# How it works

PDF Embed puts a PDF document straight onto a Confluence page so readers can page through it without downloading anything. It adds a single macro, "PDF embed (Capable)", which shows the document in a built-in viewer with zoom, page navigation and optional download, pop-out and fullscreen buttons. The PDF can come from a public web address, from a file already attached to the page, or from a file you upload to the page while configuring the macro. There is nothing to sign in to and no account to connect: attachments are read in the reader's own browser using their Confluence permissions, and pu

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## In this section

[Three ways to supply a PDFPublic web address, an existing page attachment, or a file uploaded to the page from inside the macro editor. Uploading automatically switches the macro to attachment mode pointing at the new file.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/three-ways-to-supply-a-pdf.html)[Slider and Scroller layoutsSlider shows one page at a time with previous/next and a page-number box and enables Initial Page. Scroller shows every page in one scrolling column and enables Height instead.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/slider-and-scroller-layouts.html)[Zoom, including pinchToolbar zoom in/out plus trackpad and touch pinch. The macro frame stays the same size and the document scrolls inside it, so zooming never pushes the page layout around.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/zoom-including-pinch.html)[Pop-out and fullscreen viewingOptional buttons that open the same viewer in a Confluence-wide modal (large for popup, maximum for fullscreen).](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/pop-out-and-fullscreen-viewing.html)[Download buttonOptional. Saves the file locally from inside the sandboxed macro frame.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/download-button.html)[Selectable textOptional text layer so readers can select, copy and browser-search the document text.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/selectable-text.html)[Plain-English load errorsFailures are shown as readable messages (password protected, not a valid PDF, not found, too large, host blocked the request, rate limited, permission denied) and most of them steer the author towards attaching the file to the page instead.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/plain-english-load-errors.html)[Capable Sites exportWhen a page is published to a Capable Site, the PDF is copied into the published site at build time and rendered there. Zoom, Slider page navigation and Download carry over.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/capable-sites-export.html)

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## Related

[MacrosThe macros themselves.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/macros.html)

[AdministrationWhat an admin controls.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/administration.html)

[TroubleshootingWhen it does not.](https://help.gocapable.com/pdf-embed/troubleshooting.html)

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_How it actually behaves._