User guide

Chapter 1

Welcome & open a PDF

Start from the welcome screen, or reopen a recent or pinned file.

1. Launch MeridianPDF. Use Open a PDF or pick a file under Recent.
2. Or choose File → Open PDF… / Open PDF in New Window….
3. Pin important files with File → Pin document. Clear the list with Clear recent files when needed.

Chapter 2

Workspace & save

Tabs, windows, and keeping your edits on disk.

1. Each open file appears as a document tab. Switch tabs to move between PDFs.
2. File → Move to New Window detaches the current document into its own window.
3. Use File → Save or Save As…. Check Document properties… for title and metadata.

Chapter 3

Navigate & layouts

Single page, continuous scroll, or two-page reading.

1. View → Continuous reading scrolls the whole document; Single page shows one page at a time.
2. View → Two pages (scrolling) shows facing pages while you scroll.
3. Open PAGES → Thumbnails to jump, select, or rearrange pages.

Chapter 4

Contents & attachments

Jump from the outline, and manage embedded files.

1. Open PAGES → Contents (or View → Table of contents) to browse bookmarks.
2. Add, rename, or delete bookmarks when the document supports outline editing.
3. Open Attachments to list, open, or save files embedded in the PDF.

Chapter 5

Zoom, search & select

Fit the page, find text, copy text or a screen region.

1. View → Fit page, Fit width, or Actual size. Shift+scroll zooms.
2. Press Ctrl+F, type a phrase, and open a result to jump and highlight.
3. Edit → Select text on document to copy text. Annotate → Select area (copy image) copies a region to the clipboard as an image.

Chapter 6

Organize pages

Insert, extract, split, delete, and export pages.

1. Select pages in Thumbnails, then Edit: cut, copy, paste, duplicate, or delete.
2. Pages → Insert PDF… / Insert blank page… to add pages at a chosen position.
3. Extract or Delete pages by number…, Split into individual pages…, or Export pages… / Export pages as images….

Chapter 7

Annotate & markup

Highlights, notes, shapes, stamps, images, and signatures.

1. Open Annotate: highlight, underline, strikeout, text box, or sticky note.
2. Use Smart Draw for freehand, line, arrow, rectangle, or ellipse. Add a Stamp, Image…, or Signature image….
3. Select / move / resize to adjust. Open the Comments panel or Annotation Options for properties. Optionally enable Flatten annotations when saving.

Chapter 8

Cover & redact

Visual whiteout vs permanent black redaction.

1. Annotate → Cover & redact → Whiteout covers content visually only.
2. Mark for redaction, draw boxes, then Apply redaction… to burn solid black covers into the file.
3. Use Cover and replacement text when you need a whiteout plus typed replacement.

Tip: Apply redaction when the underlying text must not remain in the PDF. Whiteout alone can still leave text in the file.

Chapter 9

Watermark & page background

Label drafts or brand pages before sharing.

1. Choose Annotate → Watermark text… and enter the label (for example CONFIDENTIAL).
2. Choose Annotate → Page background… to set a page fill when needed.
3. Save the PDF so the watermark or background is stored with your edits.

Chapter 10

Forms

Build fillable fields, or fill existing AcroForm PDFs.

1. Forms → Create a form opens the orange FORM toolbar (Text, Check, Dropdown, Sign, and more).
2. Enable Grid / Snap, set names and required flags in Form Options, then Validate required fields.
3. Publish fillable PDF… to save. To fill an existing form, open it and click fields directly. Optionally flatten form fields on save.

Chapter 11

OCR (make searchable)

Recognize text on scans entirely on your device.

1. OCR → Make searchable… for the whole document, or OCR current / selected pages.
2. Wait for progress to finish, then use Search on the recognized text.
3. Export recognized text… or Export text page by page… when you need a text file.

Chapter 12

Create & convert

Build PDFs from scratch, images, other PDFs, or Office files.

1. File → New blank PDF… or Create from images….
2. File → Combine PDFs… to merge files in order.
3. File → Convert… for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, or RTF → PDF.

Chapter 13

Crop & headers

Trim page margins and add page numbers or labels.

1. Tools → Crop page — drag the area to keep, then confirm.
2. Tools → Headers, footers and page numbers… to add running labels.
3. Save the document after applying crop or header/footer changes.

Chapter 14

Print & batch print

Preview a single file or queue several PDFs.

1. File → Print / Print preview… to set paper options and print the open document.
2. File → Batch print… to add multiple PDFs to a print queue.
3. Confirm printer settings before sending the job.

Chapter 15

Protect & share

Lock a copy before sharing, or hand the file to another app.

1. File → Save password-protected copy… (or Tools → Password-protect a copy) saves a locked PDF; your working copy can stay unlocked.
2. File → Share via email… attaches the file in your mail client.
3. File → Share / Open with… opens the PDF in another installed app.

Chapter 16

Language, theme & shortcuts

Match the app to how you work — without leaving your machine.

1. View → Language switches the UI (English, Français, Deutsch, Español, العربية RTL, 中文, 한국어, 日本語).
2. View → Theme chooses System, Light, or Dark.
3. Edit → Customize keyboard shortcuts (also under Help) to change key bindings.