============
PDF Decanter
This is a simple program optimized for PDF-based presentations. I
mostly use it in conjunction with LaTeX-beamer_, but actually the
source of the PDF is arbitrary (e.g. one may export slides as PDF from
impress or the like, too).
I wrote this mainly for the following reasons:
-
I am using the \pause-feature of LaTeX-beamer_, which lets
stuff appear one-by-one. This works by generating multiple PDF pages
per slide, i.e. each content frame is sub-divided into multiple
animation frames. Common PDF readers will display ridiculous page
numbers like "35 of 245" for a 20 minute presentation; I wanted
PDF Decanter to recognize multiple PDF pages that belong together and
be able to present an overview of the logical slides, with
animation frames batched together.
-
Although I like some(!) animated transitions, I find it highly
irritating to see the logo of one PDF page leave the screen to the
left, only to have it appear (on the next page) from the right again.
PDF Decanter shall recognize and not animate content that does not
change.
-
Although possible, it is a real hassle to embed videos in PDF
files. (And presentation then only works with – yuck – Adobe
Acrobat Reader on Windows or OS X, while I normally use Linux.) I
figured that if I wrote my own software, I could make it as easy as
possible to embed videos or other (dynamic) custom content.
I have much more in mind than what is already implemented, but the
current version should already work well for many presentations.
Other interesting features:
-
Overview mode displays already seen slides differently from unseen
slides.
-
In the presence of a PDF outline (e.g. using sectioning with
LaTeX-beamer), the overview will separate sections visually.
-
Hyperlinks within the presentation are supported.
The name "PDF Decanter" stands for "PDF decomposer for animated
transitions whose expedience rocks". (I am not too happy with the
last part, but otherwise it more or less conveys the gist of the
software. If you have a better suggestion, please tell me.) ;-)
Usage
Start PDF Decanter like this::
/pdf_decanter.py mypresentation.pdf
This will render the PDF into images (requiring the ``pdftoppm``_
commandline program that usually comes with the ``poppler-utils``
package) and start the presentation. The rendering process takes a
while, so the result will be cached.
The following keys are available in **presentation mode** (fullscreen slide view):
======================== ==============
Space, Right, PgDown Next slide
Backspace, Left, PgUp Previous slide
Home First Slide
Tab Show overview
======================== ==============
The following keybindings are **always** available (i.e. in both modes):
============== ===================================================
0-9 + Enter go to slide number #
F, L jump to [F]irst / [L]ast frame state of current slide
Shift-F Enter/leave [F]ullscreen mode
Shift-Q [Q]uit
(Shift-P Debugging: Toggle navigation visibility)
============== ===================================================
In the **overview mode**, these are the keybindings:
================= =================================================
Enter, Tab, Space Back to presentation mode
Cursor keys Move yellow slide cursor
Home First Slide
Shift-U [U]ncover all slides
Shift-R [R]eset all slides to covered state (and go home)
================= =================================================
Using the mouse or touchpad is also possible and mostly
self-explaining. It is worth noting that in presentation mode, all
three mouse buttons (if available) are bound; normal left clicks
advance frames, and middle button clicks go back (if available).
Using the right mouse button, the overview can be brought up.
Bugs and Limitations
====================
I am aware of a lot of bugs and limitations, and I will try to make
this more transparent by filing `issues at GitHub
`_. I tried to get to
a working state and publish this as soon as possible, which means that
right now:
* Presentations with non-white background may not work as well.
Unfinished / planned features:
* Opacity animations should be recognized (leading to smaller file
sizes and potentially better transition animations).
* Elements overlapping header/footer should be supported and not lead
to new slides.
* Such elements could get a different transition than fade-in
(e.g. zoom-in or the like).
* Frame repeations after many pages (e.g. repeated outline slides)
should also be recognized. (Again, this could lead to smaller files
and better transitions between these slides.)
* Zooming (e.g. to the original / increased resolution of embedded
figures)
* The slide numbers should (optionally) be displayed somewhere in
order to make the "jump to slide" feature more useful.
.. _LaTeX-beamer: https://bitbucket.org/rivanvx/beamer/overview
.. _pdftoppm: http://poppler.freedesktop.org/