Features of e-book reading software

Ma Jian
Email:[email protected]
Published: 2015.01.03

From Comicsviewer (CV), myreader (MR), Pagebypage (PBP) to Unicornviewer (UV), I have published several e-book reading software for several years, including comic/comic book/PDG for scanned editions (CV , UV), HTML Books (MR), plain text books (MR, PBP), Pdg/pdf/djvu/tiff (UV), and so on. It may have been noted that these software have some common features that I think an ebook reader software should have. The following summarizes, for you are interested in developing e-book reading software for reference, but also for readers to choose to read the software recommendations.

First, the essential function

The so-called "essential" function, meaning that these functions as long as one less, even if the interface of the reading software is more fancy, in my opinion is just a toy, there is no real value.

1. Memory function

As a member of the office, reading this kind of thing really can only use the so-called "fragment Time" to complete, so a book to see a paragraph to put down is the norm, one go all can only be accidental. Ordinary books are like this, not to mention a set of dozens of cartoons, comic strips.

So you can remember the last time you quit reading progress, next time you can also "breakpoint recovery" is very necessary. That's why I hate the fact that some people use CHM for a novel: Pro, the CHM reading software that supports "breakpoint recovery" now has wood? A novel today to see half of a chapter, open tomorrow again to think about the last time to see which chapter, which paragraph, how painful, more than a pit dad, you know? So I get the novel, either directly throw away to find plain text, or anti-compilation is not discussed.

And in the comics, comics, in order to ensure that the so-called "hard scan produced by the ' copyright '", specialized packaging, reading software is endless, in the absence of memory function, each time in a set of dozens of books to remember where the last saw, has not been used to "pit dad" can be described, It was a complete pit of bastard, and the pit was exhausted.

In my software, the following two methods are generally used to solve the problem of "Breakpoint recovery":

• Use the Auto Recover feature. That is, when the software exits, automatic memory is now looking at the file (CV, UV), and the current content in the file position (MR, PBP), the next time you start the software, automatically restore the last time you exit the file opened, and moved to the appropriate location. Of course, if wearies, this function can be canceled and resumed at any time.
• Use the Bookmark function. That is, the user can click the "Bookmark" button at any time to save the current file (CV, UV), current position (MR, PBP), current image processing parameters (CV, UV) to the bookmark, and then click "Bookmark Management" when needed to revert to the saved state.

2. Compressed file support function

For the scanned version, the HTML version of the book, there is no doubt that the bulk of the storage area, management is not convenient, so it is generally packaged storage. Because of this strong demand, so a variety of "proprietary" format, such as the Pdz of the star, and some of the website's own packaging format.

I have always been a "standard" believer, so I always have doubts about these non-standard things: I've never seen a big charity. For these proprietary packaging formats to launch the file verification, repair tools, how do I know I downloaded the file is intact? What happens when a file is damaged? Even if the file is not damaged, if due to what unfortunate natural and natural disasters caused by special reader failure, I would like to change a software to see, or that is on the PC to look bored to see the tablet, unpacking software has wood?

So in my opinion, there is no need for people to invent what format, just use the standard compressed file format is good. And in the common zip and rar format, I think the zip is more suitable for storing the need to read the file in a non-sequential reading scene, the reason I have been in the "Random talk zip, rar file format," said: Zip file has a directory table (TOC), want to find out which file from the directory in the list to know where to read from, As for some people advocating the 7-zip, because the default is solid compression, read the middle or tail of a file, it is necessary to put all the files before the file in full sequence to extract the order, so I think it is not suitable for storing frequently need to jump to a file in the middle of the ebook. I have the same view of people should be a lot, so epub, apk, jar is actually zip files, the extension to zip can be directly extracted.

WinRAR provides zip file repair, check function, so the data integrity of the zip file should be guaranteed. The previous zip standard limits the zip file to only 4GB, now the ZIP64 standard has broken through this limit, the use is even more no problem.

In order to be different from other ordinary compressed files, although the use of zip, rar, such as the standard compression format, but for a specific purpose to take an extension is also very necessary, so it is easy to use a particular type of file extension with a special reader associated, such as the comic World generally zip, RAR renamed to CBZ, CBR, my personal guess is comics book + Zip/rar,uv also have a sample to make a uvz, that is, UV + zip, so the entire document of the PDG files packaged into a zip file, and then renamed to Uvz, you can be associated with UV, double-click to open. CV, UV, zip2dir all support UVZ, it is easy to rename the zip to Uvz or vice versa in batch batches. And because of the open zip standard, in the handheld device support UVZ also have no threshold, Readfree also launched support Uvz Android software, so happy.

3. Continuous reading function

In this case, "continuous reading" means that the user is able to read smoothly and not be disturbed by unnecessary pauses. Of course different types of ebooks, there are different types of interference.

For scanning electronic books, such as scanned comics, comic strips, "continuous reading" refers to a comic book or comic strip if divided into a number of sets, then read the time you want to be able to read in a series of sequential reading, even if different sets in different sub-folders or packaging files, Also do not want to see each episode must manually select the next set of files or folders to watch. This is like the current media Player supports automatic continuous playback: A movie even if it is cut into several pieces, as long as the main file name is the same, the player will automatically play continuously, do not play to half stop, and other people manually select the next fragment of the file name.

This diversity is really common in the comics field, so it is also the earliest support in CVS, including:

• If the file is a loose page storage, each episode of a subfolder, then use the CV "open folder" function to open the parent folder, you can turn the page, CV automatically travel through all subfolders of the file.
• If each set of zip files, the entire book is placed in a folder, then use the CV to open the first episode, and then go all the way down, to the end of each episode and then turn the next set automatically open, at the beginning of each episode will automatically open the previous episode.
• If you put all the sets in sub-folders, and then package the whole book into a zip file, open with CVS, you can also automatically travel around the zip file of all folders, for continuous reading.

UV because the main target is the PDG books, this kind of book basically does not exist a book into a few zip packages or a few folders problem, so there is no such function.

In the e-book based on the HTML file, the page jump is achieved by clicking the link, so the automatic continuous reading is not reliable, but in the page switch, each page at the end of the last pause is more annoying-when browsing the HTML file, press the SPACEBAR to page down sequentially, can be turned near the bottom of the pages, If the rest of the content is less than a screen, then how much of the left, so often people make a leng: press the space bar, may be on the end of a screen ran to the middle of the screen, but also to find out where the know.

Is this the case with the multi-mode ebook or the multi-mode reader? "In the article also said, so now I read the novel has not read the HTML format, or directly download the TXT format with PBP to see more cool--you can always press the spacebar to turn from head to tail.

Of course, for scanned ebooks, HTML ebooks, plain text ebooks, there is a common interference that affects the continuous reading experience is the flip-page animation, which is specifically said in the back.

4. Image processing function

Only the scanned version of the ebook has this requirement, plain text, HTML, etc. without this requirement.

Although I've been advocating the use of the scanned version of the ebook since the Comicenhancer Pro (CEP) upgrade, I've also spent a lot of time writing the Comicenhancerpro series tutorial But I also know that it is very unrealistic to expect everyone to have their scanned images processed and then send them up again, so I can understand the online e-books, including the white PDG, that are flooded with all kinds of scanning or processing. And in my opinion, if the scanner's own image processing technology does not pass, it is really better not to deal with, directly after the edge of the hair, it is better than the random processing after the lack of strokes of the strong.

In this case, the image processing function for the scanning version of the ebook reader software has become the most basic and most necessary function, less it simply meaningless. After all, a lot of books to see and throw, do not deal with it really can't see, but expect each book to be downloaded first with the CEP or PS processing again to see is not realistic, so still in the eyes of a few mouse simple processing, more in the inertia and patience between people to strike a balance.

Image processing technology is also sub-grade, the simplest "point processing" function, including brightness, contrast, gamma correction, curve, etc., the implementation of the software will be more, such as the DjVu format of the special reader Windjview to provide brightness, contrast, gamma correction and other functions. CV, UV image processing engine is the CEP, so also provide illumination correction, automatic correction oblique, automatic centering, etc. specifically for the scanning version of the development of e-book features.

5, the boss came

Is there a more essential, necessary, and essential function for an office worker? So as long as I developed the reading software, this feature will be the fastest speed to achieve: Click the ESC key, then the entire window is hidden, narrowed down to the lower right corner to go, the boss left and then click to Restore.

In theory, pressing the WIN+M key under Windows can also have a similar effect, but the damage is too big: All windows are minimized, including the Office, ie window used to cover. Also, you can see the title of the window on the taskbar below, not very safe.

Second, the icing on the cake function

The so-called "icing on the cake" refers to the ability to have, of course, no words to endure can also past those functions.

1. Bookshelf Management function

On the iphone and other handheld devices, the Bookshelf function is very good understanding: the collection of the book's cover on the bookshelf background, order, to see which of the points. So the core idea of bookshelf management is to make it easier for users to find the books they want to read.

Whether there is a Bookshelf management function, books are stored according to the folder, but the handheld device storage folder relative concentration, may be a fixed folder, and the computer is relatively scattered, may be the user himself according to a classification method created multilevel folder, It may even be possible to put different types of books on different disk partitions. So on the computer to do bookshelf management, you have to consider a variety of situations.

Finally in my reading software implementation of the Bookshelf management function, are "centralized" and "decentralized" combination: You can specify a default folder, usually the most commonly used books folder, or the root of the hierarchical folder, click the button to jump to the folder, you can add some common folders, more than two mouse to open , but it is always better to save effort than at the first level or one level of the resource manager.

2. Optional background

For background patterns, the role of background color, I in the "Comicenhancerpro Series Tutorial" Tutorial 13: The role of the background pattern has been described in detail, a simple report is:

• Improve your reading experience. White black words of things to see more eyes will be tired, add a bit of background to confuse the sight can alleviate fatigue. This is valid for both scanned and text versions of ebooks.
• Mask the small flaws of the image, making the theme more prominent. This is primarily for scanned editions of ebooks.

So it's cool to be able to set the background and even the foreground when reading. Some PDFs limit the background to death, and if necessary I will also remove it, I am in the Readfree forum published in the Pdftoy tutorial there are a few of the special talk about this.

3. Custom shortcut keys

General software will have their own shortcut keys, the key to the problem is the software's own definition of the shortcut keys and users usually develop a consistent habit, if the consensus of course no problem, if not consistent, there will always be someone in the poor shouting.

So there is a custom shortcut key feature that can at least avoid a bit of noise.

Three, the function of the superfluous

The so-called "superfluous", is in my opinion is really harmful, but do not know why some people like some of the features.

1. Horizontal Display

Some image-oriented books may appear with a picture spanning two pages, in which case the two-page side-by-side feature is essential for reading software. But the other side of the show, is the torture of the eyes.

When reading, the human eye can focus on a very narrow range, so when you look at a screen content, you need to scan from left to right, from top to bottom. Especially in the current widely popular widescreen display, the eye first in the left half of the screen sweep, and then turn around the neck, then scan the right half, the page after the neck turn, continue to scan the left half--is not more than the central region of the relatively narrow area more tired?

So although CV, PBP have two-page side-by-side display function, but that is for some paranoid use, I myself unless I have to face side to face the non-display of the cross-page, it is always only a single page display. I've never been able to understand. Some people look at the screen with a box of comic strips on the side of the two-page display, they never feel tired?

2. Page Flipping animation

Finally, I'm talking about one of my most teeth hate features. This is the most enthusiastic fans of Desktopauthor (DA) and other software always worship, and I do not see this is this, so in the 52ebook and they had a big quarrel. Of course, I am dissatisfied with da not only this point, so I have said this thing has no future, when a lot of people do not believe, you see now besides have not seen what new people in the market, and who is using DA?

So although there are several page-flipping animations to choose from in PBP, it's only used to block some people's mouths, and I never use them. Even some people praise of the e-ink screen, also because every time the page will be a black before, and I hate. By the way, many people think that the LCD screen than e-ink more than the eyes, in my opinion, the reason is very simple: their LCD screen from the purchase to scrap it has not adjusted any parameters. In fact, just spend 10 seconds of brightness, contrast dimming a little, and then set the window background color, it will look much more pleasing to the eye. Of course, like my eizo monitor support a variety of modes, usually with the custom mode adjustment, watching movies, photos and then switch to movie, picture mode is more cool.

In my opinion, the flip-page animation has at least the following disadvantages:

• Interrupted reading. Read is just when the hot, but to wait for the page to finish the animation, the eye also involuntarily follow the page animation and move, and in doing something to do a good time next to the sound of a dog called is not the same?
• Waste of life. For an office worker, 24 hours a day, 8 hours to go to work, 8 hours of sleep, the remaining 8 hours to remove 3 hours of meals plus lunch break, 2 hours of commuting, in the case of not working overtime, do not do too much housework, the day can be completely free of time, but only a mere 3 hours, This is basically the time to eat dinner until bedtime, to want to extend the only time to compress sleep, the equivalent of burning life. And I have seen the page-flipping animation, fast 1, 2 seconds, slow 3, 4 seconds, slow to 5, 6 seconds of the page-flipping animation I have not seen, this is not murder can be what?

As for what the so-called "read the paper The feeling", I think is simply nonsense: bamboo is more ancient than paper books, how can not see someone retro to read bamboo, even more ancient tortoise shells? So there is no bicycle riding will not want to walk, there is a car will not go to ride a bicycle, the progress of technology is always in the influence of people's traditional habits, can not keep up with the nature will be eliminated, like Ah Q in the brain behind the "money rat tail" the same.

Features of e-book reading software