PDF Beacon Support
Product: PDF Beacon: Quick Search
Version: 1.0.0
Platforms: iOS, iPadOS, and Android
Contact: support@aerologx.net
Contact Support
Email support@aerologx.net with your device model, OS version, and a short description of the issue. Avoid attaching confidential PDF contents unless required.
Adding PDFs
- Use the App’s import / file picker flow to add PDFs stored on your device or available through the system file provider.
- You choose which files enter the library. PDF Beacon does not crawl your entire device automatically.
Indexing
- After import, the App builds a local text index so library search can find documents.
- Large libraries or large PDFs may take longer. Keep the App open or allow background work to finish when prompted by the OS.
- On-device OCR may run for pages with weak or missing text layers when OCR is enabled.
Library search
- From the main library, enter a query and submit with Enter / Search to run an explicit search.
- Library search is designed for first-hit document discovery (finding matching PDFs), not for paging every hit across every file in one continuous open-PDF session.
Search inside an open PDF
- Open a PDF, enter a query, then submit with Enter / Search to start an explicit in-document search.
- Full-line search results show surrounding sentence context so you can pick the right hit quickly.
- Results publish progressively. Ready-ahead continues discovering matches so Next can stay responsive on large documents.
- Use Next / Previous to move between ready results. Do not assume every possible match is instantly listed at submit time on very large PDFs.
Folders, move, rename, sort
- Create folders to organize documents (single-level folder organization in the current library stage).
- Move PDFs between folders, rename items, and change sort order using the library controls.
- Deleting a folder may archive contained documents rather than permanently erase originals immediately—check trash/archive behavior in the App.
Highlights, notes, bookmarks, and Apple Pencil
- Tap a word to highlight it, translate it, define it, add a note, or save it to Vocabulary.
- Highlight All marks every occurrence of a term and can attach one translation and note to the whole group.
- Bulk remove highlights: remove many matching highlights at once, undo the change, or keep the learning note.
- Notes and page notes: attach a note to a highlight group, or add typed notes on PDF pages.
- Bookmarks: save page references you want to return to.
- Apple Pencil on supported iPad devices: write, draw, highlight, and erase on PDF pages. Fingers remain available for scrolling and navigation. PDF Beacon does not convert handwriting into text and does not offer handwriting recognition.
- Highlight, note, page-note, and Pencil data stay on your device.
Study, translation, and dictionary
- Translate: tap a word or short phrase and use Translate. On supported Apple devices this uses Apple’s system Translation framework.
- Define: Apple’s system dictionary interface. PDF Beacon does not own or republish dictionary content.
- Vocabulary and Study: save terms, then review them with flashcards. Saved translation and note data is local.
- Available translation languages depend on Apple’s system Translation support and installed language models. Not every language is always available.
Search history
When search history is enabled, recent queries can be stored locally on the device. Clear history from App settings if available, or remove the App / clear App data to wipe local state.
Large PDF performance
- Very large PDFs (for example thousands of pages) may take longer to index and to discover later search matches.
- Allow progressive ready-ahead to continue while you review early results.
- If the device is low on memory, close other apps and retry.
Export
Annotation print/export is not a completed feature in the current MVP. Keep original PDFs and any critical notes backed up outside the App.
- Clean / source PDF: Your imported source PDF remains the original file the App stores; overlay marks do not rewrite digitally signed PDF bytes.
- Annotated export: Printing or exporting annotations as a finished annotated PDF is not shipped yet—treat it as planned, not available today.
Subscriptions and entitlement
- Monthly Premium only. Optional auto-renewing PDF Beacon Premium Monthly, billed through Apple App Store (StoreKit) or Google Play. For technical support the store product ID is
com.aerosoft.pdfbeacon.premium.monthly. - Trial: Eligible customers may see a 3-day introductory free trial when the store offers it. The trial is not promised to every user. Billing starts when the trial ends unless you cancel in time.
- Restore Purchases: Settings → Restore Purchases asks Apple (or Google Play) to restore or refresh eligible purchases. It does not create a new subscription. Stay signed into the same store account that bought Premium, with a network connection. If restore still fails, reboot, update the App, and try again.
- Manage Subscription: Active Premium subscribers can use Manage Subscription in Settings to open Apple’s (or Google’s) subscription management flow and cancel or change billing there.
- Subscription not recognized: Confirm Premium is active in App Store / Apple ID → Subscriptions (or Google Play → Payments & subscriptions), then Restore Purchases. If the store shows active but the App does not, email support@aerologx.net with your device model and OS version — do not send PDF contents.
- Offline use: Verified Premium entitlement is cached locally so core Premium features can work offline within the App’s rules, including any local grace window. Entitlement is verified only by StoreKit or Google Play Billing. Restoring purchases, refreshing after expiry, starting a new subscription, or verifying refund/revocation requires internet access to Apple or Google.
- No account: PDF Beacon has no login and no developer subscription server. To stop billing, cancel in your store account settings; to remove local data, delete items in the App, clear App data, or uninstall.
PDF and OCR privacy
PDF files, extracted text, OCR results, search queries, bookmarks, notes, annotations, Apple Pencil handwriting, page notes, vocabulary, study data, and saved translations stay on your device. They are not uploaded to a PDF Beacon developer server. See the Privacy Policy.
Premium, Free, and billing FAQ
- What is Premium? Monthly Premium unlocks higher library limits and Premium capabilities (such as larger libraries, Highlight All, saved translations and notes, Vocabulary, and Study, plus OCR where enabled for Premium). Exact paywall comparison is shown in the App from store-localized product info.
- What is Free? The App is free to download. Free use is limited conceptually to about 3 PDFs, 100 pages per PDF, and 1 folder, plus core local search within those limits. Free does not include Premium-only tools.
- How does the trial work? Eligible customers may see a 3-day introductory free trial when the store offers it. Billing starts when the trial ends unless you cancel in time. Eligibility is determined by Apple or Google.
- Which plan is available? Monthly Premium only — a single auto-renewing monthly subscription. Prices are shown by the store for your country—this page does not list fixed prices.
- How do I cancel? Use Manage Subscription in the App, or Apple ID / App Store subscription settings, or Google Play → Payments & subscriptions. Cancel before the trial or renewal period ends to avoid the next charge.
- How do I Restore Purchases? Settings → Restore Purchases while signed into the same store account that bought Premium, with an internet connection. Restore refreshes eligible purchases; it does not create a new subscription.
- New device? Install PDF Beacon, sign in with the same store account, then Restore Purchases. Your PDFs are local—copy or re-import documents as needed; the store restores entitlement, not your file library.
- Trial not shown? Trials are only for eligible customers and only when configured in the store. Prior subscribers, family/sharing edge cases, or missing store offers can hide the trial.
- Payment failed? The store may enter billing retry or grace. Update your payment method in Apple or Google account settings, then reopen the App or Restore Purchases. PDF Beacon does not charge cards directly.
- Does subscription end delete my files? No. Expiry or cancellation does not delete imported PDFs, indexes, folders, bookmarks, notes, or annotations. Premium-only actions may become blocked until you renew.
- Refunds? Request refunds through Apple or Google using their refund process and policies. Emailing support@aerologx.net can help with product questions but cannot override store refund decisions.
Troubleshooting
- Search finds nothing: confirm indexing finished; try a shorter query; verify the PDF has a text layer or allow OCR to complete.
- Import failed: confirm the file is a PDF and that the App has permission to read it.
- Purchase / restore: requires internet and a valid App Store or Google Play account. See Subscriptions and entitlement above.
- Unexpected data loss: check trash/archive; restore from your own file backups. The App does not provide developer cloud backup of PDFs.