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At the [https://meeting.contextgarden.net/2021/programme.shtml 2021 meeting] we were discussing what we as TeX users can do about the unfortunate state of open source PDF viewers, esp. on Linux, and that [https://group.contextgarden.net context group] could sponsor development. Unfortunately this discussion had no productive results. So let’s try this again and compile some important points as a basis:
= Wishlist =
Since PDF files and viewers can have a wide spectrum of features, let’s define what we’re after, grouped by purpose:
* in '''general''':
** PDF 2.0 compatible
** proper color and transparency display (respect color profiles)
** limited JavaScript support (no modification, no file operations)
** search
** update on file change (configurable)
** keyboard control for as much as possible (but also menus/menubars)
** sidebar for bookmarks/ToC
** [[SyncTeX]] support
** accessibility (e.g. alternative text must work)
** access to file attachments (lower priority)
* for '''presentations''':
** presentation mode (full screen, no visible controls, on one monitor/beamer of choice)
** JS for controlling optional content groups (OCGs, [[Viewer Layers]])
** inner- and inter-document links must work
** multimedia support at least via links (suggestion: use “plain Rich Media” approach with OS’ default player)
** transition effects not necessary (but if the developer has fun including them, go on)
* for '''forms''':
** fill in
** print documents with/without form contents
** same-ID fields on different pages must be synchronized
** custom checkmarks/radiobuttons should work & display correctly
** [[Widgets#JavaScript|JS for calculations]]
* for '''annotations''' (correction workflow; generally just nice to have):
** similar to Adobe/Foxit Reader
* for '''development/debugging''':
** show metadata (incl. XMP), e.g. in a sidebar or dialog
** show fonts metadata (inclusion etc.)
** show [[PDF Boxes]] (MediaBox, CropBox, TrimBox, BleedBox, ArtBox) as a colored frame, switchable via preferences and menu (bar) item
** check for [[PDF/A]] and [[PDFX|PDF/X]] compliance would be nice (integrate [github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-apps VeraPDF]?)
== no priority: ==
* view other file formats like XPS etc.
* any changes to the document (but would be nice):
** extract/replace/add pages
** downsampling of images
** change metadata
* export to other format
== more ideas: ==
* support Lua as a scripting language in PDF, like JavaScript
* rulers / auxiliary lines to check geometry
= Software =
* [https://opensource.org/licenses FOSS license]
* suggestion by Hans: based on [https://mupdf.com MuPDF], even if it’s controlled by the Artifex company, since it’s good code and there’s also [https://mujs.com MuJS].
* should at least work on Windows, MacOS (preferably 10.14+), Linux and *BSD; iOS & Android versions would be nice
* could use our [https://build.contextgarden.net build farm]
* how about (long term) support?
= Funding =
* Context group will provide some funds.
* There was a discussion about fundraising at the 2022 meeting. (Will check back.)
* DANTE only funds nonpersonnel costs and won’t support projects that are not directly TeX-related.
= Sources =
* Michal Vlasak’s [https://dspace.cvut.cz/handle/10467/95065 bachelor thesis] about multimedia in PDF (in Czech); [https://meeting.contextgarden.net/2021/talks/2021-09-22/multimedia-context-presentation.pdf presentation of the results] (in English)
* [[User:Hraban|Hraban]] ([[User talk:Hraban|talk]])’s [https://meeting.contextgarden.net/2021/talks/2021-09-22/pdfviewers.ods overview of PDF viewer features] on Linux and MacOS (ODS table in German)
= Wishlist =
Since PDF files and viewers can have a wide spectrum of features, let’s define what we’re after, grouped by purpose:
* in '''general''':
** PDF 2.0 compatible
** proper color and transparency display (respect color profiles)
** limited JavaScript support (no modification, no file operations)
** search
** update on file change (configurable)
** keyboard control for as much as possible (but also menus/menubars)
** sidebar for bookmarks/ToC
** [[SyncTeX]] support
** accessibility (e.g. alternative text must work)
** access to file attachments (lower priority)
* for '''presentations''':
** presentation mode (full screen, no visible controls, on one monitor/beamer of choice)
** JS for controlling optional content groups (OCGs, [[Viewer Layers]])
** inner- and inter-document links must work
** multimedia support at least via links (suggestion: use “plain Rich Media” approach with OS’ default player)
** transition effects not necessary (but if the developer has fun including them, go on)
* for '''forms''':
** fill in
** print documents with/without form contents
** same-ID fields on different pages must be synchronized
** custom checkmarks/radiobuttons should work & display correctly
** [[Widgets#JavaScript|JS for calculations]]
* for '''annotations''' (correction workflow; generally just nice to have):
** similar to Adobe/Foxit Reader
* for '''development/debugging''':
** show metadata (incl. XMP), e.g. in a sidebar or dialog
** show fonts metadata (inclusion etc.)
** show [[PDF Boxes]] (MediaBox, CropBox, TrimBox, BleedBox, ArtBox) as a colored frame, switchable via preferences and menu (bar) item
** check for [[PDF/A]] and [[PDFX|PDF/X]] compliance would be nice (integrate [github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-apps VeraPDF]?)
== no priority: ==
* view other file formats like XPS etc.
* any changes to the document (but would be nice):
** extract/replace/add pages
** downsampling of images
** change metadata
* export to other format
== more ideas: ==
* support Lua as a scripting language in PDF, like JavaScript
* rulers / auxiliary lines to check geometry
= Software =
* [https://opensource.org/licenses FOSS license]
* suggestion by Hans: based on [https://mupdf.com MuPDF], even if it’s controlled by the Artifex company, since it’s good code and there’s also [https://mujs.com MuJS].
* should at least work on Windows, MacOS (preferably 10.14+), Linux and *BSD; iOS & Android versions would be nice
* could use our [https://build.contextgarden.net build farm]
* how about (long term) support?
= Funding =
* Context group will provide some funds.
* There was a discussion about fundraising at the 2022 meeting. (Will check back.)
* DANTE only funds nonpersonnel costs and won’t support projects that are not directly TeX-related.
= Sources =
* Michal Vlasak’s [https://dspace.cvut.cz/handle/10467/95065 bachelor thesis] about multimedia in PDF (in Czech); [https://meeting.contextgarden.net/2021/talks/2021-09-22/multimedia-context-presentation.pdf presentation of the results] (in English)
* [[User:Hraban|Hraban]] ([[User talk:Hraban|talk]])’s [https://meeting.contextgarden.net/2021/talks/2021-09-22/pdfviewers.ods overview of PDF viewer features] on Linux and MacOS (ODS table in German)
