Libra Colour Is it possible to download highlights? Is there a plugin?

MsWoodhouse · 03-30-2025, 07:42 PM

I have a Kobo Libra Colour. I read a lot of nonfiction and I really need the highlights of my books to be available. I asked in a couple other places and was told this just isn't possible. When I search here, there seem to be folks who can access their highlights, but only with some very technical solutions. I'm not techy and these don't make sense to me.

For instance, in this thread it's repeatedly mentioned that the Kobo Utilities Plugin downloads highlights? I have that plugin and can find no such option or capability. But I'm not sure it's working anyway, either? For instance, I checked the option of creating a column that lets you see your percentage read, and it made the column but it's just empty, even after syncing my Kobo several times. No data.

Back to highlights, someone else mentions this thread with a script that exports to a cloud - but I don't know what a script is or how to use one, and folks are talking about needing to modify the script - I don't know programming languages or how to write a script, so none of this is accessible.

I was able to find the Highlights to Obsidian plugin, and I got that working (only after literally having to change the resolution of my screen because otherwise I couldn't access the Save button because the config window ran from the top to well past the bottom of the screen - what the heck?!?), but it only exports highlights I've made from Calibre's reader app, not from my Kobo, so that's useless unless I want to read all my books on my laptop, which defeats the whole purpose of the eReader.

Is there any plugin that I can install that a non-engineer who doesn't know how to code or use a script can use to get highlights from their Kobo to a text document?

DNSB · 03-30-2025, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsWoodhouse

For instance, in this thread it's repeatedly mentioned that the Kobo Utilities Plugin downloads highlights? I have that plugin and can find no such option or capability. But I'm not sure it's working anyway, either? For instance, I checked the option of creating a column that lets you see your percentage read, and it made the column but it's just empty, even after syncing my Kobo several times. No data.

It seems rather odd that you do not see the 3 Annotations items in the Kobo Utilities. My preference has been the Copy Annotation files though those files do need some massaging to get a plain text highlight.

As for the percentage read column? After creating the custom columns, did you configure the Kobo Utilities plugin to use those plugins? Did you then use the Store/Restore bookmarks tool to store the bookmarks?

Aleron Ives · 03-30-2025, 08:33 PM

You can also add the ExportHighlights=true option under [FeatureSettings] in Kobo eReader.conf to enable plain text exporting of highlighted text and annotations.

rashkae · 03-30-2025, 08:34 PM

Yes, super easy... *But*, if you're on Windows, you need to install a text editor that can save files in Unix text format. (Notepad++ is the popular go to for this.)

Plug your Kobo your computer, in Notepad++, open the .kobo\Kobo\Kobo Ereader.conf file on the device.

The file has multiple sections, with title in square brackets, [ ]

Find the [Feature Settings] section and add this line.

ExportHighlights=true

So it will look like this when you're done.

[FeatureSettings]
ExportHighlights=true
MyWords=true

Save the file. eject and unplug the kobo. I forget if you have to reboot it for this change to take effect. But now when you long press a book in your ibrary, (or open a book's ... menu), there wil be an option to Export Annotations. That will export your highlights into a text file.

PeterT · 03-30-2025, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashkae

Yes, super easy... *But*, if you're on Windows, you need to install a text editor that can save files in Unix text format. (Notepad++ is the popular go to for this.)

I believe current versions of Microsoft Notepad do have the ability to save with Unix line endings.

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

MsWoodhouse · 03-30-2025, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

It seems rather odd that you do not see the 3 Annotations items in the Kobo Utilities.

It's SUPER ODD, because it's RIGHT THERE, you're so correct! I was so confused, I kept looking at the plugin settings, not clicking on the actual button on the menu. I'm on a laptop with the resolution up and I wasn't actually seeing the top bar icon, so I kept thinking it had to be in the plugin settings! I feel like such a dope. But I'm glad I asked, because the screenshot you posted immediately made it clear what I was missing, so thank you!

I hit the store/restore option and IT WORKED!

This is fantastic, thanks so much!

Aleron Ives · 03-31-2025, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashkae

Yes, super easy... *But*, if you're on Windows, you need to install a text editor that can save files in Unix text format.

On older versions of Windows, you can just use WordPad instead of Notepad for this purpose.

Quoth · 03-31-2025, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

On older versions of Windows, you can just use WordPad instead of Notepad for this purpose.

Though Notepad++ is hugely better and needed anyway (free).

SamLoki · 03-31-2025, 01:51 PM

Thanks rashkae! Adding ExportHighlights=true worked!

SamLoki · 03-31-2025, 01:53 PM

Thanks rashkae. That worked!

03-30-2025, 07:42 PM	#1
MsWoodhouse Non-techie Newbie Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2024 Device: Kobo	Is it possible to download highlights? Is there a plugin? I have a Kobo Libra Colour. I read a lot of nonfiction and I really need the highlights of my books to be available. I asked in a couple other places and was told this just isn't possible. When I search here, there seem to be folks who can access their highlights, but only with some very technical solutions. I'm not techy and these don't make sense to me. For instance, in this thread it's repeatedly mentioned that the Kobo Utilities Plugin downloads highlights? I have that plugin and can find no such option or capability. But I'm not sure it's working anyway, either? For instance, I checked the option of creating a column that lets you see your percentage read, and it made the column but it's just empty, even after syncing my Kobo several times. No data. Back to highlights, someone else mentions this thread with a script that exports to a cloud - but I don't know what a script is or how to use one, and folks are talking about needing to modify the script - I don't know programming languages or how to write a script, so none of this is accessible. I was able to find the Highlights to Obsidian plugin, and I got that working (only after literally having to change the resolution of my screen because otherwise I couldn't access the Save button because the config window ran from the top to well past the bottom of the screen - what the heck?!?), but it only exports highlights I've made from Calibre's reader app, not from my Kobo, so that's useless unless I want to read all my books on my laptop, which defeats the whole purpose of the eReader. Is there any plugin that I can install that a non-engineer who doesn't know how to code or use a script can use to get highlights from their Kobo to a text document? Last edited by MsWoodhouse; 03-30-2025 at 07:42 PM. Reason: Adding which device I have.

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03-30-2025, 08:33 PM	#3
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,644 Karma: 16302664 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	You can also add the ExportHighlights=true option under [FeatureSettings] in Kobo eReader.conf to enable plain text exporting of highlighted text and annotations.

03-30-2025, 08:34 PM	#4
rashkae Wizard Posts: 1,267 Karma: 5935030 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD	Yes, super easy... But, if you're on Windows, you need to install a text editor that can save files in Unix text format. (Notepad++ is the popular go to for this.) Plug your Kobo your computer, in Notepad++, open the .kobo\Kobo\Kobo Ereader.conf file on the device. The file has multiple sections, with title in square brackets, [ ] Find the [Feature Settings] section and add this line. ExportHighlights=true So it will look like this when you're done. [FeatureSettings] ExportHighlights=true MyWords=true Save the file. eject and unplug the kobo. I forget if you have to reboot it for this change to take effect. But now when you long press a book in your ibrary, (or open a book's ... menu), there wil be an option to Export Annotations. That will export your highlights into a text file.

03-31-2025, 01:51 PM	#9
SamLoki Retired-Ham Op-Audiophile Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Bronx New York Device: Kobo Clara BW, Boox Page	Thanks rashkae! Adding ExportHighlights=true worked!

03-31-2025, 01:53 PM	#10
SamLoki Retired-Ham Op-Audiophile Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Bronx New York Device: Kobo Clara BW, Boox Page	Thanks rashkae. That worked!

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