Archives For November 30, 1999

This simple tutorial shows how to install the latest Sigil epub editor and keep it up-to-date in Ubuntu Linux via Flatpak package.

Since Sigil package in Ubuntu repositories is always old and no PPA now maintains the most recent packages, the Flatpak now can be the only easy way to get the epub editor in Debian/Ubuntu based Linux.

Flatpak:

As you know, Microsoft Windows usually uses EXE file for package installer. For Linux, the package format is divided. There are DEB for Debian/Ubuntu, RPM for Fedora/RedHat, and more other formats.

And, installing both DEB and RPM may require other packages to be installed as dependencies. The developments of modern apps are more rapidly than system default libraries, so it causes unmet dependency problems.

To workaround the issues, the Flatpak, Snap and Appimage were born. They bundle the most required libraries, and run in most Linux as universal packages.

The only downside can be the large disk space usage due to dependency bundle and shared run-time library.

Install Sigil in Ubuntu Linux as Flatpak:

Sigil Flatpak package was made a month ago. With it, most Linux user may install and keep the Sigil package update-to-date. And, the steps below shows how to install it in Ubuntu.

1.) Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the daemon:

sudo apt install flatpak

The old Ubuntu 18.04 and even 16.04 are even possible to get it by adding this Ubuntu PPA.

2.) Next, install Sigil as Flatpak via command:

flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.sigil_ebook.Sigil.flatpakref

Once installed, search for and open it from overview screen (or start menu).

NOTE: Sigil Flatpak package updates automatically, but it won’t replace the old DEB package (if any). You may have duplicated app icons if the DEB package installed, remove either one that you do not use.

How to Remove Sigil in Ubuntu:

To remove the ebook editor installed via either apt or Ubuntu Software, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove sigil sigil-data

To remove the Flatpak package, use command:

flatpak uninstall com.sigil_ebook.Sigil

And remove the unused run-time libraries via flatpak uninstall --unused

Calibre, cross-platform open-source comprehensive e-book software, released version 5.0 with some great new features.

Calibre 5.0 features highlighting in the E-book viewer. Simply select text and click the Highlight selection button. It can be colors, underlines, strikethrough, etc. and has added notes. All highlights can be both stored in EPUB files and centrally in the Calibre library.

The new release also feature Dark mode support. On Windows and Mac, it is activated automatically based on OS settings. In Ubuntu Linux, launch the software in dark mode via CALIBRE_USE_DARK_PALETTE=1 environment variable.
Other features in the release include:

  • Python 3 port. Some third-party plugins will no longer work, until they are also ported to Python 3.
  • Support both vertical and right-to-left text.
  • Enhanced search in the E-book viewer
  • Support bookmarking in content server’s in-browser viewer

How to Install Calibre 5.0 in Ubuntu Linux:

Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to download & install the official installer script:

sudo -v && wget -nv -O- https://download.calibre-ebook.com/linux-installer.sh | sudo sh /dev/stdin

Once installed, open it from system application launcher and enjoy!

Enable Calibre Dark Mode in Ubuntu:

To temporarily open the e-book reader in dark mode, simply run command:

export CALIBRE_USE_DARK_PALETTE=1 && calibre

To make it permanent, run command to edit the .desktop file and do:

  • add env CALIBRE_USE_DARK_PALETTE=1 at the beginning of the values of “TryExec” and “Exec”.
  • remove --detach flag, or the shortcut icon will disappear.

How to Remove Calibre E-book software in Linux:

To remove the software, open terminal and run command:

sudo calibre-uninstall

Bookworm is a simple eBook reader with a modern user interface. It’s so far supports EPUB, PDF, MOBI, CBR, and CBZ file formats.

Bookworm ebook reader so far features:

  • Toggle between a grid view and a list view for the library.
  • An info button provides “Contents”, “Bookmarks”, and “Search Results” in three tabs.
  • Dark theme, cache support.
  • Keyboard shortcuts to navigate pages, change font size, enter/exist full screen.
  • And see its web page for more.

How to Install Bookworm in Ubuntu:

The ebook reader has an official PPA repository for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, and derivatives.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching it from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bookworm-team/bookworm

Input your password (no visual feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. (For ubuntu 16.04 only) While Bookworm was originally designed for Elementary OS. Ubuntu 16.04 needs following PPA to install the libgranite3 library:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:elementary-os/stable

3. Finally check updates and install Bookworm as well as all its dependencies via commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install bookworm

4. And remove the dependency PPA after all:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:elementary-os/stable

Uninstall:

To remove Bookworm ebook reader, run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove bookworm

And remove the PPA via “Software & Updates” utility, under Other Software tab.

Sigil

Sigil, an open-source and multi-platform ebook editor, has reached the 0.9.7 release a day ago with some new features and various bug-fixes.

Sigil 0.9.7 is a mix of bug fixes and new features for both epub2 and epub3 users. It features:

  • Extend validation plugin interface with add_extended_result() method to allow better cursor positioning
  • Extend TextTab and Tabs derived by it to position cursor based on offset
  • Allow editing of page-map.xml files, xpgt files and other misc xml based files inside Sigil
  • Remove support for python2.7 only plugins and simply Manage Plugins settings
  • Update Windows and OS X builds to use Python 3.5.2
  • Update jquery to 2.2.4 and jquery.scrollTo to 2.1.2
  • Upgrade to double sized 48×48 pixel icons for High DPI displays
  • And various fixes. See more.

sigil-editor-097

How to install Sigil 0.9.7 in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, and their derivatives, you can install / upgrade Sigil using this unofficial PPA.

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/sigil

sigil-ppa

2. To upgrade from a previous release, just launch Software Updater and install the updates after checking for updates:

upgrade-sigil-epub-editor

Or install / upgrade Sigil via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install sigil flightcrew

(Optional) To uninstall Sigil 0.9.7 and downgrade to the original version in Ubuntu official repositories, simply run command to purge the PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/sigil