Guides for browser files and desktop OCR

Browser quick start

Use the web app when the job starts with a local PDF, DjVu file, or common image and you want to move immediately.

• Open a PDF, DjVu file, or supported image directly in the browser workspace.
• Use search, notes, highlights, page reordering, crop, and export without installing the desktop app. Keep very large merge batches for desktop.
• Browser workflows are best for lighter files, quick review loops, and capped merge batches.
• Searchable-PDF OCR stays desktop-first, so move to the desktop app when the task depends on it.

Workspace overview

EVB Viewer is a document workspace that spans browser and desktop. The browser opens local PDFs, DjVu files, and images; desktop adds searchable-PDF OCR, native OS integration, and more headroom for large jobs.

• Top: tab bar for opening, reordering, splitting, and moving tabs.
• Under tabs: toolbar for save, export, OCR, zoom, selection/hand mode, and settings.
• Center: document viewer with single page or facing layouts.
• Left sidebar: annotations, pages, bookmarks, and search panels.
• Bottom status bar: file path, file size, zoom, save state, and "show in folder".

Installing desktop builds

Use desktop builds for searchable-PDF OCR, native OS integration, and heavier workflows such as large merges. Download installers from the EVB Viewer download section or official releases.

• Always install files published under evb0110/evb-viewer releases.
• If your OS shows a warning, use the per-platform override steps below.

macOS (DMG):

• Open the DMG and drag EVB Viewer into Applications.
• On first launch, if macOS blocks the app, right-click the app and choose Open.
• If needed: System Settings > Privacy & Security, then click Open Anyway.

Windows (EXE):

• Run the installer EXE from Downloads.
• If SmartScreen appears, click More info, then Run anyway.
• Complete setup, then start EVB Viewer from Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Linux (DEB):

• Install with your package manager or double-click the DEB in your software center.
• CLI option: sudo apt install ./evb-viewer-*.deb.
• After install, launch EVB Viewer from your desktop app launcher.

Open and combine files

Use File > Open File... to open supported files. Browser workflows cover PDFs, DjVu files, and common images; desktop is better for searchable-PDF OCR and larger merge jobs.

• Supported file types include PDF, DjVu, PNG, JPG/JPEG, TIFF, BMP, WEBP, and GIF.
• You can select multiple PDFs, DjVu files, or images at once. Browser merge is memory-capped; use desktop for larger batches.
• Generated file naming follows the first selected file, for example report-combined.pdf.
• If a document is already open, combined output opens in a new tab so current work stays intact.
• Open Recent keeps history and includes a command to clear recent files.
• File > Convert to PDF... has two behaviors: in DjVu mode it opens DjVu conversion options; otherwise it opens file selection and creates a PDF from selected sources.

Tabs and split editor

Tabs support drag reordering, middle-click close, unsaved indicators, and contextual actions.

• Right-click a tab to open context commands for split, focus, move/copy tab, and window transfer.
• View > Editor Panes > Split Editor splits right, left, up, or down.
• Split panes include a draggable divider so you can rebalance layout space.
• Focus Editor Pane switches active pane without moving files.
• Move Tab to Pane moves the tab; Copy Tab to Pane duplicates the view state.

Annotations and notes

The annotations panel provides creation tools, style controls, and note management.

• Tools include free text, highlight, underline, strikethrough, rectangle, circle, line, and arrow.
• Style editor controls tool color, stroke/fill, thickness, and text sizing where relevant.
• Sticky notes can be created from selected text or placed at any position on a page.
• Notes list supports filtering, quick focus, copy text, and delete actions.
• Double-clicking a note opens its pop-up note window for focused editing.

OCR and exports

Exports are available across the product. Searchable-PDF OCR stays in the desktop runtime, where local processing and language assets are available.

• OCR popup supports all pages, current page, or custom range modes.
• Language selection is grouped by script families for faster setup.
• You can cancel running OCR and monitor progress page-by-page.
• After OCR completes, the document is searchable and ready for text export.
• Export DOCX is available from toolbar and OCR popup.
• Export Images... and Export Multi-page TIFF... provide page scope selection (all/current/range/selected).
• Capture Region copies a selected region to clipboard; press Esc to cancel capture mode.

Menus and shortcuts

Most editing and layout controls are available both from menus and from tab/page context menus.

For bugs and feature requests, see the project repository.

License

MIT. Copyright © 2026 Eugene Barsky.