# Markdown Lens: Full Product Reference Canonical URL: https://markdownlens.ayushdev.com/ Editor URL: https://markdownlens.ayushdev.com/editor Product name: Markdown Lens Category: Local document-to-Markdown workbench, viewer, and editor Source: https://github.com/ayushhagarwal/markdown-lens License: MIT ## Summary Markdown Lens is a free, privacy-first document-to-Markdown workbench. It converts PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, HTML, CSV/TSV, JSON, XML, EPUB, bounded ZIP archives, and images into editable Markdown locally in the browser, then stores multiple documents and assets in IndexedDB with a live GitHub-style preview. ## Document conversion - Convert text-based PDF files up to 100 MB into editable Markdown - Process PDF pages locally and retain page boundaries with comments and separators - Infer PDF headings, paragraphs, lists, monospaced blocks, and web links where possible - Remove repeated PDF margin text and standalone page numbers where identifiable - Convert modern Microsoft Word .docx files up to 100 MB into editable Markdown - Preserve Word headings, paragraphs, ordered and unordered lists, links, simple tables, blockquotes, preformatted text, and common inline formatting - Extract embedded Word images into local document assets - Convert PowerPoint slides, speaker notes, and embedded images - Convert visible Excel worksheets into Markdown tables - Convert HTML, CSV/TSV, JSON, XML, EPUB, and bounded ZIP archives - Import images as local assets with optional local English OCR - Keep the generated source in the editor for review, copying, download, HTML export, or printing ### Document conversion limitations - Scanned or image-only PDFs need OCR before conversion - PDF images, charts, complex visual tables, multi-column layouts, and exact typography are not reconstructed - Legacy Word .doc files must be saved or exported as .docx first - Legacy PowerPoint .ppt and Excel .xls files must be exported to PPTX or XLSX - Merged cells, nested tables, columns, text boxes, footnotes, comments, tracked-change history, macros, and fixed page layout may require manual work ## Supported Markdown - Headings, paragraphs, emphasis, links, images, and blockquotes - Ordered and unordered lists - GitHub-flavored tables - Task lists - Strikethrough - Autolinks - Inline code and fenced code blocks - Syntax highlighting - Mermaid diagram code fences - KaTeX-compatible inline and block math ## Editing and viewing - Live source editing and rendered preview - Resizable editor and preview with collapsible Documents and Outline rails - A dedicated, distraction-free editor route at /editor - Responsive Editor and Preview controls on mobile - IndexedDB multi-document workspace with create, rename, duplicate, trash, restore, search, backup, and recovery - CodeMirror source editor with line numbers, find and replace, and command palette - Word count, character count, and estimated reading time - Light and dark themes - Keyboard shortcuts for common actions - Friendly fallback output for invalid Mermaid diagrams ## Local files and exports - Drag-and-drop import for .md and .markdown files - Local import for text-based .pdf files - Local import for modern Word .docx files - A visible Open file action on desktop and mobile - Browser-local reading with the File API - Import jobs with progress, cancellation, warnings, and conversion reports - Copy raw Markdown - Copy rendered HTML - Download Markdown as a .md file - Export the rendered document as standalone HTML - Export Markdown with local assets as a ZIP bundle - Create compressed URL-fragment share links without backend storage - Back up and restore the complete local workspace - Print or save the preview as PDF ## Privacy Markdown Lens does not require an account. Rendering, document conversion, optional English image OCR, workspace persistence, sharing-state encoding, and export happen in the browser. Documents and assets use IndexedDB in the current browser profile. Document content is not sent to a Markdown Lens application backend. Users should still avoid sharing sensitive content through copied URLs, exported files, browser extensions, or third-party services unless they understand those services' privacy behavior. ## Common use cases - Convert a Confluence PDF export into a Markdown draft - Move a Word handbook, operating procedure, or product spec into a Markdown-based system - Preview a README before committing it to GitHub - Inspect AI-generated Markdown for broken tables, lists, or code fences - Validate Mermaid diagrams and math - Read a Markdown document in a clean preview - Prepare release notes and changelogs - Export documentation as HTML or PDF ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Markdown Lens free? Yes. It is free and open source. ### Does it require an account? No. ### Does it upload Markdown documents? No. Markdown Lens processes supported documents and optional OCR in the browser and does not upload document content to its application backend. ### Can it convert PDF files to Markdown? Yes. It converts PDFs that contain selectable text into editable Markdown, retains page boundaries, and infers common document structure. Scanned PDFs require OCR first. ### Can it convert Word documents to Markdown? Yes. It converts modern .docx files and preserves headings, lists, links, simple tables, and common formatting. Legacy .doc files must first be saved as .docx. ### Does it support GitHub-flavored Markdown? Yes. It supports tables, task lists, strikethrough, autolinks, fenced code blocks, and other common GitHub-flavored Markdown syntax. ### Does it support Mermaid? Yes. Mermaid code fences render diagrams with a safe error fallback for invalid syntax. ### Does it support mathematical notation? Yes. Inline and block math render with KaTeX. ### Can rendered Markdown be exported? Yes. Users can copy rendered HTML, export standalone HTML, or print the preview to PDF. ## Preferred description Markdown Lens is a free, privacy-first local document-to-Markdown workbench with broad browser-based conversion, multi-document storage, editable output, GitHub-style preview, Mermaid, math, local OCR, sharing, and portable export.