The FunPDF editor is your central workspace for all PDF operations. This guide explains how to navigate the interface and use its powerful features efficiently.
Understanding the Editor Interface
The FunPDF editor is organized into four main areas for maximum productivity:
Top Toolbar - Quick Controls
The toolbar at the top of the editor provides quick access to essential information and controls:
- Sidebar Toggle (☰ button) - Show/hide the left file sidebar
- File Counter - Displays total files and pages loaded (e.g., "3 files • 42 pages")
- Responsive design automatically adjusts for mobile devices
Left Sidebar - File Management
The file sidebar is your file browser and management center:
Search Files:
- Use the search bar at the top to quickly find files by name
- Real-time filtering as you type
- Clear button (×) to reset search
File List:
- All uploaded PDFs appear as lightweight cards
- Each card shows filename, page count, and file size
- Click a card to load that file’s preview in the workspace
- Click the trash icon to remove unwanted files
Add More Files:
- Click the "Add files" button at the bottom to upload additional PDFs
- Accepts only PDF files (.pdf)
- Supports multiple file selection (Ctrl/Cmd + Click)
Empty State:
- When no files are loaded, you'll see an upload prompt
- Drag and drop PDFs anywhere in the editor, or use the upload button
Mobile View:
- Tap the ☰ button to open the sidebar drawer
- Sidebar slides in from the left on small screens
Center Canvas - Workspace
The main workspace displays your PDF files and pages:
File View Mode:
- Shows each PDF as a complete document card
- Displays first page thumbnail, filename, and page count
- Perfect for managing entire documents
- Drag files to reorder them for merging
Pages View Mode:
- Displays all pages from all files as individual thumbnails in a grid
- Shows page numbers and source file names
- Ideal for detailed page-level operations
- Virtual scrolling handles thousands of pages smoothly
- Drag and drop pages to reorder across documents
Switching Views:
- Toggle between File View and Pages View using toolbar buttons
- Your selections and edits persist when switching views
Page Selection:
- Click pages to select them (orange border indicates selection)
- Multiple selection: Ctrl/Cmd + Click for individual pages
- Selection tools in toolbar: All, Invert, Odd Pages, Even Pages, Custom Range
Visual Feedback:
- Selected pages show orange borders and checkmarks
- Page count indicator shows "X of Y pages selected"
- Drag and drop shows visual insertion indicators
Right Sidebar - Tool Settings
The right sidebar updates based on the tool you pick from the top toolbar:
Tool Selection & Settings:
- Choose a tool using the toolbar buttons (e.g., Merge, Split, PDF to Word)
- The sidebar instantly switches to the corresponding settings panel
- All adjustments happen here without losing your workspace context
Processing Controls:
- Action buttons stay at the bottom of each panel for consistency
- Progress indicators appear during long operations, with cancel options when available
Results Panel:
- After a task finishes, results appear back in the sidebar
- Use the Download button or "Add to Workspace" to keep editing
- File details (name, size, pages) help you verify the outcome
Tips for Efficient Editing
File Management
- Rename files before upload - Easier to identify in the editor
- Use search - Quickly find specific files when you have many loaded
- Remove unused files - Keep workspace clean by deleting files you don't need
Page Selection
- Use selection tools - Toolbar buttons (All, Odd, Even, Custom Range) are faster than manual clicking
- Preview before processing - Always review selections in Pages View before running operations
- Work in batches - For very large projects, process 20-30 files at a time
Performance
- Close other tabs - Free up browser memory for large PDF operations
- Use File View for file-level work - Faster rendering than Pages View with many pages
- Switch to Pages View only when needed - For precise page-level selection and reordering
Privacy and Security
- Client-side processing - Tools like Merge, Split, Watermark, and PDF ↔ Images process entirely in your browser
- Automatic deletion - Server-processed files are automatically deleted after 2 hours
- Manual cleanup - Clear workspace before closing browser for added privacy
- Use incognito mode - For sensitive documents, use private browsing
Browser Compatibility
FunPDF editor works best on modern browsers:
Fully Supported:
- Google Chrome 90+ (recommended)
- Microsoft Edge 90+ (recommended)
- Firefox 88+
- Safari 14+ (macOS and iOS)
Mobile Support:
- Chrome for Android
- Safari for iOS/iPadOS
- Responsive design adapts to all screen sizes
For Best Experience:
- Use latest browser version
- Desktop/laptop recommended for complex projects
- Minimum 4GB RAM for processing large files
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Files Won't Upload
- Ensure files are PDFs (check extension)
- Check file size (200MB maximum)
- Try drag-and-drop if button doesn't work
- See How to Upload Files for detailed troubleshooting
Editor Feels Slow
- Close unnecessary browser tabs
- Reduce number of files loaded simultaneously
- Use File View instead of Pages View when possible
- See Why Is Processing So Slow? for optimization tips
Tool Not Working
- Verify file format is supported
- Check error messages for specific issues
- Try refreshing the page and re-uploading
- See Why Did My Conversion Fail? for solutions
Next Steps
Now that you understand the editor interface:
Visit the FunPDF Editor now to start processing your PDFs!