Reading PDFs
Open papers in tabs, zoom, and split view with notes.
Open a PDF
From the library:
- Click the control in the File column, or
- Double-click the paper title when a PDF is attached.
The PDF opens in a new tab with an embedded viewer. Scroll through pages; use zoom controls when available.
Multiple PDFs
Open several PDFs — each gets its own tab. Switch tabs from the tab bar; close with × or ⌘W / Ctrl+W.
Read status
Opening a PDF may update read status on the paper row (Unread → Reading → Read). You can also cycle status manually in the table.
Split view with notes
While reading, open paper-linked notes in a split layout so the PDF and your notes appear side by side. Create a linked note from the library Notes panel if you do not have one yet.
Errors and retry
If a file is missing or corrupt, the viewer shows an error. Use Retry to attempt reload after fixing the attachment path or re-uploading the PDF.
Notebook file notes
PDFs imported as file-backed notes in the Notebook use a read-only viewer without library annotation tools. See File-backed notes.
Annotations
Highlights and comments are covered in PDF annotations. Subscribed accounts can sync markup across devices when the attached file hash matches.