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Reading Mode

Markdown Viewer provides an enhanced reading experience with multiple layouts, zoom controls, navigation features, and smart caching.

Layout Options

Normal Layout (Default)

  • Width: 1000px maximum
  • Best for: General reading, balanced experience
  • Use when: Reading most documents

Full Screen Layout

  • Width: Uses entire browser width
  • Best for: Wide content, tables, code
  • Use when: You have wide monitors or wide content

Narrow Layout

  • Width: 530px maximum
  • Best for: Previewing Word export appearance
  • Use when: You want to see how the document will look in Word

Switching Layouts

Click the Layout button in the toolbar to cycle through options.

Zoom Controls

Adjust the document size to your preference:

Action Keyboard Shortcut Range
Zoom In Ctrl/Cmd + + Up to 400%
Zoom Out Ctrl/Cmd + - Down to 50%
Reset Zoom Ctrl/Cmd + 0 Back to 100%

Zoom Tips

  • Large monitors: Try 125-150% for comfortable reading
  • Presentations: Use 200%+ when showing to others
  • Dense content: Zoom out to see more context

Table of Contents

The sidebar Table of Contents is auto-generated from your document headings.

Toggle TOC

  • Keyboard: Ctrl/Cmd + B
  • Click: TOC button in toolbar

Features

  • Auto-generated from H1-H6 headings
  • Click to navigate — jumps to section
  • Current section highlighted — shows where you are
  • Collapsible — save screen space

Best Practices

For the best TOC experience:

  • Use meaningful heading text
  • Maintain proper heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
  • Don’t skip heading levels

Position Memory

Markdown Viewer remembers where you were in each document.

How It Works

  1. Auto-save: Your scroll position is saved as you read
  2. Auto-restore: When you reopen the same file, it returns to your position
  3. Per-document: Each file has its own saved position

Benefits

  • Continue reading where you left off
  • No need to search for your place
  • Works across browser sessions

Reading History

Track your recently viewed documents.

Accessing History

Click the History icon in the toolbar or popup menu.

Features

  • Recent documents listed in order
  • Quick access — click to reopen
  • Automatic cleanup — old entries removed

Smart Caching

For documents with diagrams, Markdown Viewer caches rendered images for instant subsequent loads.

How Caching Works

First Load Subsequent Loads
Text: Instant Everything: Instant
Diagrams: ~5s total From cache: <1s

Cache Benefits

  • 10x faster repeat opens
  • Minimal re-rendering — only changed diagrams re-process
  • Automatic invalidation — cache updates when content changes

Cache Management

  • Default size: 1000 items (~500MB)
  • Clear cache: Available in extension settings
  • Automatic cleanup: Oldest items removed when limit reached

Keyboard Shortcuts Summary

Action Windows/Linux macOS
Export to Word Ctrl + S Cmd + S
Toggle TOC Ctrl + B Cmd + B
Zoom In Ctrl + + Cmd + +
Zoom Out Ctrl + - Cmd + -
Reset Zoom Ctrl + 0 Cmd + 0

Performance Tips

Large Documents

For documents with 50+ diagrams:

  1. First open: Be patient, text shows instantly, diagrams render in background
  2. Progress indicator: Watch the progress bar
  3. Subsequent opens: Nearly instant from cache

Slow Rendering?

If documents are slow:

  1. Check diagram count — Many complex Mermaid diagrams take time
  2. Simplify diagrams — Split large diagrams into smaller ones
  3. Enable caching — Don’t clear cache frequently
  4. Close other tabs — Free up browser memory

Memory Usage

Markdown Viewer is optimized for performance:

  • Diagrams render in a web worker
  • Cache is stored efficiently
  • Old cache entries are cleaned automatically

Accessibility

Font Scaling

  • Use zoom controls for larger text
  • Browser font settings are respected
  • High contrast themes available

Keyboard Navigation

  • All features accessible via keyboard
  • Tab through interactive elements
  • Standard browser navigation works

Screen Readers

  • Semantic HTML structure
  • Proper heading hierarchy
  • Alt text for images

Offline Reading

Markdown Viewer works completely offline:

  • ✅ Local files work without internet
  • ✅ Cached diagrams display offline
  • ✅ All features work offline
  • ✅ Export to Word works offline

No internet connection is ever required for core functionality.