Title: Flipset – PDF Viewer, PDF Embed, 3D Flipbook & Document Library
Author: The Readscope
Published: October 27, 2026
Last modified: October 29, 2026
---
Search plugins
# Flipset – PDF Viewer, PDF Embed, 3D Flipbook & Document Library
By [The Readscope](https://profiles.wordpress.org/itsmanzur/)
[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/flipset.1.1.0.zip)
* [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/flipset/#description)
* [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/flipset/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/flipset/#installation)
* [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/flipset/#developers)
[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/flipset/)
## Description
Flipset embeds PDF documents in posts, pages and widgets with a PDF.js build that
ships inside the plugin. Use a shortcode, a Gutenberg block, a page-builder widget,
or paste a PDF link on its own line. There is no CDN, no external service and no
API key: rendering happens in the visitor’s browser, from files on your own site.
**Why Flipset?**
* **Fast and local** – bundled PDF.js, nothing loaded from a CDN, optional lazy
loading.
* **Accessible** – keyboard controls, screen reader page announcements, and a check
that flags PDFs without accessibility tags.
* **3D flipbook** – page, scroll, spread and flipbook views, all in the free plugin.
* **Searchable PDF text** – WordPress site search can find words inside your embedded
PDFs.
* **Works where you build** – Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi and Beaver Builder.
* **Translation-ready** – WPML and Polylang support; translations come from translate.
wordpress.org.
#### Features
**Viewer**
* Shortcode `[flipset file="https://example.com/document.pdf"]` and a “Flipset
Viewer” Gutenberg block with a Media Library picker and first-page preview.
* Paste a direct `.pdf` link on its own line to embed it. PDF attachment pages
can show the viewer too (a setting).
* Zoom, fit page or width, rotate, find with match count, page thumbnails, document
outline, hand tool, fullscreen, presentation mode, print and download.
* Selectable text and working links inside the PDF; password-protected PDFs ask
for the password.
* Light, dark and sepia reading themes.
* Start page, `#page=4` deep links and last-page resume on the visitor’s device.
* Show or hide download, print, search, share and other controls per embed or site-
wide.
* Share dialog with X, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, email and copy link.
* Clear message with a direct link when a PDF on another domain blocks cross-origin
access (CORS).
**Flipbook and view modes**
* Single page, continuous scroll, two-page spread and 3D flipbook (`view="flip"`).
* Realistic page curl with a short page-turn sound generated in the browser, no
audio files.
* Spread and flipbook fall back to a single page on narrow screens.
* Touch support: pinch to zoom and swipe to turn pages.
**Document library**
* `[flipset_library]` shortcode and “Flipset Library” block: a grid of your Media
Library PDFs with first-page thumbnails, search and pagination; a document opens
in place.
* Flipset Docs & Features lists your PDFs with preview, search-index status and
accessibility status, and copies shortcodes.
* Shortcode Builder with live preview and one-click presets; save an embed once
and reuse it as `[flipset id="1"]` or with the block.
**SEO and search**
* PDF text is extracted in your browser from Flipset Docs & Features and stored
on your site, so posts and pages that embed a PDF match in WordPress search.
* Open Graph and Twitter image from the PDF’s first page, unless an SEO plugin
already provides one.
* Schema.org DigitalDocument structured data.
* A plain link to the PDF is shown when JavaScript is off.
**Accessibility**
* Labelled toolbar buttons, visible keyboard focus and full keyboard control.
* Page changes are announced to screen readers; reduced-motion preference is respected.
* Flipset Docs & Features marks PDFs that are not tagged for accessibility.
**Builders and integrations**
* Native Elementor, Divi and Beaver Builder widgets for the viewer and the library.
* WPML and Polylang: a translated Media Library PDF is swapped in for the current
language.
* Script exclusions for WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, Autoptimize, LiteSpeed Cache
and SiteGround Optimizer, so PDF.js is not minified, combined or delayed.
**Developer friendly**
* Public filters and actions, and DOM events such as `flipset:ready` and `flipset:
pagechange`, documented in `docs/HOOKS.md`.
* WP-CLI: `wp flipset status`, `wp flipset reindex`, `wp flipset clear_cache`.
* Clean uninstall: settings and Flipset data are removed, your media is kept.
#### Extending Flipset
Flipset exposes public WordPress filters and actions (see Developer Hooks below)
so add-ons and themes can extend the viewer without modifying core code. No paid
features are sold or locked in this plugin.
#### External services
Flipset does not contact any server on its own. It has no analytics, no licence
check, no update ping and no remote scripts, fonts or images. The visitor’s browser
opens an outside address only when the visitor clicks one of these links:
* **Share dialog (X, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp)** – the “Share” button in the
viewer builds share links. Nothing is sent until the visitor clicks one; then
the address of the current page (optionally with the page number) and, for X
and WhatsApp, the document title are passed to that network in the link:
- X (Twitter), `twitter.com/intent/tweet` – [Terms](https://twitter.com/en/tos),
[Privacy](https://twitter.com/en/privacy)
- Facebook, `facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php` – [Terms](https://www.facebook.com/terms.php),
[Privacy](https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/)
- LinkedIn, `linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite` – [Terms](https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement),
[Privacy](https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy)
- WhatsApp, `api.whatsapp.com/send` – [Terms](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/terms-of-service),
[Privacy](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/privacy-policy)
* **Email share** uses a `mailto:` link and opens the visitor’s own email program;
no server is involved.
* **“Powered by Flipset” credit** – off by default. If an administrator turns it
on under Flipset Settings Credit link, a normal link to https://flipset.thereadscope.
com is shown under each viewer. The plugin sends nothing there; the visitor’s
browser makes an ordinary page request only if the link is clicked.
* **PDFs hosted on another domain** – if you embed a PDF from another website,
the visitor’s browser downloads it directly from that host, which receives the
visitor’s IP address. PDFs in your own Media Library are served by your own site.
#### Third-party libraries
* **PDF.js 3.11.174** by Mozilla – Apache License 2.0. Bundled in `assets/vendor/
pdfjs/` as `pdf.min.js` and `pdf.worker.min.js`, the official minified build
from the `pdfjs-dist` 3.11.174 release. Upstream project: https://github.com/
mozilla/pdf.js – the human-readable source for this version is at https://github.
com/mozilla/pdf.js/tree/v3.11.174. Licence text: https://www.apache.org/licenses/
LICENSE-2.0
* **Inter** by The Inter Project Authors – SIL Open Font License 1.1. Bundled in`
assets/fonts/inter/` (a Latin-subset, weight-axis-only variable `woff2` made
from the official font with `subset-font`, plus `OFL.txt`) and used only on the
Flipset screens in wp-admin. Upstream project: https://github.com/rsms/inter –
licence text: https://openfontlicense.org
* No other third-party library or font is bundled. The plugin’s own JavaScript
and CSS are shipped unminified.
### Developer Hooks
Add-ons can extend the viewer through public WordPress filters and actions. The
full list, parameters and copy-paste examples are in `docs/HOOKS.md` in the GitHub
repository: https://github.com/itsmanzur/flipset/blob/main/docs/HOOKS.md
### Privacy
Flipset does not collect any visitor data, sets no cookies, and has no analytics
or tracking. The plugin has no remote requests of its own (see “External services”).
What the plugin stores on your site:
* **Settings** – one option, `flipset_settings`.
* **Saved embeds** – a private custom post type, `flipset_embed`, with the embed’s
configuration in post meta.
* **PDF data** – post meta on your PDF attachments (extracted text, page count,
indexed flag, accessibility flag, thumbnail ID) and a combined search index on
posts and pages that embed a PDF.
* **Thumbnails** – first-page PNG images generated in your browser and saved in
the Media Library.
* **Admin notice state** – one user meta value per administrator who dismisses
the welcome notice, and a short-lived transient used for the redirect after activation.
In the visitor’s own browser, Flipset uses `localStorage` (not cookies) to remember
the last page read (`flipset:page:`) and the chosen reading theme (`flipset_theme`).
These values never leave the browser, and the visitor can clear them at any time.
The share feature only builds links; it contacts no one until the visitor clicks
a link.
Deleting the plugin from the Plugins screen removes the settings, saved embeds,
Flipset post and user meta, the transient and the thumbnails it generated. Your
uploaded PDFs and other media are kept.
### Credits
Flipset is developed and maintained by itsmanzur.
Source code: https://github.com/itsmanzur/flipset
Website: https://flipset.thereadscope.
com PDF.js by Mozilla (Apache-2.0).
Support / Bug reports: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/flipset/ and https://
github.com/itsmanzur/flipset/issues
## Screenshots
[⌊Front-end viewer with the compact toolbar (page, zoom, find, theme, share, fullscreen).⌉⌊
Front-end viewer with the compact toolbar (page, zoom, find, theme, share, fullscreen)
.⌉[
Front-end viewer with the compact toolbar (page, zoom, find, theme, share, fullscreen).
[⌊The 3D flipbook view.⌉⌊The 3D flipbook view.⌉[
The 3D flipbook view.
[⌊Flipset dashboard with the setup checklist.⌉⌊Flipset dashboard with the setup
checklist.⌉[
Flipset dashboard with the setup checklist.
[⌊Shortcode Builder with live preview and saved embeds.⌉⌊Shortcode Builder with
live preview and saved embeds.⌉[
Shortcode Builder with live preview and saved embeds.
[⌊Docs & Features screen listing Media Library PDFs with previews and search/accessibility
status.⌉⌊Docs & Features screen listing Media Library PDFs with previews and search/
accessibility status.⌉[
Docs & Features screen listing Media Library PDFs with previews and search/accessibility
status.
[⌊Settings with a live width and height preview.⌉⌊Settings with a live width and
height preview.⌉[
Settings with a live width and height preview.
[⌊Gutenberg "Flipset Viewer" block with a Media Library picker and first-page preview.⌉⌊
Gutenberg "Flipset Viewer" block with a Media Library picker and first-page preview
.⌉[
Gutenberg “Flipset Viewer” block with a Media Library picker and first-page preview.
[⌊Front-end document library grid ([flipset_library]).⌉⌊Front-end document library
grid ([flipset_library]).⌉[
Front-end document library grid (`[flipset_library]`).
## Blocks
This plugin provides 2 blocks.
* Flipset Viewer Embed a PDF document with the Flipset viewer.
* Flipset Library A browsable grid of PDFs from the Media Library.
## Installation
1. Upload the `flipset` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install the plugin from
the Plugins screen.
2. Activate the plugin. You will land on the Flipset dashboard.
3. Upload a PDF in Media, or open Flipset Docs & Features.
4. Copy a shortcode, create a test page, or insert the “Flipset Viewer” block in the
editor.
## FAQ
### Does this send my documents to a third-party server?
No. Rendering happens in the visitor’s browser with the PDF.js library bundled in
this plugin. See “External services” above for the few links that open outside sites
only when clicked.
### How do I use the 3D flipbook?
Use `[flipset file="https://example.com/document.pdf" view="flip"]`, choose “3D
FlipBook” in the View setting of the Flipset Viewer block, or switch the view from
the More tools menu in the toolbar. On narrow screens (under 640 px) it shows a
single page.
### Shortcode or block – which should I use?
They render the same viewer. Use the block in the editor if you want a file picker
and first-page preview. Use `[flipset file="..."]` in the classic editor, widgets
or PHP templates. Elementor, Divi and Beaver Builder have Flipset Viewer and Flipset
Library widgets that use the same renderer.
### Can I save an embed and reuse it?
Yes. Build it in Flipset Shortcode Builder, save it, and use `[flipset id="1"]`
or the block’s saved-embed ID. Edit the saved embed later and every page that uses
it updates.
### Does it work with WPML or Polylang?
Yes. Translate the PDF in the Media Library (WPML Media Translation or Polylang’s
media option). Flipset swaps the file URL to the current language’s attachment.
You can also put a different PDF on each language’s page. `wpml-config.xml` ships
with the plugin so the block’s `file` and `title` attributes are translatable.
### The viewer is blank after enabling a cache plugin
Flipset excludes its PDF.js scripts from minify, combine and delay in WP Rocket,
W3 Total Cache, Autoptimize, LiteSpeed Cache and SiteGround Optimizer, and marks
those tags `data-no-optimize`. If another optimizer still concatenates them, add`
flipset-viewer.js`, `pdf.min.js` and `pdf.worker.min.js` to that plugin’s exclude
list.
### A PDF loads on my own site but fails from another domain
The file URL must allow the page origin to fetch it. Cross-origin PDFs need CORS
headers (`Access-Control-Allow-Origin`) on the file host. Files in your own Media
Library work without extra setup.
### Large PDFs feel slow
Flipset draws the visible page (or a two-page spread). Continuous scroll renders
nearby pages only. Very large files still need to be downloaded once, so keep uploads
reasonably sized when you can.
### How do I show a gallery of all my PDFs?
Add `[flipset_library]` to a page, or insert the Flipset Library block. Visitors
see a grid of Media Library PDFs and can open any document in the Flipset viewer
without leaving the page. Optional attributes: `columns`, `per_page`, `orderby` (`
date`, `title` or `modified`), `order` (`ASC` or `DESC`) and `search` (`true` or`
false`).
### How do library thumbnails get generated?
The first time you open Flipset Docs & Features, the plugin draws each PDF’s first
page in your browser (bundled PDF.js) and saves a PNG in the Media Library, parented
to that PDF. After that the library reuses the stored image. Thumbnails are not
regenerated on every page load.
### What does “Untagged” mean on the Documents list?
The PDF has no accessibility tags (its MarkInfo dictionary is not marked). Screen
readers may miss headings and reading order. Export a tagged PDF from Word, InDesign
or Acrobat. Flipset does not rewrite the file. You can turn the check off under
Flipset Settings Search and sharing.
### Does Flipset include translations?
Flipset is translation-ready (text domain `flipset`). Translations are delivered
through translate.wordpress.org and installed automatically by WordPress for your
site language. Contributions are welcome at https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/
wp-plugins/flipset/ .
### Does WordPress search find text inside PDFs?
Yes. Opening Flipset Docs & Features extracts text from each PDF (the same visit
that generates thumbnails) and stores it so posts and pages that embed those files
match in the site search. The library search uses that text too. Password-protected
PDFs are skipped, and scanned image-only PDFs have no text to find. Turn it off
under Flipset Settings Search and sharing.
### Why does a shared page show a PDF cover image?
If the page embeds a Flipset PDF and a first-page thumbnail exists, Flipset adds
Open Graph and Twitter image tags using that cover. If Yoast SEO, Rank Math or a
similar SEO plugin already sets an image, Flipset does not override it. You can
disable this under Flipset Settings.
### Can I use my own cover image for a PDF?
Yes. Open Flipset Docs & Features, choose **Change cover** under a document and
pick any image from the Media Library. That image is then used in the library grid,
as the Open Graph and Twitter image, and in the structured data. **Reset cover**
goes back to the generated first page. Your image is never deleted by Flipset.
### How do I hide download or print?
Flipset Settings has checkboxes for the site default. A single embed can override
with `[flipset file="..." download="false" print="false"]`, or use the matching
toggles on the block. The `hide` attribute hides other controls, for example `hide
="share,fullscreen"`.
### Can I open the viewer on a specific page?
Yes. Use `[flipset file="..." page="4"]`, set Start page on the block, or link to
the page with `#page=4`.
### Can I read EPUB ebooks?
EPUB files are not supported in this version. Flipset focuses on fast, accessible
PDF rendering, 3D flipbooks and document libraries.
### Does Flipset show a “Powered by” link?
No, not unless you ask for it. The credit link is off by default. If you would like
to support the plugin, tick Flipset Settings Credit link and a small “Powered
by Flipset” link appears under each viewer.
### Does the free plugin collect analytics?
No. There is no tracking pixel, no remote API and no phone-home. See the Privacy
section for what is stored.
### Where do I get support or report a bug?
Use the support forum at https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/flipset/ or open an
issue on GitHub: https://github.com/itsmanzur/flipset/issues
## Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
## Contributors & Developers
“Flipset – PDF Viewer, PDF Embed, 3D Flipbook & Document Library” is open source
software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ The Readscope ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/itsmanzur/)
[Translate “Flipset – PDF Viewer, PDF Embed, 3D Flipbook & Document Library” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/flipset)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/flipset/), check out
the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/flipset/), or subscribe to
the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/flipset/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/flipset/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 1.1.0
* New: choose your own cover image for any PDF. In Flipset Docs & Features, use“
Change cover” (and “Reset cover” to go back to the first page). The cover is
used in the document library, the Open Graph and Twitter image, and the structured
data.
* Improved: cleaner admin screens. One type scale, the Inter font bundled with
the plugin (no request leaves your site), consistent weights and spacing, and
better text contrast.
* Improved: Shortcode Builder tab labels no longer get cut off, and the cards on
the Features screen line up.
* Fixed: tagged PDFs were reported as “Untagged” in the accessibility check.
* Added: an intro video on the plugin page.
* Developer: new `Flipset_Thumbnails::get_cover_id()` and `get_generated_id()`;`
get_thumbnail_id()` now returns the custom cover when one is set.
#### 1.0.0
* Initial release.
* PDF viewer with a bundled PDF.js build, shortcode, Gutenberg block and direct
PDF URL embed.
* Page, continuous scroll, two-page spread and 3D flipbook views; light, dark and
sepia themes.
* Document library shortcode and block, Shortcode Builder with saved embeds, and
a Docs & Features screen.
* PDF text search in WordPress search, Open Graph image and structured data.
* Accessibility: keyboard control, screen reader announcements and tagged-PDF check.
* Elementor, Divi and Beaver Builder widgets; WPML and Polylang support; translation-
ready.
* Public hooks and WP-CLI commands for developers.
## Meta
* Version **1.1.0**
* Last updated **4 days ago**
* Active installations **Fewer than 10**
* WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
* Tested up to **7.1.4**
* PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
* Tags
* [document library](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/document-library/)[flipbook](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/flipbook/)
[pdf](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pdf/)[pdf embed](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pdf-embed/)
[pdf viewer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pdf-viewer/)
* [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/flipset/advanced/)
## Ratings
No reviews have been submitted yet.
[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/flipset/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/flipset/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ The Readscope ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/itsmanzur/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/flipset/)