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User Guide

Alberta Chronicle Digital

A digital flipbook platform for reading and publishing newspaper issues. This guide covers everything you need to know based on your role.

There are three roles in this app. Each role has different levels of access.

Reader (User)

Default role for all visitors. Read-only access — no account required to browse issues.

  • Browse and read all published flipbooks
  • Search issues by title, description, or date
  • Use the Issues dropdown to pick any issue
  • Share flipbooks via social media or copy link
  • Subscribe to receive email notifications of new issues
  • Zoom, pan, and expand individual pages
Publisher

Signed-in users with the Publisher role. Can manage their own content.

  • Everything a Reader can do
  • Upload and publish new flipbook issues (PDF)
  • Archive their own issues (hide from public)
  • Republish previously archived issues
  • Delete their own issues permanently
  • Notify subscribers about new issues via email
  • Preview the app in Reader Mode
  • Upload a custom intro logo
Admin

Full access to everything in the platform. Can manage all content and all users.

  • Everything a Publisher can do
  • Manage ALL flipbooks (from any publisher)
  • Archive, republish, or delete any issue
  • View and manage the full subscriber list
  • Remove subscribers
  • Access all settings and configurations
1

Browse the Home Page

The main carousel shows all published flipbooks. Swipe or use the arrows to navigate between issues.

2

Search for an Issue

Use the search bar at the top to filter by title, description, or date (e.g. "05-2026").

3

Use the Issues Dropdown

Click the "Issues" button (newspaper icon) next to the search bar to see all available issues in a list and jump directly to one.

4

Open a Flipbook

Click the "Open Issue" button on the active cover card to enter the reader.

5

Subscribe for Updates

Click "Subscribe" in the top right header, enter your email, and confirm to receive notifications when new issues are published.

Desktop

1

Turn Pages

Click the hand icons on the left/right of the book, or use the ← → arrow keys on your keyboard.

2

Jump to a Page

Click any thumbnail in the strip at the bottom of the viewer to jump directly to that page spread.

3

Zoom In / Out

Use the Zoom In (+) and Zoom Out (−) buttons in the top bar, or hold Ctrl/Cmd and scroll. Double-click the book to toggle between 1× and 1.5× zoom.

4

Pan When Zoomed

Click and drag the book to pan around when you're zoomed in.

5

Fullscreen Mode

Click the Maximize button (top right bar) for a fullscreen view. Press Esc or click Minimize to exit.

6

Expand a Page

Click the "Expand" button in the secondary bar to open the current page in a large lightbox for detailed reading.

Mobile

1

Swipe to Turn Pages

Swipe left or right on the page. Use the large amber arrow buttons at the bottom.

2

Pinch to Zoom

Use two fingers to pinch in or out to zoom. Drag one finger to pan while zoomed.

3

Double-Tap to Zoom

Double-tap anywhere on the page to zoom in on that spot. Double-tap again to zoom back out.

4

Expand Page

Tap "Expand" in the secondary bar to open the page in a full-screen lightbox.

1

Tap "Social Share"

Click or tap the "Social Share" button in the secondary bar (below the main header) inside the viewer.

2

Copy the Link

Tap the 'Copy' button next to the URL to copy the direct link to your clipboard.

3

Share via Social Media

Choose from Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, or Twitter/X. On mobile, a 'Share via…' option will also use your device's native share sheet.

Requires Publisher or Admin role. Sign in first.

1

Click "New"

Tap the amber "New" button (+ icon) in the top right header.

2

Fill in the Details

Enter the Title (required), an optional Description, and the Date of Issue (required).

3

Upload a PDF

Click the dashed upload area and select your PDF file from your device. The cover image is automatically generated from the first page.

4

Click "Create"

The flipbook will be uploaded, processed, and published live for all readers to see.

5

Notify Subscribers

Open Settings → Paper Issue, then click the Send (arrow) icon next to the issue to email all subscribers.

Auto-archiving: If you publish a new issue with the same title as an existing one, the old issue is automatically archived — not deleted.

Click the gear icon (⚙) in the header to open Settings. It has four tabs:

📄 Paper Issue Tab

Lists all currently active (public) issues you own.

  • Download — saves the PDF to your device
  • Notify — emails all subscribers about this issue
  • Archive — hides the issue from public view (recoverable)
  • Delete — permanently removes the issue

📦 Archives Tab

Lists your archived (hidden) issues. Only you can see these.

  • Download — saves the PDF
  • Republish — makes the issue live again for readers
  • Delete — permanently removes the issue

👥 Subscribers Tab

View and manage all email subscribers. Admins can remove subscribers from this list.

🖼 Logo Tab

Upload a custom logo image (PNG, JPG, SVG, WEBP) that plays as an animated intro before any flipbook opens. You can replace or remove it at any time.

1

Click "Reader" in the Header

This button (book icon) is visible to Publishers and Admins in the top right.

2

Preview as a Regular Reader

All publisher controls disappear so you can see exactly what a visitor sees.

3

Click "Exit" to Return

Click the Exit button (or the same toggle) in the header to switch back to your publisher view.

💡 Quick Tips

  • • Use the Issue Selector dropdown in the Viewer (top bar) to switch between issues without going back to the Home page.
  • • On mobile, the Past Issues section on the Home page shows archived issues in a swipeable carousel (publishers only).
  • • Keyboard shortcuts in the Viewer: ← → to navigate pages, + / − to zoom in/out.
  • • Published flipbook covers are auto-generated from the first page of your PDF — no manual cover upload needed.

Alberta Chronicle Digital · User Guide