Bookstack: Full PDF Wrapper

[recklessnl]

Describe the feature you'd like
Bookstack is a Wiki-like app, a perfect place to store manuals. A ton of manuals on the internet are stored as PDFs. It would be so much easier if Bookstack had native PDF Wrapper support enabled for users to instantly load the PDF file within the Bookstack page.

Describe the benefits this feature would bring to BookStack users
Pretty self-explanatory, it makes Bookstack even more useable for small businesses or families.

Additional context
Currently you can only download PDFs to your PC. There are other docker apps like Grocy who have full PDF wrapper support and it really makes it so much easier. Really hope this can get added.

[ssddanbrown]

Hi @recklessnl,
Thanks for the request.

This seems very similar to #705, Do you see this issue as different to that one or can I close this as a duplicate?

[recklessnl]

It's different, because we shouldn't want a 'preview', we should have a full wrapper that enables users to directly 'stream' the PDF file in question. This way you can embed the PDFs directly into the overall Bookstack page, alongside all the other tools you are currently have implemented. It's not so much a preview as a fully functioning PDF embed / wrapper. I can't think of any downside to this.

[ssddanbrown]

Ah, Okay, Thanks for confirming the difference.

I can't think of any downside to this.

• Web PDF renders can have varying and heavy performance due to the complexities in rendering PDFS.
• Web PDF renders can often have quirks and not fully support all features of a PDF.
• This would be extra functionality to implement & maintain, Especially if built into the editors, Using up more maintainer time.
• This could encorouge users leaving content in PDF format, instead of page content, where it becomes much harder for BookStack to index for search/discovery and revision tracking.

[recklessnl]

1) A PDF wrapper is optional feature users can add to their pages. If it doesn't perform up to standard, they can use the current system.
2) Same as above, although I have to say I love the one Grocy is using. Works fine for my needs. The point isn't to have a fully functional PDF editor anyway, it should be for reading.
3) Can't comment on this, all I can say is it would make bookstack a lot better and more useable
4) So what? More power to the users. I want some pages to be just one big PDF manual page. Who are you to tell me how to use it? Again, you don't HAVE to use it if you don't want it. Besides, copying a full PDF manual to pictures or a format that bookstack can read is tedious as **. Much better to just have a PDF reader / wrapper and make it easy for everyone.

Must have feature for me.

[ssddanbrown]

4. So what? More power to the users. I want some pages to be just one big PDF manual page. Who are you to tell me how to use it? Again, you don't HAVE to use it if you don't want it.

This may be the case for your usage but it's not always up to users how they are supposed to use the system. We have to consider the wider view of how BookStack may be used. In a lot of instances BookStack would have been implemented to ensure documentation is standardised and indexed but adding this would work against that.

Must have feature for me.

It looks like some users have had luck implementing something similar to what you're asking for in #705 otherwise it may be a while before something like this is officially supported.

[danielsagostinho]

Actually, I was searching for something like this. Before your app, I've done manuals and converted them to PDF, would be nice to import material that is already done, and not do it again in the editor.

The attachment doesn't really "work", since most people see a blank page and don't check the attachments.

[xthursdayx]

I love Bookstack in general, but I am also desperate to see this feature added. In my use case, 99% of my entries will still be standard Bookstack markdown pages, but I would like to be able to host, link to, and view pdf hardware manuals from within my books.

[recklessnl]

Ping @ssddanbrown any update on this?

[ssddanbrown]

@recklessnl No, not at this time.

[sargrvb]

I'm also looking for a PDF cloud viewer of sorts. I love using Home Assistant and have been trying to integrate Grocy into my flow. Using something more specific like BookStack or Calibre seems ideal though. Please reconsider adding this feature some time in the future.