Desktop app
Markdrop Studio is a Linux desktop app for converting files to Markdown. Drop in PDFs, Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, e-books or web links, and it converts them one after another, with a preview of each result. The conversion engine is built in, so files are converted on your computer and you need no network for local files.
Install
Download the package for your system from the latest release. On Ubuntu or Debian:
sudo apt install ./markdrop-studio_0.1.2_amd64.deb # or ..._arm64.debOther systems: see Install. Then start Markdrop Studio from your applications menu, or run markdrop in a terminal.
The window
- The top bar shows the engine status on the right. It reads starting engine… for a moment, then engine ready. A clear-list button (tooltip Clear finished) sits next to it.
- The left column has the drop area, Drop files here, or click to pick, a box that reads URL or YouTube link… with an Add button, and the list of jobs.
- The right side previews the selected job. Before you pick one, it reads Convert something and select it to preview.
Convert files
Drag one or more files onto Drop files here, or click to pick, or click it and choose files.
Each file becomes a job in the list. Markdrop Studio converts them one at a time, and each job shows whether it is waiting, converting, done or failed.
Select a finished job in the list to preview it.
Switch between Rendered, which shows the formatted text, and Raw, which shows the Markdown source.
Select the copy icon (Copy markdown) to copy the result, or the save icon (Save .md) to save it as a file. A message confirms where it was saved.
When you are done, select Clear finished to remove completed jobs from the list.
Convert a web page or YouTube video
Paste the address into URL or YouTube link….
Select Add.
A web address is downloaded and converted like a file. A YouTube link becomes the video's title, description and transcript. These two need a network connection.
Supported files
The drop area lists the common types: pdf · docx · xlsx · pptx · epub · html · …. The engine also handles older Excel files (.xls), Outlook messages (.msg), CSV and plain text, among others.
| Input | What you get |
|---|---|
| The text layer, page by page. Scanned PDFs without text give little or no output. | |
Word (.docx) | Headings, lists, tables and links. |
Excel (.xlsx, .xls) | One table per sheet. |
PowerPoint (.pptx) | The text of each slide, with notes. |
E-book (.epub) | The chapters as text. |
| Web page | The page converted to Markdown. |
| YouTube link | Title, description and transcript. |
If a conversion fails
The job shows the converter's error message in the preview. Common causes are a password-protected file, a damaged file, or a type the engine cannot read. If the status in the top bar reads engine error, the built-in engine did not start; reinstall the package and see Troubleshooting.