Markdown Viewer provides an enhanced reading experience with multiple layouts, zoom controls, navigation features, and smart caching.
- Width: 1000px maximum
- Best for: General reading, balanced experience
- Use when: Reading most documents
- Width: Uses entire browser width
- Best for: Wide content, tables, code
- Use when: You have wide monitors or wide content
- Width: 530px maximum
- Best for: Previewing Word export appearance
- Use when: You want to see how the document will look in Word
Click the Layout button in the toolbar to cycle through options.
Adjust the document size to your preference:
| Action | Keyboard Shortcut | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom In | Ctrl/Cmd + + |
Up to 400% |
| Zoom Out | Ctrl/Cmd + - |
Down to 50% |
| Reset Zoom | Ctrl/Cmd + 0 |
Back to 100% |
- Large monitors: Try 125-150% for comfortable reading
- Presentations: Use 200%+ when showing to others
- Dense content: Zoom out to see more context
The sidebar Table of Contents is auto-generated from your document headings.
- Keyboard:
Ctrl/Cmd + B - Click: TOC button in toolbar
- Auto-generated from H1-H6 headings
- Click to navigate — jumps to section
- Current section highlighted — shows where you are
- Collapsible — save screen space
For the best TOC experience:
- Use meaningful heading text
- Maintain proper heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
- Don't skip heading levels
Markdown Viewer remembers where you were in each document.
- Auto-save: Your scroll position is saved as you read
- Auto-restore: When you reopen the same file, it returns to your position
- Per-document: Each file has its own saved position
- Continue reading where you left off
- No need to search for your place
- Works across browser sessions
Track your recently viewed documents.
Click the History icon in the toolbar or popup menu.
- Recent documents listed in order
- Quick access — click to reopen
- Automatic cleanup — old entries removed
For documents with diagrams, Markdown Viewer caches rendered images for instant subsequent loads.
| First Load | Subsequent Loads |
|---|---|
| Text: Instant | Everything: Instant |
| Diagrams: ~5s total | From cache: <1s |
- 10x faster repeat opens
- Minimal re-rendering — only changed diagrams re-process
- Automatic invalidation — cache updates when content changes
- Default size: 1000 items (~500MB)
- Clear cache: Available in extension settings
- Automatic cleanup: Oldest items removed when limit reached
| Action | Windows/Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Export to Word | Ctrl + S |
Cmd + S |
| Toggle TOC | Ctrl + B |
Cmd + B |
| Zoom In | Ctrl + + |
Cmd + + |
| Zoom Out | Ctrl + - |
Cmd + - |
| Reset Zoom | Ctrl + 0 |
Cmd + 0 |
For documents with 50+ diagrams:
- First open: Be patient, text shows instantly, diagrams render in background
- Progress indicator: Watch the progress bar
- Subsequent opens: Nearly instant from cache
If documents are slow:
- Check diagram count — Many complex PlantUML/Mermaid diagrams take time
- Simplify diagrams — Split large diagrams into smaller ones
- Enable caching — Don't clear cache frequently
- Close other tabs — Free up browser memory
Markdown Viewer is optimized for performance:
- Diagrams render in a web worker
- Cache is stored efficiently
- Old cache entries are cleaned automatically
- Use zoom controls for larger text
- Browser font settings are respected
- High contrast themes available
- All features accessible via keyboard
- Tab through interactive elements
- Standard browser navigation works
- Semantic HTML structure
- Proper heading hierarchy
- Alt text for images
Markdown Viewer works completely offline:
- ✅ Local files work without internet
- ✅ Cached diagrams display offline
- ✅ All features work offline
- ✅ Export to Word works offline
No internet connection is ever required for core functionality.