Preview PDFs and Office files

PDFs open in the preview as a continuous page view you can read, select and zoom. Word and PowerPoint files open there too: Oda converts them to PDF on your computer first, so they read the same way.

This page covers PDFs and Word and PowerPoint files. For the preview pane itself see Preview files in Oda; the other viewers have their own pages: Preview spreadsheets and Preview images and HTML.

Read a PDF

• Pages fill the pane from edge to edge as one vertical sequence and render as you scroll. A page that has not rendered yet holds its place quietly.
• Select and copy text as you would in any reader: each page carries the standard PDF text layer. A PDF that is only an image, such as a scan, has no text layer, so nothing in it can be selected.
• The document keeps its own colours; the surround follows the app's theme, graphite in light mode and matte black in dark mode, with subtle page shadows.

Zoom a PDF

Use the zoom control that floats at the bottom edge of the pane.

• Fit width is the default: the page stays as wide as the pane and follows it when you resize the pane.
• You can also choose 25%, 50%, 100%, 150% or 200%, or step by 25% within the 25% to 400% range.
• The zoom you pick stays with the tab while it is open.

Open a Word or PowerPoint file

1. Open the Word or PowerPoint file the same way as any other preview, from a file card or a link to it.
2. Oda converts .doc, .docx, .ppt and .pptx files to PDF on your computer and shows the result in the same viewer, so reading, selection and zoom work as for a PDF.

Spreadsheets do not go through this conversion; they open in their own viewer (Preview spreadsheets).

When fonts are missing

A converted document can use fonts that are not available on this computer. When that happens, a yellow warning triangle appears in the preview's header, before Reload.

• Hover over the warning, or focus it with the keyboard, to see the count of missing fonts (Missing fonts: <count>. Click to view.).
• Click the warning to open the list of missing font names. It is titled Missing fonts and says: These fonts are unavailable for this preview. Text and layout may differ from the original document.
• Press Escape, use the close control, or click outside the list to close it. Closing it does not move or change the document, and the warning stays in the header.
• Reloading the preview closes any open font details.
• A document without missing fonts shows no warning, and nothing about viewing or closing the list is remembered.
• Older binary formats (.doc and .ppt) report no missing-font information, so the warning does not appear for them.

When something goes wrong

• A password-protected PDF cannot be opened: This PDF requires a password; password-protected previews are not supported.
• A PDF that cannot be displayed explains why and offers Retry.
• If previews cannot run on this computer at all, Oda says so and points at the setup: Office previews are unavailable. Enable the document preview service on the computer running DataMind Oda.
• A file that is damaged, password protected, or does not match its extension: This Office file cannot be previewed. It may be damaged, password protected, or have the wrong extension.
• A conversion that does not produce a usable PDF: Office conversion did not produce a usable PDF. Check the file and try again.
• A conversion that runs too long: Office conversion timed out. Try again.
• Many previews converting at once: Office preview is busy. Try again shortly.
• The file changing while it is being read: The file changed while being read. Reopen the preview.
• A file or converted PDF over the size limit: The Office file or converted PDF exceeds the preview size limit. Reduce the file size or adjust the preview configuration.

The Office messages come with a Retry control where trying again can help.

What the preview keeps

• Converted PDFs are held in a small temporary cache while you work: up to 8 documents and 64 MiB in total, with the least recently used dropped first.
• A finished conversion is kept and reused while it stays in the cache, so opening the same document again does not start over.
• Failures are not kept, and a converted PDF over the size limit is not kept.
• Converted PDFs are never saved as documents.
• PDF pages render under a canvas-size cap.

Questions, answered

Why does my Word document open as a PDF?

Oda converts Word and PowerPoint files to PDF on your computer so they can be read in the same viewer as PDFs. The converted copy is for viewing only, and the preview never edits your original file.

Can I select and copy text in a PDF?

Yes, when the PDF carries a text layer: select and copy as usual. A PDF that is only an image, such as a scan, has no text layer, so nothing in it can be selected.

How do I zoom a PDF?

Use the floating control at the bottom edge of the pane. Fit width is the default, and you can choose 25%, 50%, 100%, 150% or 200%, or step by 25% within the 25% to 400% range.

Why does page text look soft when I zoom in?

Zooming enlarges the page as it was rendered; it does not render the page again at a higher resolution, so very high zoom can make text look soft.

Why is there a yellow warning triangle on my document?

The converted document uses fonts that are not available on this computer, so the text and layout may differ from the original. Hover over the warning, or focus it, to see the count; click it for the list of missing font names.

Can I hide the missing-fonts warning?

Not while the fonts are missing. Closing the list leaves the warning in place, and nothing about viewing or closing it is remembered. A document whose fonts are all available shows no warning.

Can Oda preview a password-protected PDF?

No. Opening one shows This PDF requires a password; password-protected previews are not supported.

Why can't my Office file be previewed?

If the file is damaged, password protected, or does not match its extension, the preview cannot open it and says so: This Office file cannot be previewed. It may be damaged, password protected, or have the wrong extension. Open the file in its usual app to check it, and try again.

What should I do when a conversion fails or times out?

Try again from the preview: the messages tell you what happened (Office conversion did not produce a usable PDF. Check the file and try again., Office conversion timed out. Try again.), and every Office message comes with a Retry control. If retrying keeps failing, open the file in its usual app to check it.

Why does it say the file exceeds the preview size limit?

The Office file, or the PDF made from it, is larger than the preview can hold, so the result is not kept or shown. Reduce the file size and open it again.

Are converted PDFs kept on my computer?

Only in a small temporary cache while you work: up to 8 documents and 64 MiB, with the least recently used dropped first. Converted PDFs are never saved as documents, and failed or oversized conversions are not kept.