Markdown to PDF - Frequently Asked Questions

📋 Table of Contents

1. Getting Started

2. Basic Usage

3. File Management

4. PDF Customization

5. Advanced Features

6. Platform-Specific Features

7. Troubleshooting

8. Technical Details

9. Privacy & Security

Getting Started

What is Markdown to PDF?

Markdown to PDF is a native iOS, iPadOS, and macOS application that converts Markdown files into high-quality PDF documents. It provides a clean interface for selecting markdown files, previewing them, and generating professional-looking PDFs with customizable formatting options.

What platforms are supported?

• iOS: 15.6 and later

• iPadOS: 15.6 and later

• macOS: 15.5 and later (via Mac Catalyst)

How do I get started?

1. Launch the app

2. Tap “Select Markdown File” to choose a .md or .markdown file

3. The app will automatically generate a PDF preview

4. Use the “Share PDF” button to save or share your document

Basic Usage

What file formats are supported?

• .md (Markdown)

• .markdown (Markdown)

• General text files with markdown content

How do I select a file?

Tap the “Select Markdown File” button on the main screen. This opens your system’s file picker where you can browse and select markdown files from:

• Files app

• iCloud Drive

• Other connected cloud storage services

• Local device storage

How do I preview my PDF?

After selecting a markdown file, the app automatically generates a PDF preview. This shows exactly how your final PDF will look, including:

• Page breaks

• Formatting

• Font styling

• List indentation

• Heading colors

How do I save or share my PDF?

1. In the PDF preview, tap the “Share PDF” button

2. On iOS/iPadOS: Use the standard share sheet to save to Files, email, or share with other apps

3. On macOS: Use the file save dialog to choose your destination

File Management

What are Recent Files?

The app maintains a list of recently opened markdown files for quick access. These appear on the main screen below the file selection button.

How do I clear Recent Files?

Tap the “Clear” button next to “Recent Files” on the main screen.

Why do some files show permission errors?

Due to iOS/macOS sandboxing, the app needs permission to access files outside its container. Recent files use security-scoped bookmarks to maintain access. If you encounter permissions issues:

1. Try selecting the file again from the file picker

2. Ensure the file hasn’t been moved or deleted

3. Check that you have read permissions for the file

Does the app automatically refresh when I edit my markdown file?

Yes! The app monitors your selected file for changes and automatically regenerates the PDF preview when:

• The file content changes

• You save edits in your markdown editor

• File modification time updates

The monitoring checks every 2 seconds for changes.

PDF Customization

How do I access PDF settings?

Tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the PDF preview screen to open comprehensive formatting options.

What page formats are supported?

• Letter: 8.5” × 11” (612 × 792 points)

• A4: 210mm × 297mm (595.28 × 841.89 points)

• Legal: 8.5” × 14” (612 × 1008 points)

Can I change the page orientation?

Yes, choose between:

• Portrait (default)

• Landscape

What font options are available?

The app offers three font categories:

• Content Font: For body text and paragraphs

• Heading Font: For all heading levels (H1-H6)

• Code Block Font: For code blocks and inline code

Available font families include system fonts and monospaced options.

Can I customize heading colors?

Yes! The app provides:

• Predefined colors: Black, Dark Blue, Dark Green, Purple, Red, Orange, Dark Gray

• Custom color picker: Choose any color with full RGB control

• Default: Black headings

How do I adjust margins?

Use the margin controls in settings to adjust:

• Top margin

• Bottom margin

• Left margin

• Right margin

Margins are adjustable from 0.5” to 2” in 0.25” increments.

Can I control font size and line spacing?

Yes:

• Font Size: 8pt to 20pt in 1pt increments

• Line Spacing: 1.0x to 2.0x in 0.1x increments

Do PDFs include page numbers?

Page numbers are optional and can be toggled in settings. When enabled, they appear centered at the bottom of each page.

Advanced Features

How does the app handle lists?

The app provides sophisticated list formatting:

• Proper indentation: Nested lists indent appropriately

• Mixed nesting: Supports ordered lists inside unordered lists and vice versa

• Text alignment: Subsequent lines align with the start of the first line’s text

• Consistent spacing: Maintains proper spacing between list items

What markdown elements are supported?

• Headings: H1 through H6 with customizable colors

• Paragraphs: With proper spacing and line height

• Lists: Ordered, unordered, and nested combinations

• Code blocks: With syntax highlighting background

• Inline code: Monospaced font with background

• Bold text: Strong emphasis

• Italic text: Emphasis styling

• Links: Clickable links in PDF output

• Block quotes: Indented and styled appropriately

How are page breaks handled?

The app uses intelligent page breaking:

• Avoids breaking text mid-word

• Finds natural break points (spaces, punctuation)

• Uses binary search algorithms for optimal text fitting

• Maintains proper text flow across pages

Does the app support multiple languages?

Yes, the app includes:

• English interface and sample files

• Spanish interface and sample files (muestra.md)

• Locale-aware sample file selection

Platform-Specific Features

iOS/iPadOS Features

• Share Sheet: Native iOS sharing interface

• Touch-optimized: Designed for finger navigation

• Files app integration: Seamless file access

• Universal app: Works on both iPhone and iPad

macOS Features

• File Save Dialog: Native macOS file management

• Keyboard shortcuts: Standard macOS navigation

• Window management: Resizable windows

• Menu bar integration: Standard macOS app behavior

What is SheeKit and why does the app use it?

SheeKit is used for enhanced modal presentations, providing:

• Adaptive sizing: Medium and large detent options

• Smooth animations: Fluid sheet transitions

• Better UX: More polished presentation than standard sheets

Troubleshooting

The PDF preview isn’t updating

1. Check that the file hasn’t been moved or renamed

2. Ensure you have write permissions to the file location

3. Try closing and reopening the file

4. Verify the file contains valid markdown syntax

I can’t access my file after switching apps

This is due to iOS security restrictions. To resolve:

1. Re-select the file using the file picker

2. The app will regain access and add it to recent files

3. Future access should work automatically

The PDF looks different from my markdown editor

This is normal - different applications render markdown differently. Our app:

• Uses Apple’s official swift-markdown parser

• Follows CommonMark standards

• Optimizes for print layout rather than screen display

List indentation looks wrong

Ensure your markdown uses proper list syntax:

- First level item
  - Second level item
    - Third level item
1. Ordered item
   - Mixed nesting works too

Text is running together

This typically happens with complex line breaks. The app:

• Normalizes whitespace automatically

• Handles soft breaks and line breaks properly

• May differ slightly from your source editor’s display

The app crashes or freezes

1. Restart the app

2. Check available device storage

3. Try with a smaller markdown file

4. Ensure your iOS/macOS version is supported

Technical Details

What libraries does the app use?

The app is built with:

• swift-markdown: Apple’s official markdown parser

• SheeKit: Enhanced sheet presentations

• cmark-gfm: CommonMark parsing engine

All open source licenses are viewable in the app via the ellipsis menu (⋯).

How is PDF generation implemented?

• DirectPDFGenerator: Custom PDF creation using Core Graphics

• NSAttributedString: Rich text formatting

• Binary search algorithms: Optimal text fitting

• Security-scoped bookmarks: Persistent file access

What’s the file monitoring technology?

• Timer-based polling: Checks every 2 seconds

• File modification tracking: Compares modification dates

• Content validation: Only regenerates when content actually changes

• Automatic cleanup: Stops monitoring when view disappears

How does the app handle memory usage?

• Lazy loading: Only loads content when needed

• Efficient text rendering: Uses Core Graphics optimization

• Smart caching: Minimal memory footprint

• Background processing: PDF generation on background queue

Privacy & Security

What data does the app collect?

The app does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All processing happens locally on your device.

Where are my files stored?

• Original files: Remain in their original locations

• Recent file references: Stored as security-scoped bookmarks locally

• Generated PDFs: Saved to your chosen location (Files app, etc.)

Is my content secure?

Yes:

• Local processing: All markdown parsing and PDF generation happens on-device

• Sandbox security: Follows Apple’s app sandboxing guidelines

• Permission-based access: Only accesses files you explicitly select

Can I use this app offline?

Absolutely! The app works completely offline and doesn’t require any internet connection.

Getting Help

Still stuck? Need a new feature? Contact me at markdown-to-pdf@brandonthomson.com.

Need a custom iOS or Mac app? I can build your app and publish it in the App Store.