Files
bookhoard/docs/user/reader-guide.md
T
John O'Keefe b4c956aed4 docs(user): web reader guide — navigation, touch selection, highlights
User-facing documentation for the rebuilt web reader (§6.5 of the app
handoff): swipe-to-page / tap-for-menu touch navigation, long-press word
selection with drag extension and handles, the selection popover (color
dots, notes with save-together-on-create, copy incl. plain-HTTP LAN,
edit/delete by tapping a painted highlight), below-the-selection popover
placement rationale, PDF/comic behavior, and annotations drawer.
Linked from the user documentation portal and the docs index quick
links / quick-find tables.
2026-09-17 20:13:45 -04:00

2.9 KiB

Web Reader Guide

Bookhoard's built-in web reader works in any modern browser — desktop or mobile — and keeps your position, highlights, bookmarks, and notes in sync with the Android app and KOReader.

Opening a Book

From your library or book page, click Read. The reader opens in an immersive view with the book's cover, title, and chapter in the top bar (EPUB) or page number (PDF/comics).

Navigation

On a phone or tablet (touch)

Gesture Action
Swipe left / right Turn the page
Tap once Toggle the reader menu (headers, settings, drawers)
Tap in a corner zone With the menu open: jump back / forward by chapter

Paging is swipe-only by design: taps are reserved for the menu so a page turn can never fire while you're trying to select text.

On desktop

  • Scroll wheel, trackpad, arrow keys, or Page Up / Page Down to page
  • Click the progress bar (bottom, with the menu open) to jump
  • Contents drawer for the table of contents; Pages grid for PDF/comics

Text Selection & Highlights

Selecting text (touch)

  1. Press and hold a word (~half a second) until it highlights
  2. Drag to extend the selection word by word — it stays on the visible page
  3. Drag the round handles (EPUB) to fine-tune the start and end points
  4. Lift your finger and pause — the highlight menu appears below the selection, underneath the browser's own copy menu

The browser's address bar hides while a selection is active to give the page room; it returns as soon as the selection is cleared.

Creating a highlight or note

With the selection menu open:

  • Color dots — tap one to highlight immediately in that color
  • Pencil — opens a note; write it and tap Highlight with note to save the highlight and its note together
  • Copy — copies the selected text (works even over plain HTTP on your LAN)
  • While the note editor is open, you can still change the color — the popover stays put until you save or cancel

Editing or removing a highlight

Tap anywhere on a painted highlight to reopen it in the menu. From there you can change its color, edit the note (pencil → Save note), or delete it (trash icon). Tapping anywhere else closes the menu.

PDFs and comics

Text selection works the same way on PDFs. Highlights are stored as page-anchored rectangles and sync to the Android app. Comics/manga libraries disable annotation (bookmarks still work).

Notes & Bookmarks

The annotations drawer (right side, from the open menu) lists your highlights, standalone notes, and bookmarks for the book — tap any entry to jump to it.

Where Reading Position Is Stored

Position, highlights, bookmarks, and notes sync automatically through the server (see the Sync Guide). Close the tab whenever you like — the reader resumes exactly where you left off on any device.