Usage

Momovu provides a comprehensive set of tools for previewing and analyzing PDF margins. This guide covers all features, command-line options, and keyboard shortcuts.

Quick Start

Basic usage:

# Open a PDF file
momovu document.pdf
Basic momovu window with interior PDF

Basic momovu window with interior PDF

# Specify document type and page count
momovu -d cover -n 300 book.pdf

# Enable side-by-side view for interior documents
momovu -s interior.pdf

Command Line Interface

Synopsis

momovu [-h] [-D] [-v] [-V] [-n N] [-d TYPE] [-j PAGE] [-s] [-m | --safety-margins | --no-safety-margins]
       [-t | --trim-lines | --no-trim-lines] [-b | --barcode | --no-barcode]
       [-l | --fold-lines | --no-fold-lines] [-r | --bleed-lines | --no-bleed-lines]
       [-u | --gutter | --no-gutter] [-p] [-f]
       [PDF_FILE]

Arguments

Positional Arguments:

  • PDF_FILE - Path to the PDF file to preview (optional)

Optional Arguments:

  • -h, --help - Show help message and exit

  • -D, --debug - Enable debug logging for troubleshooting

  • -v, --verbose - Increase output verbosity (can be used multiple times: -v, -vv, -vvv)

  • -V, --version - Show version information and exit

  • -n N, --num-pages N - Number of pages for spine width calculation

  • -d TYPE, --document TYPE - Document type: interior, cover, or dustjacket (default: interior)

  • -j PAGE, --jump PAGE - Jump to page number (interior documents only)

  • -s, --side-by-side - Start in side-by-side view mode (interior documents only)

  • -m, --safety-margins, --no-safety-margins - Show safety margins (default: enabled)

  • -t, --trim-lines, --no-trim-lines - Show trim lines (default: enabled)

  • -b, --barcode, --no-barcode - Show barcode area for cover/dustjacket (default: enabled)

  • -l, --fold-lines, --no-fold-lines - Show fold lines for cover/dustjacket (default: enabled)

  • -r, --bleed-lines, --no-bleed-lines - Show bleed lines for cover/dustjacket (default: enabled)

  • -u, --gutter, --no-gutter - Show gutter margin for interior documents (default: enabled)

  • -p, --presentation - Start in presentation mode

  • -f, --fullscreen - Start in fullscreen mode

Examples

# Preview an interior PDF with default settings
momovu book-interior.pdf

# Preview a cover with 300 pages (affects spine width)
momovu -d cover -n 300 book-cover.pdf

# Preview a dustjacket with specific page count
momovu -d dustjacket -n 442 book-dustjacket.pdf

# View interior pages in side-by-side mode
momovu -s book-interior.pdf

# Jump to a specific page in an interior document
momovu -j 50 book-interior.pdf

# Combine jump with side-by-side view
momovu -j 100 -s book-interior.pdf

# View interior pages without gutter margins
momovu --no-gutter book-interior.pdf

# Enable debug logging for troubleshooting
momovu --debug problematic-file.pdf

# Increase verbosity for more detailed output
momovu -vv document.pdf

Keyboard Shortcuts

View Controls

  • Ctrl+Plus/= - Zoom in (10% increment)

  • Ctrl+Minus - Zoom out (10% decrement)

  • Ctrl+0 - Fit page to window

  • Ctrl+Mouse Wheel - Zoom in/out at mouse cursor position

  • Ctrl+I - Open Font Information window

Zoomed in view

Zoomed in view showing detail of the page content with high-quality rendering

  • F11 - Toggle fullscreen mode

  • F5 - Toggle presentation mode

  • Escape - Exit presentation mode

Zoom and Pan Behavior

When zoomed out (fit to page):

  • Mouse Wheel - Navigate between pages

  • Ctrl+Mouse Wheel - Zoom in/out at cursor position

When zoomed in:

  • Mouse Wheel - Pan vertically (scroll up/down)

  • Shift+Mouse Wheel - Pan horizontally (scroll left/right)

  • Ctrl+Mouse Wheel - Zoom in/out at cursor position

  • Arrow Keys - Pan in any direction

The zoom system features:

  • High-quality rendering at all zoom levels (up to 200x)

  • Progressive rendering for smooth zoom experience

  • Intelligent caching for instant panning

  • Mouse-centered zoom for precise control

Display Options

  • Ctrl+D - Toggle side-by-side view (interior documents only)

  • Ctrl+T - Toggle trim lines visibility

  • Ctrl+M - Toggle safety margins visibility

  • Ctrl+L - Toggle spine/fold lines visibility

  • Ctrl+B - Toggle barcode area (cover/dustjacket only)

  • Ctrl+R - Toggle bleed lines (cover/dustjacket only)

  • Ctrl+U - Toggle gutter margin (interior only)

File Operations

  • Ctrl+O - Open a new PDF file

  • Ctrl+W - Close current document

  • Ctrl+G - Go to page dialog

  • Ctrl+I - Font Information window

  • Ctrl+Q - Quit application

Text Selection and Copying

  • Click and Drag - Select text with mouse

  • Ctrl+C - Copy selected text to clipboard

Document Types

Interior Documents

Interior documents represent the content pages of a book:

  • Simple rectangular safety margins

  • Gutter margins that automatically adjust based on page count

  • Side-by-side view available for spread preview

  • Spine line visible in dual-page mode

  • Navigation to first/last page enabled

momovu -d interior book-content.pdf

# With side-by-side view
momovu -d interior -s book-content.pdf
Interior document in single page view

Interior document displayed in single page view mode

Cover Documents

Cover documents include front and back covers with spine:

  • Spine width automatically calculated from page count

  • Barcode placement area in lower right of back cover

  • Fold lines at spine edges (green dashed lines)

  • Safety margins with bleed areas

momovu -d cover -n 300 book-cover.pdf
Cover document showing spine width calculation

Cover document with automatically calculated spine width based on page count

Cover document with safety margins

Cover document showing safety margins and bleed areas

Spine Width Calculation:

  • Default formula (Lulu): (pages / 17.48) + 1.524 mm

  • Alternative formulas available for Lightning Source with various paper weights

  • Select your preferred printer in File → Preferences → Formulas tab

  • Converted to points for display

  • Example: 300 pages = 18.69 mm spine width (using Lulu formula)

  • Note: These formulas are approximations - verify with your printer’s official tools

Dustjacket Documents

Dustjackets include covers, spine, and flaps:

  • Complete dustjacket layout visualization

  • Fixed flap dimensions: 3.25” x 9” (82.55mm x 228.6mm)

  • Multiple fold lines for all edges

  • Separate margins for flaps and covers

momovu -d dustjacket -n 500 book-dustjacket.pdf
Dustjacket with flaps and fold lines

Complete dustjacket layout with flaps, spine, fold lines, and bleed lines visible

Dustjacket with bleed lines

Dustjacket showing bleed lines that extend beyond trim lines for print production

Presentation Mode

Presentation mode provides a distraction-free view:

  • Full-screen display without UI elements

  • Maintains current view mode and overlays

  • Smooth page-by-page navigation

  • Exit with F5 or Escape

Navigation in presentation mode:

  • Page Down or Space - Next page

  • Page Up or Backspace - Previous page

  • Arrow Keys - Pan view if zoomed

  • F5 or Escape - Exit presentation mode

Presentation mode (fullscreen, no UI)

Presentation mode showing pages in fullscreen without any UI elements

Starting presentation mode:

  • Press F5 while viewing a document

  • All overlay toggles remain functional

Fullscreen Mode

Fullscreen mode maximizes the window:

  • Window fills entire screen

  • Menus and toolbars remain accessible

  • Different from presentation mode

  • Toggle with F11

Fullscreen mode (maximized window)

Fullscreen mode with maximized window while keeping menus and toolbars visible

Side-by-Side View

Side-by-side view displays interior pages as spreads:

  • First page displayed alone (right side)

  • Subsequent pages in proper left/right pairs

  • Spine line visualization between pages

  • Maintains reading order

Toggle with Ctrl+D or via View menu (interior documents only).

Interior pages in side-by-side view

Interior pages displayed as a book spread in side-by-side view

Visual Overlays

All overlays enabled simultaneously

All visual overlays enabled together showing trim lines, safety margins, fold lines, barcode area, and bleed lines

Safety Margins

Safety margins indicate the safe content area:

  • Appearance: Semi-transparent blue/purple overlay (#7F7FC1)

  • Default Size: 12.7mm (0.5 inches)

  • Purpose: Show printable area safe from trimming

  • Toggle: Ctrl+M

Safety margins overlay enabled

Safety margins overlay showing the safe content area

Trim Lines

Trim lines show where pages will be cut:

  • Appearance: Black solid lines at edges

  • Purpose: Indicate final page dimensions

  • Essential for: Bleed verification

  • Toggle: Ctrl+T

Trim lines overlay enabled

Trim lines showing where the page will be cut

Spine/Fold Lines

Document-specific spine indicators:

Interior Documents: * Center spine line in side-by-side view * Purple solid line between page pairs * Toggle: Ctrl+L

Cover Documents: * Fold lines at spine edges * Purple dashed lines * Based on calculated spine width * Toggle: Ctrl+L

Dustjacket Documents: * Multiple fold lines for all edges * Purple dashed lines for all folds * Separate margins for flaps (teal) and spine (olive) * Toggle: Ctrl+L

Spine/fold lines overlay enabled

Spine and fold lines indicating where the cover will be folded

Barcode Area

Barcode placement indicator:

  • Location: Lower right of back cover

  • Appearance: Orange dash-dot rectangle with “BARCODE” label

  • Documents: Cover and dustjacket only

  • Toggle: Ctrl+B

Barcode area overlay enabled

Barcode placement area on the back cover

Bleed Lines

Bleed lines show the actual page edges for cover and dustjacket documents:

  • Appearance: Light blue solid lines (#22b5f0) at page edges

  • Purpose: Show actual page boundaries (outside trim lines)

  • Documents: Cover and dustjacket only

  • Toggle: Ctrl+R

Bleed lines appear at the actual page edges, while trim lines appear inside at the bleed offset: * Cover documents: 3.18mm (1/8”) bleed * Dustjacket documents: 6.35mm (1/4”) bleed

Bleed lines overlay enabled

Bleed lines showing the actual page edges for print production

Gutter Margins

Gutter margins provide additional space for binding:

  • Appearance: Semi-transparent green overlay (#79C196)

  • Purpose: Account for binding space that reduces usable page area

  • Documents: Interior only

  • Toggle: Ctrl+U

Gutter width automatically adjusts based on page count:

  • Less than 60 pages: No gutter needed

  • 61-150 pages: 1.5mm per page (3mm total for both pages)

  • 151-400 pages: 6.5mm per page (13mm total)

  • 401-600 pages: 8mm per page (16mm total)

  • Over 600 pages: 9.5mm per page (19mm total)

The gutter appears on the spine side of each page:

  • Left pages: Gutter on right side

  • Right pages: Gutter on left side

  • Single page view: Gutter on left side (like a right page)

Gutter and safety margins overlays in side-by-side view

Gutter margins (green) with safety margins (blue) in side-by-side view, showing how gutter extends inward from safety margins toward the spine

Copying Text from PDFs

Momovu allows you to select and copy text from PDF documents:

Selecting Text

  • Click and drag with your mouse to select text

  • Blue highlight appears over selected text

Copying Selected Text

Once text is selected, you can copy it:

  • Ctrl+C to copy selected text to clipboard

  • Edit → Copy menu option also available

  • The Copy action is only enabled when text is selected

Important Notes

  • The blue selection highlight provides visual feedback of what will be copied

  • Text selection is cleared when changing pages or documents

Find Text

Quickly locate specific text within your documents:

  • Open Find - Press Ctrl+F or use Edit → Find… menu

  • Search - Type your text in the search box that appears at the top of the window

  • Navigate results - Use F3 for next match or Shift+F3 for previous match

  • Visual indicators - All matches are highlighted in yellow, with the current match highlighted in orange

  • Search options - Toggle case sensitive, whole words, or regular expression searches using the buttons

  • Close Find - Press Escape or click the X button to close the search bar

  • The blue selection highlight provides visual feedback of what will be copied

  • Text selection is cleared when changing pages or documents

Go to Page Dialog

Quick page navigation:

  • Open: Ctrl+G or View → Go to Page…

  • Features: - Shows current page and total pages - Input validation - Enter key navigates - Escape key cancels

Sample Files

The repository includes sample PDFs for testing:

# Interior document examples
momovu -d interior samples/bovary-interior.pdf
momovu -d interior -s samples/pingouins-interior.pdf

# Jump to specific pages in interior documents
momovu -d interior -j 50 samples/bovary-interior.pdf
momovu -d interior -j 100 -s samples/pingouins-interior.pdf

# Cover examples with different page counts
momovu -d cover -n 688 samples/bovary-cover.pdf
momovu -d cover -n 126 samples/lovecraft-cover.pdf
momovu -d cover -n 574 samples/pingouins-cover.pdf
momovu -d cover -n 180 samples/quixote-cover.pdf
momovu -d cover -n 100 samples/siddhartha-cover.pdf
momovu -d cover -n 442 samples/vatican-cover.pdf

# Dustjacket examples
momovu -d dustjacket -n 688 samples/bovary-dustjacket.pdf
momovu -d dustjacket -n 574 samples/pingouins-dustjacket.pdf
momovu -d dustjacket -n 442 samples/vatican-dustjacket.pdf