mdbase Reader
Get started
mdbase Reader turns an mdbase collection into a reading library for PDFs, EPUBs and saved web pages.Keep backups of important collections and check the save status before closing or reloading. Sources, notes and annotations remain ordinary mdbase records.
What it is
Reader is for reading, annotating, organising and citing source material. Each source, such as a paper, a book or an article, is a Markdown record in your collection. Its file sits beside it, and every highlight or comment is a separate Markdown record. Other mdbase tools, a text editor or Obsidian can read the collection records and files. See How Reader stores data. To write a manuscript using your library's citations and highlights, openmdbase writer with the same collection.
Reader works with collections hosted by mdbase Connect and with collections that stay on your computer and are served by the Connector. For a computer-backed collection, keep its desktop app running and the computer available.
Highlight to Markdown
Create a highlight with commentary, inspect its Markdown record, and embed it in a literature note. Silent recording with on-screen captions and sample data.
Text description of the recording
- The sample library opens The Principles of Psychology beside a view of its Markdown source record.
- A passage in the section on voluntary attention is selected. The comment field opens and a note is added before Save highlight is chosen.
- The passage becomes a yellow highlight. A new annotation file appears with its source link, document revision, quoted text, target and commentary.
- The annotation panel lists the passage and comment. Add to literature note inserts an ordinary annotation embed into the source note.
See also the recordings for views and panesand web capture.
Open a collection
- Open reader.mdbase.dev and connect a collection.
- Sign in to mdbase Connect. If you do not have an account, sign up first.
- Choose the collection you want to use as your library.
- Review and approve Reader's access to that collection.
You can use an existing collection or a new, empty one. Reader keeps its records in their own folders, so it can share a collection with notes from other apps.
Reader setup
The first time you open a collection, Reader may show Set up this reading collection. It lists the exact changes it needs: the source and annotation contracts and two starter types, reader-source and reader-annotation. Nothing else in the collection changes. Choose Apply reviewed setup to add them.
You can adapt the starter types later, for example in the mdbase Editor. Reader reads your records through its contracts, so your types can use their own field names.
The workspace
| Area | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Sources sidebar | Find a source by title, author or tag, and see open and recent sources. |
| Library | Every source as a table or cards, with filters and saved views. |
| Documents | Each open source in a tab, showing its document, literature note, annotations or citation. |
| Side panel | Annotations and details for the source you are reading. |
Tabs and panels can be moved and split. Drag a tab onto another tab strip to move it, or onto the edge of a pane to split. A tab's context menu and the pane's ⋯ menu offer the same actions without dragging. Your arrangement is saved per collection, and Reset pane arrangement in the command palette restores the default without closing tabs. On a phone, one pane is shown at a time.
Press Ctrl K (⌘ K on a Mac) to search sources and run any command.
Try the preview
Open the interface previewto explore sample sources. It runs in memory and creates no collection records or files. Changes to the sample library are not kept.
Switch collections
Open the collection-name menu in the header to choose another connected collection or connect a new one. Review any pending saves before switching. If a collection is unavailable, follow Reader's reconnect or access-review prompt.
See Support to report bugs or request help. Remove private notes, collection paths and credentials from reports.