Tool as command to render (view correctly) a PDF file in the terminal?

FOSS Applications/Projects
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Hello Friends

If we want “render” correctly a web page in the terminal we can use the w3m tool as command, now according with your experience if is possible:

  • Tool as command to render (view correctly) a PDF file in the terminal?

It for simple and complex PDF files. The former is for only plain text (a .adoc file exported to a pdf) and the latter is about Figures, comments and bookmarks

Thanks in advance

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Per @nevj 's response - that’s probably the best you’re going to get - by it’s very nature a terminal DOES NOT RENDER stuff - i.e. good luck trying to display “inside the terminal” graphical images where a PDF file has images…

I assume by “Figures” you mean images, illustrations drawings (either bitmap/raster, or vector) - can’t see that being a possibilty…

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Yeah, TERMpdf cheats … it uses some graphics protocol only available in some fancy terminals.

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Hello Friends

Thanks for the replies

Neville

Big thanks for the links

Dan

that’s probably the best you’re going to get - by it’s very nature a terminal DOES NOT RENDER stuff -

But with w3m is possible “render” a html page as a Web Browser in the terminal. I tested it just to try it. I indicated this tool from the beginning of this thread

i.e. good luck trying to display “inside the terminal” graphical images where a PDF file has images…. I assume by “Figures” you mean images, illustrations drawings (either bitmap/raster, or vector) - can’t see that being a possibilty…

Yes, but again with w3m itself (or a plugin for that) is possible see an Image in the terminal when a URL is rendered (again all this in the terminal). I tested personally.

Neville

Yeah, TERMpdf cheats … it uses some graphics protocol only available in some fancy terminals.

Interesting

Best to all!!

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You can try a SDL based PDF viewer in framebuffer mode if you want it to render like an actual PDF document outside of Wayland or X. Otherwise, if you’re in console mode, tools typically render as text and you can use conversion tools that convert PDF to text for that.