View, search, and download documents
Bridge uses different viewers for different file types. A file's available tools depend on its format, processing state, your permissions, and the platform you are using.
Open and navigate a document
- Open the correct project and its Documents area.
- Select the file you want to read.
- Use the available page controls to move through a multipage document.
- Use zoom or Fit to width to make the page comfortable to read.
- Check the document name and version before using it as the basis for new work.
On the web, some controls appear in Document tools when there is less room. On iPhone and iPad, the native viewer supplies touch navigation and its own toolbar. A control being available for one format does not mean it is available for every file.
Find text within an open document
When text search is available in the web viewer:
- Open Find in document.
- Enter a word or a short phrase.
- Use Next match and Previous match to move between results.
This searches the open document's available text. It is different from finding a file by name or using Bridge's broader search. Advanced cross-system search is in beta.
Scanned pages can depend on successful text recognition. If a word is not found, check the page visually and try a shorter term. Image quality, unusual text, and processing state can affect recognized text. Search results are not a substitute for reviewing the source.
Why a preview can appear in stages
For supported documents, cloud processing prepares page images, overviews, and detailed image tiles. The viewer can display an overview and load more detail as you inspect the page. It can also prepare active and nearby pages for navigation.
This reduces the source-document rendering the device must perform in that viewing path. Other formats or viewers may render the source locally instead. A cloud preview is not evidence that every file uses the same viewer or resolution settings.
Processing can retain additional copies, thumbnails, metadata, and recognized text. These stored outputs contribute to workspace usage alongside the original file. Their size varies; there is no fixed multiplier based on the upload size. See storage usage.
Prepare iPhone or iPad for offline work
Download the work you need before losing the connection.
- While connected, open the project's Documents area.
- Use Download project for the project, Download this folder inside a folder, or Download for Offline for an individual document where offered.
- Wait for the download to complete.
- Open the needed documents to confirm they are available on the device.
- Continue with downloaded work offline, then reconnect to receive updates and synchronize supported pending changes.
Project and folder download subscriptions can bring down new files and updates while connected. The mobile menu describes the scope before you change it. Remove downloads removes the device's managed download selection; it is different from deleting the project's cloud document.
The web browser's normal cache is not the mobile app's managed offline download library. Use an explicit file download when you need a separate local copy from the web.
See mobile downloads and offline work for more about preparing the device and reconnecting.
Troubleshooting
| What happens | What to try |
|---|---|
| Preview is not ready | Reopen after processing completes; use the original download if your permissions allow it. |
| A scanned word is missing from search | Inspect the page and try another term; recognized text may be incomplete. |
| A mobile file is unavailable offline | Reconnect and finish its download before trying again offline. |
| The offline version is older | Reconnect and allow the latest version to download before continuing an edit. |
| A tool is missing | Check the file format, current version, available access, and the document tools menu. |