PDF workflow
Study Guide Maker from PDF files
Turn a readable course PDF into one structured Study Guide, so you can see what to study first, what to review next, and where each point came from in the source.
Before you upload your PDF
Choose a course handout, assigned reading, or text-based lecture PDF. Try selecting and copying a paragraph in your PDF viewer: readable text is a useful first check, although it does not guarantee that every page will parse correctly.
Each file can be up to 25 MB. Free supports up to 3 files and 75 source units per Guide; one PDF page counts as one unit. Combined text limits also apply. Check Free and Pro limits before uploading a long reading.
Use files you have permission to process. See file privacy and retention for how your materials are handled.
From PDF to a study plan you can check
Upload a readable course PDF
Start with the lecture handout, reading, or other course PDF you want to organize before studying.
Review source evidence and gaps
Folveta keeps material it cannot reliably extract visible as an evidence gap instead of filling it in.
Study the organized guide
Use the priorities, concepts, definitions, relationships, and source references to decide what to review next.
What your PDF Study Guide can include
- Study First, Study Next, and Review If Time priorities.
- Key concepts, definitions, processes, and relationships from the uploaded material.
- Common confusions, visible material gaps, and page references for spot-checking.
- An optional Quick Check that maps a sampled wrong answer back to the relevant guide section.
Use the page references to check the guide
- Choose an important definition or explanation in the generated guide.
- Read its source excerpt and page reference, then open that page in your original PDF.
- Check any conditions, exceptions, equations, or diagram labels that may change the meaning.
- Keep unresolved points on your review list and add missing course material before relying on them.
A reference helps you verify a claim; it does not prove that the guide covers the entire PDF. Use the study guide review checklist to check what is ready and what still needs work.
If a topic needs more explanation, copy the reusable study guide topic template into your notes and complete it alongside the original PDF.
Questions about making a study guide from a PDF
What if my PDF is scanned or image-only?
Folveta may be unable to extract reliable text from scanned pages. Use a text-based copy or run OCR with a tool you trust, check the extracted text, and upload the readable version. Unreadable pages can remain visible gaps; Folveta does not promise complete diagram or handwriting recognition.
Can I combine more than one PDF?
Yes, within your plan's file, source-unit, and text limits. Group related material from the same course topic so you can check the resulting guide against a clear source set. Avoid duplicate copies of the same reading.
Is this a PDF summary or a study guide?
The result organizes supported material into topics, priorities, explanations, and review targets. It can also include definitions, relationships, common confusions, and source references. The guide stays in Folveta; the original PDF remains your reference.
What should I do after reading the guide?
Try answering the practice prompts without looking, or take the optional Quick Check. Return to the relevant guide section after a mistake, then verify it in the PDF. A small question sample cannot assess everything in your course.
Ready to make a guide from your PDF?
Start with one readable course PDF in the Study Guide Maker. Folveta also supports Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and common image files. Review plans and monthly limits or read more about the product boundaries before you begin.