SmarterPDF
This feature is built but not yet available in SciNodes. Details may change.
In short: When it launches, SmarterPDF will convert a publication's PDF, page by page, into clean text and tables that you can read in the PDF viewer. You'll switch to it with a SmarterPDF button in the viewer's toolbar. The research assistant will read the SmarterPDF version instead of the PDF's plain text and cite page numbers from it.
How it will work
- When a PDF is fetched or uploaded, SciNodes will convert it in the background. PDFs that are already stored will convert the first time you open them or chat about them.
- Open the PDF with View PDF. While conversion runs, the SmarterPDF button will show a spinner and the tooltip "Converting to SmarterPDF…".
- When it's done, you'll see "SmarterPDF ready."
- Click SmarterPDF ("Read as SmarterPDF (text and tables; figures are not included)") to read the converted text. Your place in the PDF will be kept.
- Click SmarterPDF again ("Back to the PDF pages") to return to the original pages.
Zoom will work in both views. A page with no text will show "No text on this page."
Annotations in both views
- Highlight, Comment and RIF it will work in the SmarterPDF view just as they do on PDF pages.
- A highlight made in one view will also appear in the other.
- If SciNodes can't find a passage in the other view, it will still be listed in the Annotations panel, with the tooltip "Could not locate this passage on the page".
- Note titles will stay the same: "Highlight (p. N) — Title".
SmarterPDF in chats
- Chats will read the SmarterPDF version of a publication's full text, including its tables, and cite its page numbers.
- A chat's About panel will show "SmarterPDF in view" for that publication.
- Chats that already include the publication will switch over on their next message. You won't need to do anything.
- A side-panel chat will tell you up front, for example: "I can see its abstract, and I will read the SmarterPDF (its text and tables) when you send a message."
Limits
| Limit | Details |
|---|---|
| Text and tables only | Headings aren't kept, and figures aren't included |
| No OCR | Scanned PDFs without a text layer can't be converted. Retry won't help. |
| Publication PDFs only | Files attached to a chat won't be converted |
| Large PDFs | A very large PDF may fail to convert |
Converted text will follow the same privacy rules as the PDF. SmarterPDF of your private upload will be available only to you.
If conversion fails
The SmarterPDF button will stay disabled, and its tooltip will say "SmarterPDF could not be made for this PDF: reason".
| Reason | What it means | Retry? |
|---|---|---|
| "no extractable text (scanned?)" | The PDF is a scanned image | No. Upload a PDF with selectable text. |
| "the PDF is too large" | The file is too big to convert | No |
| "the stored file is not a PDF" | The stored file isn't a valid PDF | No. Replace the PDF. |
| "conversion failed" | Something went wrong while converting | Yes, when a Retry button appears |
| "the stored file changed while it was being converted" | The PDF was replaced during conversion | Yes, when a Retry button appears |
When retrying can help, a Retry button ("Try converting this PDF again") will appear next to the toggle.
Other messages you may see:
- "SmarterPDF is not available on this server."
- "No PDF is stored for this publication any more, so it cannot be converted."
- "Could not start the SmarterPDF conversion. Please try again."
FAQ
When will SmarterPDF be available?
No date has been announced. This page will be updated when it launches.
Will SmarterPDF change my PDF?
No. The original PDF stays as it is, and you'll be able to switch back to it at any time.
Will my existing highlights still work?
Yes. Highlights and comments will carry across both views, and they'll stay saved as notes.
Why won't my PDF convert?
The most common reason will be a scanned PDF with no text layer. Upload a version with selectable text.