Using Kobo Aura One in Landscape Mode ?

[andy9279]

I just got an Aura One, it has firmware 4.38.23171 installed, which I read is the latest/last patch available. I'd very much like to read in landscape mode if possible, and eliminate headers and footers too -- essentially I just want as much text on-screen as possible. Is there a way to do this? With my old Kobo Glo HD I just updated the firmware and added:

[FeatureSettings]
FullScreenReading=true

...to Kobo eReader.config, but this doesn't seem to be working on the Aura One. Could I install Koreader? I don't mind an older version if it works. Or are there other options? Thanks.

Andy.

[jackie_w]

Right idea, wrong config setting. To use the KA1 in landscape mode you need this in the Kobo config file:

[DeveloperSettings]
EnableDebugServices=true
ForceAllowLandscape=true

It's possible that the middle line isn't necessary, I'm not sure. Eliminating Headers/Footers is done via the stock Kobo Reading Settings, accessed via the cogwheel icon on the top line menu when a book is open.

BTW firmware v 4.38.23171 is quite old, Nov 2024. You would need the most recent, 4.38.23555, if you were hoping to use InstaPaper (which replaced Pocket).

[andy9279]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Right idea, wrong config setting. To use the KA1 in landscape mode you need this in the Kobo config file:

[DeveloperSettings]
EnableDebugServices=true
ForceAllowLandscape=true

It's possible that the middle line isn't necessary, I'm not sure. Eliminating Headers/Footers is done via the stock Kobo Reading Settings, accessed via the cogwheel icon on the top line menu when a book is open.

BTW firmware v 4.38.23171 is quite old, Nov 2024. You would need the most recent, 4.38.23555, if you were hoping to use InstaPaper (which replaced Pocket).

Thanks! For anyone else looking to do this, on the home screen you need to go into More > Settings > Device Information > Developer Options > Scroll down to find Orientation.

The one problem though is that, yes I turned off headers and footers so they are not visible, however the "space" where they would be is not being filled in with text. I can't recall if I had to change a setting on my old Glo HD to make the text use that space, or if it just did it automatically. Is there a way to do this to maximize text on-screen?

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by andy9279

For anyone else looking to do this, on the home screen you need to go into More > Settings > Device Information > Developer Options > Scroll down to find Orientation.

Maybe you already know this, but in case you don't ... if you're in a book there should also be a Portrait/Landscape icon in the top line menu. Because the 'change orientation feature' is only a hack on the KA1 the Landscape will persist when you go back to the Home screen. This could be seen as a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point-of-view.

Originally Posted by andy9279

The one problem though is that, yes I turned off headers and footers so they are not visible, however the "space" where they would be is not being filled in with text. I can't recall if I had to change a setting on my old Glo HD to make the text use that space, or if it just did it automatically. Is there a way to do this to maximize text on-screen?

One of the patches in kobopatch will reduce the space allocated to unused Headers/Footers. IIRC it's the one called Reduce top/bottom page spacer in nickel.yaml.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

One of the patches in kobopatch will reduce the space allocated to unused Headers/Footers. IIRC it's the one called Reduce top/bottom page spacer in nickel.yaml.

It's an excellent patch. I use it.

[andy9279]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's an excellent patch. I use it.

This seems like a good option. I found this post:
KoboPatchFan - a GUI application for Kobo patches
(https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=352447)

Would this be the easiest way for me to apply these patches? I've never patched a Kobo before. I'd also like to do this to a Libra 2 if possible.

Also, is there any disadvantage to simply installing KOReader instead, in terms of battery life, etc? I've never used it, but open to doing that if it is simpler and less likely to break in the future.

Thanks,
Andy

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by andy9279

This seems like a good option. I found this post:
KoboPatchFan - a GUI application for Kobo patches
(https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=352447)

Would this be the easiest way for me to apply these patches? I've never patched a Kobo before. I'd also like to do this to a Libra 2 if possible.

Also, is there any disadvantage to simply installing KOReader instead, in terms of battery life, etc? I've never used it, but open to doing that if it is simpler and less likely to break in the future.

Thanks,
Andy

You can't use KoboPatch as it no longer works. Just use the patches as is. You have to put all the yes/no in the kobopatch.yaml file.

The patches are in the Kobo Developer's forum. Find the one that goes with your firmware and download the firmware ZIP file you need for your Kobo. It has to be the same version firmware. The URL below is where to get the firmware file. Which firmware version are you using on your Libra 2?

https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

[andy9279]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can't use KoboPatch as it no longer works. Just use the patches as is. You have to put all the yes/no in the kobopatch.yaml file.

The patches are in the Kobo Developer's forum. Find the one that goes with your firmware and download the firmware ZIP file you need for your Kobo. It has to be the same version firmware. The URL below is where to get the firmware file. Which firmware version are you using on your Libra 2?

https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

My Libra 2 has 4.38.23171, and I can see that firmware listed there, but I'm confused -- if I can't use KoboPatch to create a .tgz after editing the .yaml file, to drag into the .kobo folder, how do I do this?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by andy9279

My Libra 2 has 4.38.23171, and I can see that firmware listed there, but I'm confused -- if I can't use KoboPatch to create a .tgz after editing the .yaml file, to drag into the .kobo folder, how do I do this?

I think what @JSWolf meant to say is that you can't use KoboPatchFan. Running KoboPatch.bat/.sh from a CLI works well for me.

[andy9279]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I think what @JSWolf meant to say is that you can't use KoboPatchFan. Running KoboPatch.bat/.sh from a CLI works well for me.

Here's what I did: I downloaded kobopatch_4.38.23171.zip, extracted it to my desktop. I downloaded kobo-update-4.38.23171.zip and put it into src. I edited nickel.yaml to eliminate margins.

For example:
Reduce top/bottom page spacer:
- Enabled: yes
......
# LibraH2O/Libra2: 50px --> 25px
- Find: "MediumVertSpacer[qApp_deviceIsStorm=true] {\n min-height: 50px;\n max-height: 50px;\n}"
Replace: "MediumVertSpacer[qApp_deviceIsStorm=true] {\n min-height: 5px;\n max-height: 5px;\n}"


Also changed this:
Reduce new header/footer height:
- Enabled: yes
........
# LibraH2O/Libra2 (Storm)
- Find: "ReadingFooter[qApp_deviceIsStorm=true] {\n min-height: 118px;\n max-height: 118px;\n}"
Replace: "ReadingFooter[qApp_deviceIsStorm=true] {\n min-height: 5px;\n max-height: 5px;\n}"

Then I ran kobopatch.bat, went into the "out" folder, copied over KoboRoot.tgz to .kobo, and let it update, which it did fine. The header and footer didn't change. I also went into kobopatch.yaml and tried fixing overrides. Eventually I deleted the entire override section and replaced it with this:

overrides:
src/libnickel.so.1.0.0.yaml:
My 24 line spacing values: yes
Force user line spacing in ePubs (part 1 of 2): yes
Remove title from reading header/footer: yes
Unify font sizes: yes
src/librmsdk.so.1.0.0.yaml:
Disable orphans/widows avoidance: yes
Force user line spacing in ePubs (Part 2 of 2): yes
src/nickel.yaml:
Reduce top/bottom page spacer: yes
Reduce new header/footer height: yes

Still no luck.