CoolReader -- an eBook / epub reader

[mikeslr]

Edit Aug 9'22: See next post for links to AppImages.

CoolReader is fast and small XML/CSS based eBook reader.

Grey has recently compiled and published a new version which works well under Fossapup64. It is always better to use a version compiled against ones' operating system. His version will support formats: FB2, FB3, EPUB, TXT, RTF, DOC, TCR, HTML, CHM, PDB, MOBI, Open Document files. But primarily I still run Bionicpup64 which doesn't meet the new version's glibc requirements, among others.

Fortunately, version cr3-3.1.2 available from here, https://sourceforge.net/projects/crengi ... olReader3/ will work, but perhaps not with all the above noted formats. Both 32-and-64 bit versions can be found there. I run them as 'external/portable' applications as explained here: https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtop ... 20#1050720

Another option is FBReader. It may be available via your Puppy Package Manager, PPM.

[mikeslr]

With Amethyst having discovered a great, free collection of books in epub format, https://usa1lib.org/ I was again interested in applications to read them. FBReader may be available via your Puppy's Package Manager. But I kind-of like CoolReader which I discovered as an Android App as versions are available for all major computing platforms.

But CoolReader has ceased development. In one way that's good. CoolReader can be packaged as an AppImage without having to worry about the need to update it later. So I have. You can find both 32 and 64 bit AppImages here, https://www.mediafire.com/folder/h1eb2s ... CoolReader along with RoxApps which are the by-product of fredx181's create-appimage application viewtopic.php?p=3328&sid=b4d37bc45df257 ... e44f#p3328.

I've tried these under various Puppys and, with one exception, they seem to be working. The exception is Quickpup64. Examination suggests inclusion of a libaudio library will solve the problem. But I haven't tracked down that library and am uncertain that the suggestion is accurate. If you want to try, I suggest you download the Rox-App which will be easier to modify/ add libraries to. See next post.

[mikeslr]

Well, turns out ListDD wasn't lying. . CoolReader has audio capacity: libaudio.so.2 was, in fact, needed. "This allows listen to a book. You can also save in audio format MP3 to listen to the MP3 player. Customized pronunciation." https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Cool_Reader

CoolReader in Quickpup64.png (319.99 KiB) Viewed 1247 times

The attached tar.gz contains libaudio.so.2.4 and a symlink to it named libaudio.so.2. Unpack it and move/copy those files into /usr/lib. I did so into the /usr/lib folder within the portable. But I think copying them into your Operating Systems /usr/lib folder will also work.

libaudio.tar.gz

(45.31 KiB) Downloaded 44 times

This is a true tar.gz.

The Book displayed in the screen shot is "Earth Abides" by George R. Stewart. It should be required reading. Written in 1949, when the rest of World worried about armageddon resulting from a mistake made by strategists of the Cold War, Stewart --a professor of literature rather than a writer of Science Fiction-- wrote a 'fable' about the few survivors of an epidemic. It is a compelling tale of memorable characters and events evidencing a deep understanding of ecology and individual and social psychology.

[amethyst]

If you have WINE installed, I recommend using SumatraPDF which is able to open the popular ebook formats.viewtopic.php?t=3466. Seems to preserve the originaI formating and layout. I use an older version which is quite small in size. Use it as my default pdf reader as well, very good. Attached an image of SumatraPDF's book view.

Another alternative is eTextReader, viewtopic.php?t=3440 (need to convert to text first which you can do with my application here, viewtopic.php?t=1912). File converting/splitting tools, text to speech capabilities, voices and eTextReader are included in that package.

BTW - I'm not great at reading books, find it irritating...but I love to listen. Quite frankly, if it wasn't for audiobooks or the capability to convert to audio, I would never have "read" books.