Firmware 3.18.0 discussion

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

By a small alteration to some CSS in the firmware, it is possible to reduce the footer height so it is smaller than the bottom menu, and then the book text will be displayed below the line drawn by the bottom menu. When the menu opens it covers that part of the text, but that doesn't cause any problems that I have seen.

In the dim distant past, the bottom menu bar was used for the dictionary actions. At that point, having the bar cover the text would have made handling the words at the bottom of the screen a problem. I keep forgetting that there isn't much of a reason not to cover it now. But, I agree with robko, that keeping the footer and the bottom menu bar the same size is a good idea.

So I don't think the size of the bottom menu is any limit to the size of the footer, at least not in ePubs. I expect the issue is that KePubs have a very large header (for whatever reason, I can't imagine a good one), and Kobo have made the footer large enough to match the header, which is reasonable. Unfortunately KePubs and ePubs use the same footer, so ePubs end up encumbered with the large footer even though they don't have the large header to match.

Yes, the balance is good for kepubs. And the title bar is the same size as the menu bar, which means text isn't covered which I think is good. But, there is far to much space above the icons on the menu bar. I think they want to be able to touch the icon in the menu bar without touching the bezel. Personally, I would use the bezel as a guide to finding the right spot. Halving the space above the icons in the top bar, and below them in the bottom, would still be very usable and maintain the current look. The other side (below for the top bar, above for the bottom) is a bit more difficult as that is busier and there needs to be some separation between the text and the rest. It can be reduced, but not by as much.

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by robko

I doubt there is any technical reason the bottom menu couldn't cover part of the bottom line of text, but as soon as you do that you will have people screaming about that as much as some complain about the bottom margin space being too big. Different people prefer different aesthetics.

The top menu bar already covers some of the text in ePubs when it opens (depending on how large a @page margin is set in the book), so I can't see why any extra people would complain if the same thing happens with the bottom menu bar.

Kobo already found a good solution for KePubs in their unofficial full-screen mode: make the top/bottom margins adjustable. (Kobo didn't add that feature for ePub full-screen mode, but there is a patch that can do something similar for ePubs by altering the @page margin in the device's built-in stylesheet.)

[melovesflying]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The first step of the sync to the Kobo server is to check for new firmware and download it if there is. So, if you don't sync, you won't get an update.

If I do downgrade my FW, will the reading stats be affected? I read that a factory reset is recommended for that but I don't really want to reset my stats, unless the backup by Calibre will still work even if the downgraded FW is different from the FW of the backup.

Oh Kobo, your releases are getting buggier and buggier.

[Josieb1]

deleted post.

[outlandos]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Here's a zip file containing all 3 of my .patch input files. I used the same ones for all 3 of my hi-res devices, AuraHD, H2O and GloHD. Hope you'll find something useful in there.

Thanks for sharing, but before I repatch for nothing, could you please post a picture of your layout?

Here is my current one:

http://static.tweakers.net/ext/f/MXb...gqwJ2/full.jpg

I only read Kepubs.

[Erich Zann]

Originally Posted by rogerinnyc

FWIW, On my H2O running 3.18.0, it occurs with each new chapter of my sideloaded kepubs (if I've put the device to sleep with the book open), regardless of whether or not it coincides with my scheduled refresh settings.

I can confirm that.
On a H2O, Calibre loaded kepub, the massive black bar appears on every chapter turn. My device is configured to refresh every 64 pages (it's the only patch I enabled).
The bug only occurs when I put the devince into sleep.

[Nick_1964]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Wow, that's a real 'wall of words' you have there, Nick

If it's any help, in the `Custom reading footer style`patch I have used the following values for the GloHD:

Footer Height: `min-height: 045px;`and `max-height: 045px;`
Font Size: `font-size: 28px;`
Caption Top Margin: `margin-top:-10px;`

Based on your linked image, it looks like you may be using a bigger font-size than I am.

Also, and I know this sounds counter-intuitive, if you actually increase the line-spacing by one or more steps the last line of text may actually come closer to the footer text. You won't get extra lines on screen but you may not get less either plus you may find it more aesthetically pleasing. This is more likely to work if you've also enabled the patch, `My 15 line spacing values` so that the gap between each setting is very small.

The 15 spaces patch is enabled, yes i like my pages filled, so any margins left or right are removed.
I gonna look in to your settings to see if I can "squeeze" a bit of more into it.. about the font..yes my eyes.. getting a bit older

[Nick_1964]

Originally Posted by melovesflying

If I do downgrade my FW, will the reading stats be affected?

No they will be not.. and I never had to do a factory reset (yet).. but even then, copy just all of the content of the drive that contains your books and settings including sub folders and you can do a factory reset,after that copy everything back and it is the way it was.. I always do as a safety,so when a factory reset is needed I don't have to generate a new database..but until now never need that safety.

[jackie_w]

@outlandos,

I thought I already did - in post #119.

[outlandos]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

@outlandos,

I thought I already did - in post #119.

Ok thanks, then I don't see any real difference between your and mine footer.

[volpo]

Originally Posted by Nick_1964

The position of the page xx of xx can be changed in the patch (by giving it an negative value I believe.. don't have the patch here right now) but I don't know it when you lower the position,the txt changes to, so if the page xx of xx is dropped, the last line of txt also moves lower, can u post a screenshot of how it is now ?? in the patch topic for this firmware are screenshots of mine, can u compare those to see if you have the same margin between the last line of txt and the place where mine page xx of xx is ??

OK, saying 3 lines of text only applies if everyone uses the exact same layout. It would even change depending on the book. In my case in the book I am presently reading the space and footer is equivalent to three lines of text. It might not be in all cases. Also it depends on the 'reader program' using all the space on the page to the point of the beginning of the 'reserved' space of the footer. All this to say that it is a variable made up of many parts.

Cannot post a pic now 'cause I do not know how (I'll figure it out). Wouldn't make much difference. The only thing the 'feature' provides is the potential to use all of the space available. The reader program decides how to display the text.

[JSWolf]

Here is a shot of my H2O. It shows how close I can get the text to the footer using ePub (RMDSK).

If anyone wants my patch settings, I'll be happy to post them.

[frostschutz]

@JSWolf: now if only the device itself was white instead of black, it would be perfect for me. But with black I need a bit of a border...

[SHunter101]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Here is a shot of my H2O. It shows how close I can get the text to the footer using ePub (RMDSK).

If anyone wants my patch settings, I'll be happy to post them.

Yes please!!

SH

[Nick_1964]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Wow, that's a real 'wall of words' you have there, Nick

If it's any help, in the `Custom reading footer style`patch I have used the following values for the GloHD:

Footer Height: `min-height: 045px;`and `max-height: 045px;`
Font Size: `font-size: 28px;`
Caption Top Margin: `margin-top:-10px;`

Based on your linked image, it looks like you may be using a bigger font-size than I am.

Also, and I know this sounds counter-intuitive, if you actually increase the line-spacing by one or more steps the last line of text may actually come closer to the footer text. You won't get extra lines on screen but you may not get less either plus you may find it more aesthetically pleasing. This is more likely to work if you've also enabled the patch, `My 15 line spacing values` so that the gap between each setting is very small.

Tried the values but it doesn't get more to the "page xx of xx" like JsWolfs.
Margins and padding are set to zero.. it doesn't matter that much,I just don't understand why.. maybe when I see his settings and compare them with your's and mine to get to a better understanding.. and if not, I can live with it thank you for sharing it..