PDF Reflow - Convert PDF to Text

PDF Reflow feature allows you to extract pure text from a PDF page to view it as a simple TXT file, without left/right scrolling and with the font size of your choice.

First, transfer a file to GoodReader (see: How To Import Files & Folders), then tap a file name to open it.

PDF Reflow offers many advantages for reading on an iPad, but it is especially useful on small iPhone screens.

Unlike with TXT files, you don`t have to choose the correct text encoding to view reflowed text; all necessary text encoding is chosen internally in this case. All other parameters that you usually adjust for reading TXT files in Application Settings apply to this mode.

Use all reading techniques that you usually use for reading TXT files, including Autoscroll.

PDF Reflow is done on a page-by-page basis due to performance reasons. So you will only see the text from the current PDF page in Reflow mode. However, all techniques for turning PDF pages apply to Reflow mode - you can turn reflowed pages by swiping, by tapping or by using Turn Page buttons. Please note that when you turn a page in Reflow mode, the corresponding page in the original PDF mode is also turned, so two viewing modes are always in sync page-wise.

If Autoscroll is on and you`re turning a page, autoscrolling will continue after 3 seconds pause - GoodReader lets you catch up with the first few lines of text.

You can quickly go back to the original PDF page by pressing the back button in the navigation menu. For your convenience, we have reserved the same zone of the screen for the same purpose when the navigation menu is off. Just tap where the back button is supposed to be, and you`ll get back to the original PDF page.

There are a few options in Application Settings that help break lines correctly depending on a text formatting style:

• Double-break per paragraph. Inserts two line-breaks between groups of lines that are distant from each other (considered as paragraphs). Treats a group of close lines as a continuous text. Useful for book-like or article-like formatting. Larger line spacing switch helps to determine which lines are "close" to each other, and which are not. Many Asian texts require a larger line spacing option to be on.
• Single break per paragraph. The same as the previous setting, but inserts a single line-break between paragraphs.
• Break every line. Inserts line-break at the end of every visual line. Useful with tables, where lines are close to each other, making it look like it`s a single paragraph, but all lines should be separated from each other.
• No line-breaks. Treats all text on a page as a continious text stream. Use it if all other options produce an undesirable result.

After changing a line-breaking option in Application Settings you have to close the PDF Reflow view if it was open and reflow the text again.

Notice for right-to-left readers (Hebrew, Arabic, and others). Some PDF files with right-to-left fonts instead of encoding text as they should - from right to left - actually contain text stored in left-to-right (reversed) order. GoodReader extracts text in the order as it appears in PDF file, which makes it look backward in Reflow mode. We`re still working on this issue. Please keep in mind that this problem created by PDF creating software, which doesn`t store text inside PDF in the correct order.