================================================================================
ARABIC READER - SUPPORT PAGE
Version 2.0
================================================================================
ABOUT ARABIC READER
-------------------
Arabic Reader is an app designed to help intermediate to advanced Arabic
students practice their reading skills without the frustration. The most
challenging part about reading new texts is encountering unfamiliar vocabulary
and constantly looking up new words, which breaks your flow and takes the joy
out of reading.
Arabic Reader makes looking up new words effortless and maintains your flow,
so you spend more time reading and less time worrying about vocabulary.
================================================================================
FEATURES
================================================================================
PDF READING
-----------
• Open any Arabic PDF for reading with full zoom and navigation controls
• Multiple tabs - Open and switch between multiple PDFs simultaneously
• Thumbnail sidebar - Quick page navigation with visual previews
• Persistent reading progress - App remembers your page and zoom level
• Search - Find any text within your PDF documents
• Zoom controls - Smooth zooming from 25% to 400%
OCR TEXT SELECTION
------------------
• Single selection - Click and drag to select words, phrases, or paragraphs
• Multi-line selection - Hold Cmd (⌘) and drag across multiple lines
• Advanced OCR - Powered by Apple Vision framework
• Instant recognition - Selected text appears immediately
TRANSLATION SERVICES
--------------------
Four powerful translation tools activate when you select text:
1. Microsoft Bing Translator
- High-quality neural machine translation
- Instant Arabic-to-English translation
- Supports over 100 languages
2. Reverso Context
- Context-aware translations
- Example sentences showing real-world usage
- Multiple meaning contexts
3. Hans Wehr Dictionary
- Comprehensive Arabic-English dictionary
- Root-based lookup system
- Manual entry required (app cannot extract roots automatically)
4. Almaany Dictionary
- Arabic-to-Arabic definitions
- Perfect for advanced learners
- Native explanations without English translation
NOTES SYSTEM
------------
• Add notes directly to your PDF by selecting text and clicking "Add Note"
• Hover to view - Notes appear as popovers over highlighted text
• Persistent highlights - Selected text remains highlighted in light orange
• Notes panel - View and manage all notes from the sidebar
• Quick editing - Press Enter to save, Shift+Enter for new lines
• Right-click to delete - Context menu for easy note removal
• Automatic sync - Notes persist even after closing PDFs
VOCABULARY MANAGEMENT
---------------------
• Easy addition - Highlight any word and click "+ Vocabulary"
• Context preservation - Each word saved with context and page number
• Translation editing - Add and edit translations in the vocabulary panel
• Flashcard study mode - Practice vocabulary with built-in flashcards
• Export to CSV - Export to Excel-compatible format with UTF-8 support
• Document-specific - Vocabulary organized by PDF document
• Search and filter - Find words quickly
BOOKMARKS
---------
• One-click bookmarking - Press ⌘D or click bookmark button
• Visual indicators - Bookmark icons appear on pages and thumbnails
• Quick navigation - Jump to any bookmarked page instantly
• Bookmark browser - View all bookmarks with page numbers and zoom levels
• Easy management - Delete bookmarks with a single click
================================================================================
HOW TO USE
================================================================================
GETTING STARTED
---------------
1. Open a PDF - Click "Open PDF" in the toolbar
2. Select Text - Click "OCR Select" tool and drag over Arabic text
3. View Translations - Translation panel appears with four services
ADDING NOTES
------------
1. Select text using the OCR tool
2. Click "Add Note" in the popup
3. Type your note
4. Press Enter to save
5. Hover over highlighted text to see your note
BUILDING VOCABULARY
-------------------
1. Select a word or phrase
2. Click "+ Vocabulary" in the popup
3. Open the Vocabulary panel (⌘V)
4. Click edit to add translations
5. Use "Study Now" for flashcard practice
USING BOOKMARKS
---------------
1. Navigate to the page you want to bookmark
2. Press ⌘D or click the bookmark button
3. A bookmark icon appears on the page
4. Press ⌘⇧B to see all bookmarks
5. Click any bookmark to jump to that page
MULTI-LINE SELECTION
--------------------
1. Hold down the Cmd (⌘) key
2. Click and drag to select text
3. Continue selecting on the next line while holding Cmd
4. Release both Cmd and mouse button to finish
5. The Multi-selection icon lights up orange in the toolbar
================================================================================
TIPS & BEST PRACTICES
================================================================================
FOR BEST OCR RESULTS
--------------------
✅ Use high-quality, text-based PDFs
✅ Ensure good contrast between text and background
✅ Select complete words for better translation accuracy
✅ If a word isn't recognized, try selecting surrounding words
❌ Avoid scanned PDFs with poor quality
❌ Calligraphic or decorative text may not be recognized
ORGANIZING YOUR READING
------------------------
• Notes persist - Your data is preserved even if you move or rename files
• Use bookmarks for important pages you'll revisit
• Add notes for grammar points, translations, or personal insights
• Build vocabulary as you read to reinforce learning
OFFLINE VS ONLINE FEATURES
---------------------------
Works Offline: Requires Internet:
• Notes • Microsoft Translator
• Vocabulary • Reverso
• Flashcards • Hans Wehr
• Bookmarks • Almaany
VOCABULARY STUDY STRATEGY
-------------------------
• Add words as you encounter them while reading
• Use the flashcard study mode regularly
• Export vocabulary periodically as backup
• Review context to remember word usage
================================================================================
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
================================================================================
Q: Do I need an internet connection?
A: Partially. The app works offline for reading, note-taking, vocabulary management, and bookmarks. Translation services require internet.
Q: Can I use Hans Wehr without knowing Arabic roots?
A: Hans Wehr requires knowledge of Arabic morphology (صرف). If you don't know roots, use Microsoft or Reverso instead.
Q: Will I lose my notes if I move my PDF files?
A: No! Notes, bookmarks, and vocabulary persist even if you move or rename files.
Q: How do I export my vocabulary?
A: Open the Vocabulary panel (⌘V), click export, and save as CSV.
Q: Can I study my vocabulary?
A: Yes! Open the Vocabulary panel and click "Study Now" for flashcards.
Q: What PDF formats are supported?
A: Any standard PDF. Text-based PDFs work best.
Q: How do I delete a note?
A: Delete from the Notes panel.
================================================================================
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
================================================================================
macOS: 14.0 or later
Processor: Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or Intel
Memory: 4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB recommended
Storage: 200 MB for app installation
Internet: Required for translation services
================================================================================
PRIVACY & DATA
================================================================================
WHAT WE COLLECT
---------------
Nothing. Your data stays on your device.
WHAT WE STORE LOCALLY
---------------------
• PDF reading progress (page number, zoom level)
• Notes and highlights
• Vocabulary entries with translations
• Bookmarks
• User preferences
WHERE IT'S STORED
-----------------
All data is stored locally in your macOS Application Support folder.
No cloud sync, no remote servers. Your PDFs are never uploaded.
TRANSLATION SERVICES
--------------------
Translation services are accessed via web views. Text is sent to third-party
services (Microsoft, Reverso, etc.). See each service's privacy policy.
================================================================================
VERSION HISTORY
================================================================================
Version 2.0 - October 2025
------------------------------------
✨ Redesigned Help menu with tutorial videos
✨ Hash-based file identification (notes persist through file moves/renames)
✨ Ability to edit both the Arabic and English translations before saving it to vocabulary
✨ Enhanced bookmark visual indicators
✨ Introduced that ability to leave notes directly in the PDF
🐛 Fixed vocabulary showing across different PDFs
🐛 Fixed various UI and stability issues
Version 1.0
---------------------
🎉 Initial App Store release
• PDF reading with OCR
• Multi-service translation
• vocabulary management
• Bookmarks and search
• Flashcard study mode
================================================================================
CONTACT & SUPPORT
================================================================================
Developer: Javed Ghanniaiman
Email: jag735@icloud.com
Response Time: Typically within 24-48 hours
Before contacting support, please check this documentation and the in-app
Help menu first.
================================================================================
LEGAL
================================================================================
TERMS OF USE
By using Arabic Reader, you agree to use the app for personal, educational
purposes and comply with third-party service terms.
PRIVACY POLICY
Arabic Reader does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All
user data is stored locally on your device. No analytics or tracking.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2025 Javed G.. All rights reserved.
Arabic Reader is an independent application and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft, Reverso, Hans Wehr, or Almaany.
================================================================================
Last Updated: October 22, 2025
Version: 2.0
Feature Requests:
We welcome suggestions for new features
Please describe your use case and how it would help your Arabic learning
Email me at jag735@icloud.com for suggestions