Viewing Documents and Images on DigitalNC

DigitalNC has a few types of image viewers, depending on the type of file you’re viewing. Below are some tips for each type when you’re on a desktop or laptop. We also have instructions on how to print from the viewers.

Viewer for Most Non-Newspaper Items

For most non-newspaper items, the viewer will look like this. To zoom into and out of an image use the scroll wheel on your mouse. To move the image around, click on the image with your mouse and drag it back and forth.

Screenshot of the Rhododendron 1982 yearbook in the TIND viewer with different numbered features

[1] For multi-image items you’ll see thumbnails on the left side of the screen in a sidebar. You can use these to navigate. You can also collapse this sidebar if you don’t need it using the small double arrows.

[2] The top arrow buttons allow you to page back and forth. There is a small text box that allows you to type in an image number to skip to a particular image. The image numbers may not coincide to the printed page numbers. 

[3] In the upper right you can change your view to one page up, two pages up, or to view thumbnails of many images at once.

[4] A “More Information” bar on the right side of the screen will be blank for most items. All of the information about the item can be found on the main page beneath the viewer. 

[5] Click this to download the page or pages currently shown within the viewer.

[6] The share button gives you a URL that will take you directly to the page or pages currently shown within the viewer.

[7] At the bottom there is a text box for searching for keywords within the item. This is useful if the text is printed. Many of our handwritten items do not have transcriptions so searching them is not possible at this time.

[8] This button will expand the view out to your full screen. To shrink the viewer back down press the ESC key or click the shrink icon in the lower right.

Once you do a search, the places where that keyword occurs will show up with little markers along the line at the bottom of the screen. In the screenshot below I’ve searched on the name Robert.

Screenshot of Rhododendron yearbook after searching on Robert

You can click on the markers (shown with red arrows above) to see what was found or page through the results using the link at the bottom that says “Next Result.” This search doesn’t currently support phrases, so if you put multiple words in it will look for all of the words. To perform a new search, click on the link at the bottom that says “Clear.”

Viewer for City Directories and Other PDFs

For most city directories as well as a few PDF items, the viewer will look like this.

Screenshot of a City Directory with features of the viewer marked.

[1] To zoom into and out of an image use the + / – buttons at the top. You can use your mouse wheel or the scroll bar on the right to scroll through a document.

[2] Click on the magnifying glass at the top if you’d like to search for keywords within the item. This is useful if the text is printed. Many of our handwritten items do not have transcriptions so searching them is not possible at this time.

[3] There is a small text box that allows you to type in an image number to skip to a particular image. The image numbers may not coincide to the printed page numbers. 

[4] If you’d like to print or download, you’ll see icons at the upper right. Different browsers will act differently after you click the printer icon – some will download the file first while others will appear to go straight to printing. This works on the entire item, so if it’s made up of multiple images all of the images will be downloaded and printed. There isn’t a way within the viewer to print image by image at this time.

[5] A menu in the upper right includes additional options like making the viewer full screen and rotating images.

[6] For multi-image items you’ll see thumbnails on the left side of the screen in a sidebar. You can use these to navigate. You can also collapse this sidebar if you don’t need it using button that looks like a mini version of the viewer.

Newspaper Viewer

Screenshot of a newspaper in the viewer with features marked

[1] To zoom into and out of an image use the + / – / home buttons at the top or the scroll wheel on your mouse. To move the image around, click on the image and drag it back and forth. The inset thumbnail in the upper right shows where you are on the page.

[2] To expand the viewer to full screen use the icon in the upper left. To shrink the viewer back down press the ESC key or click the same icon again.

[3] You can page within an issue or from one issue to the next using the arrows at the top. 

[4] The “Text” link will take you to the newspaper’s full text. Note that this text was generated by computer software. It may be incorrect, out of order, or generally look like nonsense.

[5] You can download the entire issue by clicking the “PDF” button. 

[6] You can download the page you’re looking at in the viewer by clicking the “JP2” button. JP2 is a less common file type; you may need to download a free browser to view it.

[7] If you would like an image of only part of a page, zoom in so that part is shown in the viewer and then click the “Clip Image” button. Another browser tab will open up with that zoomed in image which you can download and save by using the right click menu available through your browser.

Updated January 2023