PDF viewer
In short: Click View PDF on a publication in the Library to read its PDF inside SciNodes. The toolbar has page navigation, zoom, Fit width, a download button and Open original. A side panel lists your highlights and comments, and a Publication tab keeps the publication's details, note and chat beside the PDF.
Before you start
The publication needs a PDF. If you see Fetch PDF or Upload PDF instead of View PDF, get a copy first. See Fetching and uploading PDFs.
Open a PDF
- Open the Library tab of your project.
- Click a publication to open its details.
- Click View PDF. You can also open the publication's ⋯ menu and choose View PDF.
- "Preparing PDF…" shows briefly, then the PDF opens in the Library.
- To return to your list, click the back arrow (Back to publications) at the top left.
On a map, a publication window also has View PDF. There it opens the PDF in a new browser tab. To highlight and comment, open the PDF from the Library.
Toolbar
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Back arrow (Back to publications) | Closes the viewer and returns to the Library list |
| Title | The publication's title |
| Previous page / Next page | Moves one page. The readout shows the current page and the last page, for example "3 / 12". |
| Zoom out / Zoom in | Changes the zoom. The readout shows the percentage. |
| Fit width | Fits the page to the width of the viewer |
| Download (Download PDF) | Downloads the PDF. With annotations, the tooltip says Download PDF with annotations. |
| Open original | Opens the publication's original online version in a new browser tab, when SciNodes knows where it is |
| Annotations | Shows or hides the side panel. A badge shows how many annotations you have. |
When SmarterPDF launches, a SmarterPDF button will appear in the toolbar (coming soon). See SmarterPDF.
The side panel
The side panel opens on the right. Collapse or expand it with the arrow handle on its edge.
- Annotations lists every highlight and comment in this PDF: the quoted text, your comment, and "Page N · Highlight" or "Page N · Comment". Click an entry to jump to its page. Right-click an entry to change its color or remove it.
- Publication shows the same panel as the Library's publication details: metadata, the note editor and the chat about this publication. A note or chat you're writing stays put when you switch tabs.
The panel reminds you: "Highlights and comments are saved to this project's notes automatically." To make them, see Highlights and comments.
Download a PDF
- Click the download button in the toolbar.
- The file saves with a readable file name.
What you get depends on whether you've annotated the PDF:
| Your PDF has | Download contains |
|---|---|
| No highlights or comments | The original PDF file, unchanged |
| Highlights or comments | A new PDF: every page with your highlights painted on, plus a final "Annotations" page listing each quote and comment |
The annotated download stores each page as an image, so its text can't be selected or searched. If SciNodes can't build the annotated version, it downloads the original file instead.
Tips
- The colored marks you make on pages are kept in your current browser. The notes they create are saved to the project. See Highlights and comments.
- To keep a searchable copy and an annotated copy, download once before you annotate, then again afterwards.
Troubleshooting
- "Could not load the PDF." The file couldn't be displayed. Try Open original, or replace the PDF with another copy from the publication's ⋯ menu.
- "Could not open the PDF. Please try again." SciNodes couldn't get the file this time. Close the viewer and click View PDF again.
- "No PDF is stored for this publication any more. You can upload a copy." The stored copy was removed, for example in another browser tab. Click Upload PDF to add your own.
- The download button is greyed out. The PDF is still loading, failed to load, or a download is already being prepared. Wait a moment.
FAQ
Why can't I select text in the PDF I downloaded?
Your PDF has highlights or comments, so the download is the annotated version, which stores pages as images. To get a searchable copy, use Open original to visit the original online version.
Can I highlight a PDF opened from a map?
Not in the new browser tab that opens from a map. Open the publication's PDF from the Library to highlight, comment and use RIF it.
Does SciNodes change the PDF file?
No. Highlights and comments are saved as notes and drawn over the page. The stored file stays as it was.
Is there a print button?
No. Download the PDF and print it from your computer.