For downloading and installation on your Android device refer to the ElmerPad Download page.

ElmerPad - User Instructions

ElmerPad is a minimalist distraction-free Android writing environment inspired by dedicated writing devices and keyboard-centric workflows such as the Alphasmart Neo and DOS/Unix text editing tools. It is designed for fast, keyboard-driven writing with a focus on stability and simplicity. The keyboard workflow is intuitive and easy to learn.

Key Features

• Immersive Mode: Full-screen writing with no system distractions.
• 8 Independent Buffers: Work on multiple drafts simultaneously.
• Scratchpad Buffer: Character-limited buffer with fast save or purge.
• Color Themes: Classic and e-ink color themes. Custom user themes.
• Split-Screen Mode: View and edit any pair of buffers side-by-side.
• View Control: Adjustable fonts and margins; toggle margin visibility.
• Collapsible Text Mode: Compress sections of text to icons.
• Bookmarks: Mark specific text positions and jump to them instantly.
• Persistent Storage: Text, cursor positions, and settings are automatically saved.
• Outline Manager: Organize your project into folders and linked files.
• Typewriter Mode: Keep your focus fixed on a single line.
• Multimedia Support: Display images and reference PDFs side-by-side with your text.
• Code Support: Syntax highlighting for HTML and CSS.

Menus

• Buffers (Alt + B): Select named buffers 1-8.
• Bookmarks (Ctrl + Alt + K): Select from bookmark list.
• Settings (F10): Cursor, Font, Margin, Theme, and Scratchpad settings.
• Outline Manager (F12): Select from file list, add folders and files.

Keyboard & Mouse Shortcuts

Buffer & Project Management

• Alt + 1 to Alt + 8 OR F1 to F8: Switch to the corresponding buffer instantly.
• Ctrl + B: Cycle forward through buffers 1-9.
• Ctrl + Alt + B: Cycle backward through buffers 1-9.
• Alt + B: Open the Buffer Selection Menu (shows filenames).
• F12: Open Outline Manager Selection screen.
• Ctrl + F12: Open Outline Manager Setup screen.
• F9: Open Scratchpad buffer (with char limit).
• Ctrl + F9: Flush Scratchpad to log file and clear.
• Alt + F9: Flush Scratchpad without saving.
• Ctrl + Alt + F9: Open Scratchpad Settings.
• Alt + S: Open the Split Screen Menu.
• Alt + N: Swap focus between panels in Split Mode.
• Alt + R: Toggle Markdown Render mode (for `.md` files).
• F11: Toggle Typewriter Mode (Fixed-line scrolling).
• Ctrl + F11: Recenter Typewriter focus at current cursor.
• Alt + X: Minimize app (Move to background).
• Alt + F4 / Ctrl + Alt + X / Esc: Exit app (Prompts for confirmation).
• Ctrl + N: Clear the current buffer (Prompts for confirmation).

File Operations

• Ctrl + S: Save current buffer to file.
• Ctrl + O: Open file (.txt, .md, .html, .css, .jpg, .pdf).
• Ctrl + W: Close the current buffer (Prompts to save if modified).
• Ctrl + Shift + S: Save current buffer as a new file.
• Ctrl + P: Export selected buffers to a single PDF file.

Navigation & Editing

• Arrow Keys: Move by character or Terminal Line.
• Shift + Alt + Up/Down: Select (Highlight) text by terminal line.
• Ctrl + Alt + Up/Down: Jump to start of previous/next Sentence.
• Ctrl + Up/Down: Jump to start of previous/next Paragraph.
• Ctrl + Left/Right: Jump to previous/next Word.
• Alt + Left/Right: Jump to beginning/end of line.
• Alt + Up/Down: Jump to beginning/end of buffer.
• Alt + C: Jump to center of viewport.
• Alt + V + Left/Right: Adjust vertical viewport offset (5px steps).
• Shift + F12: Find cursor (Hold to blink cursor location).
• Mouse Wheel: Scroll text (or Zoom if an image is loaded).
• Pinch Gesture: Zoom in/out on images.
• Ctrl + C / X / V: Copy / Cut / Paste.
• Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Alt + Z: Undo / Redo (100 steps).
• Ctrl + F / R: Open Find or Replace overlay.
• Ctrl + K: Bookmark current line.
• Ctrl + Alt + K: Open Bookmark Menu.
• Ctrl + Shift + K: Jump to last bookmark and delete it.
• Ctrl + Q: Collapse selected text (Folding).
• Esc: Exit Menu, Split Mode, Render Mode, or Typewriter Mode.

View Options

• Ctrl + = (or Ctrl + +): Increase font size.
• Ctrl + -: Decrease font size.
• Ctrl + T: Cycle forward through color themes.
• Ctrl + Alt + T: Cycle backward through color themes.
• *Tip: Press Alt + M within the Theme Menu (F10) to toggle the margin in the preview.*
• Ctrl + H: Toggle Help visibility (Instructions).
• Alt + H: Toggle Status Bar visibility.

Margin (Viewport) Settings

• Access via Margin Selection (F10). adjust horizontal and vertical margins
• Show/Hide Margins
• Apply current buffer settings, including font and theme, globally (to all buffers)

Available Color Themes

• Access via Theme Settings (F10). Includes standard high-contrast, console, and paper-like themes.
• Custom Themes: Select "Custom..." at the bottom of the theme list to create your own by entering RGB values.

Available Fonts

• Access via Font Selection (F10). Supports Monospace (Consolas, Roboto Mono), Serif (Times New Roman, Georgia), and Sans-Serif (Arial, Verdana).

Status Line

• The bottom right shows: Filename | Pos: [Word Position] | Words: [Total Count].
• In Typewriter mode, a "T" indicator appears in the bottom left.
• In Split Mode, focus is indicated by « (Left) or » (Right).

Tips

• Connect a Bluetooth keyboard for a "Digital Typewriter" experience.
• Use Split Mode (Alt + S) to reference a PDF or Image while you write.
• Use the Outline Manager (Ctrl + F12) to manage chapters or complex project structures.

e-ink Devices

• support was added for Supernote e-ink toggle in Cursor menu (F10)