toolbar. Last edited by tomsem; 12-21-2024 at 01:04 AM.

12-21-2024, 09:39 PM	#6
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,933 Karma: 27060151 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	I got curious about this and downloaded this ePub with MathML in it: https://github.com/IDPF/epub3-sample...r-algebra.epub It converts to KFX successfully and looks fine when I side load and view it on Scribe (there is some weird formatting that interferes with active canvas but the writing toolbar displays). Then I converted the KFX to ePub: no more MathML, it is all replaced with inline SVG! The same ePub, sent to Send To Kindle, downloads as AZW3 on Scribe and Kindle for PC (the version I have 'pinned', not the current one). It appears iPadOS/macOS/Android get KFX (Justification option, page flip). Since this is DRM free maybe I can get the KFX to look at ?(didn't think of that). The AZW3's in this case are garbage, the mathML expressions are gone and only what text was in there is left. But the KFX is fine. So there is some issue with S2K and MathML when it tries to convert to AZW3. ... This appears to mirror the behavior of the sample for the Restarting The Future book: AZW3 on Kindle and Kindle for PC, KFX in the other Kindle apps. I assume the whole book in AZW3 does not have issues rendering MathML but the sample didn't have any such expressions. But maybe there are issues (as in my test), but they are not obvious because book does not have many MathML expressions in there? BTW @jhowell how did you determine it had MathML? At any rate it is puzzling why they cannot just deliver KFX everywhere since converting MathML to SVG works. (Some months ago I became very unhappy for some reason with one of my math books, which started life in Topaz format, and after converting to ePub -- and fixing MANY typos because Topaz is not WYSIWYG -- I set about converting SVG objects to MathML as 'an exercise.' I got about half way before other things shelved the project. I probably won't get back to it, but found it instructive and even fun.) Last edited by tomsem; 12-22-2024 at 12:00 AM.

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12-20-2024, 08:50 PM	#2
Smoit Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Buenos Aires Device: Kindle Scribe	Hi, the only thing I can think of is that this particular book is in an old format that is not compatible with the new functions.

12-20-2024, 11:38 PM	#3
ReaderGabe Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2024 Device: Kindle Scribe (2024)	Thanks. I agree. It must be the format of the book. (It’s a 2022 book, so it is odd that it was published in an old format that doesn’t work with the scribe).

12-21-2024, 10:08 AM	#5
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,062 Karma: 91577715 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	While the Amazon listing for that book shows it supporting Enhanced Typesetting, examination of it reveals that it uses MathML, which is unsupported on Kindle devices in KFX format. Because of that it will download to a Scribe in KF8 (azw3) format. And that format does not allow writing on the book.

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