Changing reader default properties

tomsem · 01-01-2024, 10:32 PM

I've looked at the 'sticky' FAQ and tips but they do not seem to be very current, perhaps the information is there somewhere but I've been unable to find it.

I would like to:

change default alignment for paragraphs to 'left'
adjust line spacing a bit

Looking in /System/reader folder I see files as in the attached image.

Is it possible to edit these and achieve the results I'm looking for? Is there a 'cookbook' of things one can do there (or with other .cfg files elsewhere)?

Thanks.

Xaenor · 01-02-2024, 12:28 AM

I don't know about changing the default properties, but why not simply install KOReader? It has all these settings and more.

chrisridd · 01-02-2024, 04:24 AM

I agree, it'd be nice to see a proper explanation of what can be tweaked in these files. Put it in the wiki if possible, so we don't have to hunt through random forum postings?

As an aside, the wiki is really out of date...

chrisridd · 01-02-2024, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaenor

I don't know about changing the default properties, but why not simply install KOReader? It has all these settings and more.

Because some (most?) people want to use the built-in app?

Xaenor · 01-02-2024, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisridd

Because some (most?) people want to use the built-in app?

I posted the suggestion about KOReader because I see a lot of people not being aware of it. If tomsem is one such person, then they will be able to make a choice for themselves.

But honestly, why would you want to use the built-in app? It's worse in every respect than any of the popular reading programs, be it Cool Reader, KOReader, Moon Reader or whatever your heart desires. The only reason I can think of is that the user is not aware of other reading apps.

nhedgehog · 01-02-2024, 09:43 AM

There is no cookbook I'm aware of but a thread in a German forum regarding those changes:
https://www.e-reader-forum.de/t/aend...ateien.146613/

Sirtel · 01-02-2024, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaenor

But honestly, why would you want to use the built-in app? It's worse in every respect than any of the popular reading programs, be it Cool Reader, KOReader, Moon Reader or whatever your heart desires. The only reason I can think of is that the user is not aware of other reading apps.

There are actually quite a few of us who don't particularly like either KOReader or Android reading apps. I know it's shocking.

Personally I dislike KOReader because its UI is based on a filesystem and it has no library management features. Plus it's very slow with large books, especially multi-volume omnibuses, of which I have quite a lot. And no, I don't want to split them.

chrisridd · 01-02-2024, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaenor

But honestly, why would you want to use the built-in app?

Speaking for myself, I don't buy an ereader as a piece of hardware to install software on, I buy an ereader holistically

as a device that I can read books on OOTB. I do enough screwing around with software for work!

The last time I looked, koreader was either difficult to build/run on a Mac, not installable on an Android without disabling things I didn't want to disable, and also looked really ugly - maybe that was just the file system browsing ui, I honestly can't recall.

chrisridd · 01-02-2024, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhedgehog

There is no cookbook I'm aware of but a thread in a German forum regarding those changes:
https://www.e-reader-forum.de/t/aend...ateien.146613/

Thanks!

nhedgehog · 01-02-2024, 01:13 PM

Welcome, but ... investing some time in KoReader is worth the effort on Pocketbooks

jackie_w · 01-02-2024, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

...
I would like to:

adjust line spacing a bit

...
Looking in /System/reader folder I see files as in the attached image.

As far as I can tell you can only choose from 3 different values for line spacing (single, one-and-a-half, double) from the reading>settings panel. However, you can change the values in system/reader/linespacing.cfg to customise what those 3 values should be.

This is what I have in mine:

Spoiler:

Your choice of font will probably have some bearing on which 3 values will be "best" for you.

jackie_w · 01-02-2024, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaenor

But honestly, why would you want to use the built-in app?

KOReader isn't an option for anyone who wants to use their e-ink PocketBook's text-to-speech feature.

I do like using KOReader on my Android smartphone.

tomsem · 01-02-2024, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaenor

I don't know about changing the default properties, but why not simply install KOReader? It has all these settings and more.

I have KOReader on my Era, and I really do not like it at all. I am a keep things simple person, I hate having metaphorical tons of options and features that I will never use, much less understand. I'm not sure why I keep it on there. I thought maybe I saw that sort of UI makeover was in the works? Maybe that is why.

tomsem · 01-02-2024, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhedgehog

There is no cookbook I'm aware of but a thread in a German forum regarding those changes:
https://www.e-reader-forum.de/t/aend...ateien.146613/

Thanks, that is exactly what I was looking for!

Although does not address whether text alignment can be changed (e.g. with fb2.css modification?).

nhedgehog · 01-03-2024, 03:28 AM

fb2.css = format options for fb2 file format.

I would rather try the html.css, since epubs are mostly zipped html files. Not tested though.

01-01-2024, 10:32 PM	#1
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,739 Karma: 26974049 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	Changing reader default properties I've looked at the 'sticky' FAQ and tips but they do not seem to be very current, perhaps the information is there somewhere but I've been unable to find it. I would like to: change default alignment for paragraphs to 'left' adjust line spacing a bit Looking in /System/reader folder I see files as in the attached image. Is it possible to edit these and achieve the results I'm looking for? Is there a 'cookbook' of things one can do there (or with other .cfg files elsewhere)? Thanks. Attached Thumbnails

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01-02-2024, 12:28 AM	#2
Xaenor Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: Pocketbook Era	I don't know about changing the default properties, but why not simply install KOReader? It has all these settings and more.

01-02-2024, 04:24 AM	#3
chrisridd Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2209358 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura, Kobo Aura ONE, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	I agree, it'd be nice to see a proper explanation of what can be tweaked in these files. Put it in the wiki if possible, so we don't have to hunt through random forum postings? As an aside, the wiki is really out of date...

01-02-2024, 09:43 AM	#6
nhedgehog Guru Posts: 771 Karma: 625816 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: EnergySistemEreaderPro, Nook STG, Pocketbook 622, Bookeen Cybooks ...	There is no cookbook I'm aware of but a thread in a German forum regarding those changes: https://www.e-reader-forum.de/t/aend...ateien.146613/

01-02-2024, 01:13 PM	#10
nhedgehog Guru Posts: 771 Karma: 625816 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: EnergySistemEreaderPro, Nook STG, Pocketbook 622, Bookeen Cybooks ...	Welcome, but ... investing some time in KoReader is worth the effort on Pocketbooks

01-03-2024, 03:28 AM	#15
nhedgehog Guru Posts: 771 Karma: 625816 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: EnergySistemEreaderPro, Nook STG, Pocketbook 622, Bookeen Cybooks ...	fb2.css = format options for fb2 file format. I would rather try the html.css, since epubs are mostly zipped html files. Not tested though.

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