Usage¶
Opening files¶
Pass one or more files on the command line:
Each file opens in its own tab. You can also open a file from inside mdpad with
Ctrl+O, which brings up your system file dialog (it filters for .md,
.markdown, and .txt).
Single instance¶
If mdpad is already running, opening more files hands them to that window as new tabs instead of starting a second process. This keeps everything in one place, which is handy when Markdown files are wired to open with mdpad from your file manager.
Tabs¶
When more than one file is open, a tab bar appears at the top.
- Click a tab to switch to it.
- Click the × on a tab, or middle-click the tab, to close it.
- Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab cycle forward and backward.
- Ctrl+W closes the active tab.
Selecting and copying text¶
mdpad lets you select rendered text and copy it as plain text.
- Click and drag to select a range.
- Double-click to select a word.
- Triple-click to select a line.
- Shift+click to extend the current selection to where you click.
- Ctrl+A selects the whole document.
- Ctrl+C copies the selection to the clipboard.
- Esc clears the selection (and, if there is no selection, closes mdpad).
You can also move a caret through the text with the keyboard and hold Shift to select as you go. See Keybindings for the full list.
Exporting and printing¶
Press Ctrl+P to export the active tab to HTML and open it in your default browser, themed to match the on-screen view. From the browser you can print it or save it as a PDF. The exported file is written to mdpad's per-user data directory and overwritten on each export.
Themes¶
mdpad renders in a light or dark theme, covering headings, code blocks, inline code, block quotes, list markers, and syntax-highlighted code.