Getting Started with Open PDF and TODO.txt

Open PDF and TODO.txt are free, open source Windows apps. This guide walks through downloading the portable programs and trying them with your own local files. The available builds are x64; testing has been on Windows 11.

Choose your tool

• Open PDF reads, searches, organizes, and makes light edits to PDFs. It can keep plain-text notes inside the document.
• TODO.txt manages priorities, projects, and due dates in a text task file. Task notes are stored separately in local application data.

Download and verify

Use the download button on the relevant product page. No installer or Python setup is needed. Save the executable in a folder you can write to, such as Documents or a USB drive; both apps keep supporting files beside the program.

Before opening the executable, compare its SHA-256 hash with the checksum shown in its asset details on the latest GitHub release. The product page links to that release. Open PowerShell in the download folder and run the command for your app:

Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 .\open-pdf.exe
Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 .\TodoTxt.exe

If the value differs, do not run that file; return to the linked GitHub release and download it again. Both apps are currently unsigned, so Windows may show a publisher warning. Verify the source and checksum before deciding whether to run them.

Try Open PDF

1. Open open-pdf.exe and choose File → Open.
2. Select a sample PDF and try search, thumbnails, and zoom.
3. Use Save As when you want to keep an edited copy of a document.

The Open PDF manual explains the rest of the interface, including editing and notes. OCR requires a separate Tesseract installation.

Try TODO.txt

1. Open TodoTxt.exe and check the task-file path in Settings.
2. If you change the path, restart the app.
3. Choose New, enter a task title, and add a priority or due date if helpful.
4. Choose Save, then mark a task complete when it is finished.

You can inspect the configured task file in a text editor. Keep the app’s separate notes data too when moving your setup. Check the latest release notes and manual for current completion and recurring-task behavior.

The TODO.txt manual covers settings and task details.

Report a problem

Use the Contact page or the relevant GitHub issue tracker. Include the app version, Windows version, what you tried, and what happened. Avoid attaching private documents or sensitive information. Feedback and bug reports are welcome; response times vary.

Release references

Latest Open PDF release · Latest TODO.txt release