Documentation

Everything you need to get started with PrivDF

Quick Start Guide

1. Upload a PDF

Click "Choose PDF" or drag and drop a PDF file anywhere on the page. Your file is loaded into your browser's memory—it never leaves your device.

2. Set a Passphrase

Enter a password in the "Pass-phrase" field. This is used to encrypt your annotations with AES-GCM. Choose something memorable—we can't recover it if you forget.

3. Highlight Text

Select any text in the PDF. A toolbar will appear with "Highlight" and "Add Note" buttons. Click "Highlight" to create a yellow highlight, or "Add Note" to attach a text note.

Keyboard shortcuts: Press H to highlight, N to add a note.

4. Use AI Tools

Click "AI Tools" to open the AI panel. You'll need a Venice AI API key. Once configured, you can:

  • Generate document summaries
  • Ask questions about the PDF
  • Get AI-powered insights

5. Export or Delete

Click "Export PDF + Notes" to download your PDF and annotations as an encrypted ZIP file. To delete all your data, click "Delete All Data"—this removes everything from your browser's storage.

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • H - Create highlight from selected text
  • N - Add note to selected text
  • Esc - Cancel text selection
  • Tab - Navigate between toolbar buttons
  • Enter / Space - Activate focused button

Getting a Venice AI API Key

  1. Go to venice.ai
  2. Sign up or log in to your account
  3. Navigate to Settings → API Keys
  4. Generate a new API key
  5. Copy the key and paste it into PrivDF's API key field

Your API key is stored in your browser's localStorage. We never see it or send it to our servers.

Troubleshooting

PDF won't load

• Make sure the PDF is not corrupted or password-protected
• Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari all supported)
• Check that JavaScript is enabled
• Clear your browser cache and try again

Highlights disappeared

• Make sure you're using the same passphrase
• Check that you uploaded the same PDF (same file hash)
• Your browser may have cleared IndexedDB—try importing from a backup ZIP

AI features not working

• Verify your Venice AI API key is correct
• Check that you have remaining API credits
• Make sure the PDF has extractable text (not scanned images)
• Try a smaller document if you're hitting rate limits

Export/Import issues

• Use the same passphrase for export and import
• Make sure the ZIP file isn't corrupted
• Try exporting again with a fresh export

Browser Compatibility

PrivDF works on all modern browsers that support:

  • Web Crypto API (for encryption)
  • IndexedDB (for local storage)
  • ES2020+ JavaScript (for modern syntax)

Tested browsers:

  • Chrome 120+ ✅
  • Firefox 120+ ✅
  • Safari 17+ ✅
  • Edge 120+ ✅

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