Toombler User Manual

What is Toombler?

Toombler is a free tool that turns a PDF you already store in Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive into an embeddable page-flip flipbook. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is stored: Toombler keeps the share link and renders the file.

Toombler turns PDF files you already store in the cloud into interactive page-flip flipbooks — the kind that look and feel like real books. There is no software to install and nothing to upload. Your PDF stays where you put it: in your own Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive, under your own control.

Toombler is completely free. It is supported by a single advertisement shown on the inside cover of each flipbook.

Where your PDF can live

• Google Drive — share links from drive.google.com
• Dropbox — share links from dropbox.com
• OneDrive — personal links (1drv.ms) and work or school links (SharePoint)

Common use cases

• Product catalogues and brochures
• Annual reports and whitepapers
• Magazines and newsletters
• Portfolios and presentations
• E-books and manuals
• Event programmes and menus
• Real estate and property brochures

How to make a flipbook from a PDF

Five steps: share the PDF, sign in, paste the link, copy the embed code, paste it on your site. It takes about two minutes and costs nothing.

Step 1 — Share your PDF

Put your PDF in Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive if it isn't there already, then create a share link that anyone can open:

• Google Drive — right-click the file, Share → Anyone with the link → Viewer.
• Dropbox — Share → Copy link, with access set to “Anyone with this link”.
• OneDrive — Share → Copy link, and set it to “Anyone with the link” rather than specific people.

Step 2 — Sign in at toombler.com

Go to toombler.com and sign in with either a Google or a Microsoft account. Toombler reads only the account identifier from that sign-in. It has no access to your files: it never asks for a storage permission, and it cannot see anything in your Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive beyond the one file whose link you paste in yourself.

Step 3 — Create your flipbook

In your dashboard, paste the share link into the URL field, give your flipbook a title, and click Add flipbook. Toombler checks that the link really is public and really is a PDF, then creates the flipbook straight away.

Step 4 — Copy your embed code

Click Embed code on any flipbook card in your dashboard. Choose your preferred embed format and copy the code.

Step 5 — Embed it on your website

Paste the embed code into your website, CMS, or platform. The flipbook loads automatically.

What you can do from the dashboard

Rename, set a PIN or expiry date, generate a QR code, publish to the gallery, re-link to a new file, and see how often each flipbook is opened.

The Toombler dashboard at toombler.com/app gives you full control over all your flipbooks.

Rename inline

Click the pencil icon next to any title to rename it in place — no page reload needed.

View counter

Each card shows a live view count — how many times the flipbook has been opened by visitors.

QR code

Generate a print-ready QR code for any flipbook. Download as PNG and use in print, at events, or on posters.

Expiry date

Set a date after which the flipbook displays an “expired” message. Useful for time-limited promotions or document versions.

PIN protection

Lock any flipbook with a numeric PIN of 4 to 8 digits. Visitors must enter the PIN before viewing. After 10 wrong attempts the viewer is locked for 15 minutes.

Public gallery toggle

Show or hide your flipbook on the public gallery at toombler.com/gallery. Gallery cards show a live preview and an “Open flipbook” button.

Re-link

If your share link changes — after re-uploading the file, or when you move it to a different provider — use Re-link to update it without losing your embed code, your settings, or your view count. You can re-link a Drive flipbook to Dropbox or OneDrive and back again.

Settings panel

Click Settings on any card to expand all embed options — navigation, sound, autoplay, background, zoom, and more. Changes are saved per flipbook.

Search & filter

Use the search bar at the top of the dashboard to filter your flipbooks by title.

Pagination

If you have many flipbooks, they are paginated — 20 per page.

How to embed a flipbook on your website

Five ways, all using the same viewer: an iframe, a JavaScript snippet, a web component, an oEmbed URL, or a direct link. The iframe works everywhere.

Toombler supports five ways to embed your flipbook. All methods use the same underlying viewer and support all URL parameters described in section 5.

iframe (recommended)

Paste directly into any HTML page. Works everywhere — WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow, Wix, Shopify, Ghost, and custom sites.

<iframe src="https://toombler.com/embed?id=YOUR_ID" width="760" height="540"
frameborder="0" allowfullscreen loading="lazy" title="My Flipbook"
style="border:none;border-radius:10px"></iframe>

JS Snippet

A lightweight script that auto-resizes the flipbook to fit its container. Ideal for Squarespace, Webflow, or any site where you control the HTML.

<div data-toombler-id="YOUR_ID" style="width:100%;max-width:760px"></div>
<script src="https://toombler.com/embed.js" async></script>

Web Component

Use as a custom HTML element in React, Vue, Angular, or any modern framework.

<toombler-flipbook id="YOUR_ID" width="760" height="540"></toombler-flipbook>
<script src="https://toombler.com/embed.js" type="module"></script>

oEmbed URL

Paste a Toombler viewer URL directly into WordPress, Ghost, or any oEmbed-compatible platform. The platform auto-embeds the flipbook.

https://toombler.com/viewer?id=YOUR_ID

Direct viewer link

Share a standalone page for your flipbook. Visitors can open it directly in their browser.

https://toombler.com/viewer?id=YOUR_ID

Flipbook embed options and URL parameters

Every embed accepts URL parameters for navigation, sound, autoplay, background, zoom, thumbnails and more. The full reference is below.

All embed methods accept URL parameters that control the flipbook's behaviour. The dashboard Settings panel generates these automatically, but you can also add or edit them by hand in the embed URL.

Example — iframe with sound enabled, thumbnails shown, starting on page 3:

https://toombler.com/embed?id=YOUR_ID&sound=1&thumbs=1&start=3

Embedding a flipbook in WordPress

The official plugin adds a Gutenberg block, a shortcode and native oEmbed. No scripts load on the front end — just one responsive iframe.

The official Toombler WordPress plugin makes it easy to embed flipbooks in any WordPress site — no coding required. It supports three embedding methods: the Gutenberg block, the shortcode, and native oEmbed.

• Gutenberg block — drag the Toombler Flipbook block into any page and get a live preview inside the editor.
• Shortcode — works with the Classic Editor, Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, and any page builder that supports shortcodes.
• Fully responsive — the flipbook scales to any container, on desktop, tablet and mobile.
• Zero page weight — no scripts load on the front end. Just one responsive iframe.
• PIN & expiry support — managed in your Toombler dashboard, honoured by the plugin.
• Completely free — free and open source (GPL). A free Toombler account is all you need.

Installation

Option A — WordPress Plugin Directory (recommended)

• Log in to your WordPress admin panel.
• Go to Plugins → Add New Plugin.
• Search for “Toombler Flipbook”.
• Click Install Now, then Activate.

Option B — Manual upload

• Download the plugin ZIP from toombler.com/wordpress-plugin.
• In WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin.
• Choose the downloaded ZIP file and click Install Now.
• Click Activate Plugin.

Finding your Flipbook ID

Your Flipbook ID is the unique identifier that links the WordPress embed to your flipbook. You can find it in the Toombler dashboard:

• Open your Toombler dashboard at toombler.com/app.
• Click the Settings button on any flipbook card.
• Open Configure & Embed.
• Copy the value after id= in the embed URL — that is your Flipbook ID.

WordPress: oEmbed, shortcode and parameters

Paste the viewer URL for the simplest route, or use the shortcode when you work in the Classic Editor, Elementor, Divi or WPBakery.

Method 1 — oEmbed (simplest)

The oEmbed method requires no shortcode or block — just paste the flipbook URL into the WordPress editor and it auto-embeds.

• In the block editor, add a new block and choose Embeds → Toombler, or paste the URL directly into a paragraph block and press Enter.
• WordPress fetches the embed and renders a live flipbook preview.

Paste your flipbook viewer URL:

https://toombler.com/viewer?id=YOUR_FLIPBOOK_ID

Method 2 — Shortcode

Add the Toombler shortcode anywhere in a post or page — including Classic Editor, Elementor, Divi, and WPBakery.

Basic shortcode:

[toombler id="YOUR_FLIPBOOK_ID"]

With optional parameters:

[toombler id="YOUR_FLIPBOOK_ID" width="760" height="540" nav="1" sound="1"
brand="1" fs="0" dl="1" bg="dark"]

Shortcode parameter reference

WordPress: the block, plain HTML, and what you need

The Gutenberg block gives a live preview inside the editor. No plugin? The built-in Custom HTML block works just as well for a one-off embed.

Method 3 — Gutenberg Block

After installing the plugin, a Toombler Flipbook block appears in the block inserter (+ button). This is the most visual embedding method — you see a live preview of the flipbook directly inside the editor.

• In the block editor, click + to open the block inserter.
• Search for “Toombler” and click the Toombler Flipbook block.
• Paste your Flipbook ID in the sidebar panel.
• Adjust width, height, and other options in the block sidebar.
• You will see a live preview of the flipbook immediately in the editor.

No plugin? Use Custom HTML

If you prefer not to install a plugin, you can embed a flipbook using WordPress's built-in Custom HTML block. Just paste the iframe embed code from your Toombler dashboard:

<iframe src="https://toombler.com/embed?id=YOUR_FLIPBOOK_ID" width="760"
height="540" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen loading="lazy"
style="border:none;border-radius:10px"></iframe>

Plugin requirements

Why a flipbook opens and closes like a real book

By default the cover starts closed and opens on the first page turn. For the back cover to close properly the page count has to be even.

By default (closed=1), your flipbook starts with the cover closed — showing only the front page on the right side, like a real closed book. When the reader turns the first page, the cover opens with a realistic flip animation. At the end of the book, the back cover closes the same way.

This creates a complete book metaphor: the reader picks up the book, opens it, flips through, and closes it again.

Even page count requirement

For the book to close properly, the total number of pages must be even (front cover + inner spreads + back cover). If your PDF has an odd number of pages, Toombler automatically adds a branded back-cover page showing a small thumbnail of your first page and the Toombler logo.

Flipbook keyboard shortcuts and viewer controls

Arrow keys and space turn pages; F is fullscreen, N night mode, D download, T contents, ? the shortcut list. Drag a page corner to flip by hand.

The full-screen viewer at toombler.com/viewer supports keyboard shortcuts for power users.

Mouse / touch controls

• Click or tap the page edge or navigation arrows to flip
• Click and drag a page corner to flip manually
• Hover over a page corner to see the curl animation
• Pinch to zoom on touch screens (when zoom=1)
• Scroll to zoom in/out on desktop

How to password-protect a flipbook with a PIN

Lock any flipbook with a 4- to 8-digit PIN. Visitors see a lock screen first. PINs are stored as salted PBKDF2 hashes and can never be read back.

Protect any flipbook with a numeric PIN to restrict access. Visitors see a lock screen before the flipbook loads and must enter the correct PIN to continue.

• PIN length: 4 to 8 digits.
• PINs are stored as PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 hashes (100,000 iterations, with a random salt per flipbook). Toombler never stores your PIN in plain text and cannot recover it — if you forget it, set a new one.
• After 10 wrong attempts from the same address, that flipbook locks for 15 minutes.
• PIN protection applies to all embed methods: iframe, JS snippet, viewer URL, and more.
• Remove or change the PIN at any time from the dashboard settings panel.

What a PIN does not do

A PIN protects the flipbook, not the file. The share link at your storage provider stays exactly as public as you made it, so anyone holding that link can still open the PDF there. For genuinely confidential material, restrict the file at the source instead.

How to make a flipbook expire on a date

Set an expiry date and the viewer shows an “expired” message after it. Clear the date to bring the flipbook back.

Set an expiry date on any flipbook. After that date, the viewer shows an “expired” message and the flipbook is no longer viewable. The flipbook is still in your dashboard — clear the expiry date to make it available again.

Common use cases: time-limited promotions, seasonal catalogues, event programmes, and draft documents with review deadlines.

How to add a clickable table of contents

If your PDF has bookmarks, Toombler turns them into a Contents panel in the viewer automatically. Here is how to add bookmarks in Word, Acrobat and InDesign.

If your PDF contains bookmarks (also called an outline or navigation panel), Toombler automatically extracts them and displays a Contents panel in the viewer. Clicking an entry jumps directly to that page.

How to add bookmarks to your PDF

• Microsoft Word: use Heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, and so on) and export to PDF — Word creates bookmarks from headings automatically.
• Adobe Acrobat: View → Navigation Panels → Bookmarks → Add bookmark.
• InDesign: File → Export → Interactive PDF → Include Bookmarks.
• LibreOffice: use headings and export as PDF with bookmarks enabled.
• Google Docs: export to PDF — outline headings become bookmarks automatically.

Publishing a flipbook without your own website

Switch on the public gallery and your flipbook gets a page on toombler.com that you can share as a portfolio link.

Toggle Show in public gallery on any flipbook card to list it on toombler.com/gallery. The gallery shows a live flipbook preview for each card, along with the title and an “Open flipbook” link.

The public gallery is a good way to share your work without needing your own website. You can use the gallery URL as a portfolio page, or link to individual flipbooks from social media or email.

Once a day, Toombler checks whether the source file of every listed flipbook can still be reached. If it cannot — the file was deleted, moved, or set back to private — the flipbook is removed from the gallery after three failed checks in a row. Your flipbook keeps working through its own link and embed code; only the listing goes. You will see a red update link button on the card in your dashboard. Fix the link and switch the gallery toggle back on to be listed again.

Night mode and accessibility

The viewer dims pages for low light, works without a mouse, and labels every control for screen readers.

The viewer includes a Night mode (moon button, or the N key) that dims the pages for comfortable reading in low light. Night mode applies a slight sepia filter to reduce blue light.

Accessibility features

• All viewer buttons have aria-labels for screen reader compatibility
• Keyboard navigation fully supported (no mouse required)
• Page counter announces current position (“Pages 3–4 of 12”)
• High-contrast mode supported via OS settings

Flipbook troubleshooting and common questions

Blank pages, files that will not load, download buttons, page limits, mobile behaviour and changing the PDF later — answered below.

Q: My flipbook shows a blank page or a “Couldn't load” error.

A: Make sure the file is shared so that anyone with the link can view it — in Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive alike. Files shared with named people only, or restricted to an organisation, cannot be loaded. Also check that you copied the whole link.

Q: The flipbook loads but some pages are blank.

A: This can happen with very large PDFs or PDFs with complex graphics. Try reducing the file size by flattening layers or lowering image quality before uploading.

Q: Can I remove the advertisement?

A: Not currently. The single ad shown on the inside cover is how Toombler stays free for everyone. It does not appear anywhere else in the viewer.

Q: Can visitors download my PDF?

A: If the Download button is enabled (dl=1, the default), visitors can download the original PDF. Set dl=0 in the embed URL or in the dashboard settings to hide the button. Note that your share link is public either way, so a determined visitor could still reach the file at its source.

Q: How do I update my PDF content?

A: Replace the file at its source, keeping the same share link. The flipbook picks up the new content automatically — nothing to change in Toombler.

Q: My share link changed. Will my embed code break?

A: No. Use the Re-link button in your dashboard to point the flipbook at the new link. Your embed code, settings and view count are preserved. You can also re-link to a different provider entirely.

Q: Which provider loads fastest?

A: Dropbox, marginally. Dropbox allows the reader's browser to fetch the PDF directly, while Google Drive and OneDrive do not, so those two are relayed through Toombler. The difference is small; file size matters far more.

Q: Is there a page limit?

A: No hard limit, but very large PDFs (500+ pages, or files over 50 MB) load slowly. Consider splitting long documents into chapters.

Q: Does Toombler work on mobile?

A: Yes. The viewer is fully responsive; on mobile, swipe to turn pages. Enable mscroll=1 if the flipbook sits in a scrollable page and you want visitors to scroll rather than flip by accident.

Q: Can I use Toombler without a Google account?

A: Yes — the dashboard accepts Google or Microsoft sign-in. Visitors who view an embedded flipbook need no account at all.

Q: Is Toombler GDPR compliant?

A: Toombler uses Google Analytics (with anonymised IPs) and Google AdSense. If your website targets EU visitors, mention Toombler in your cookie notice. See toombler.com/privacy for full details.

Q: The embed is too small or too large on my page.

A: Adjust the width and height attributes of the iframe, or use the JS snippet, which auto-resizes to fit its container (set the container width in CSS).

Q: How do I share a flipbook on social media?

A: Use the Share button in the viewer to copy a direct link. Toombler pages include Open Graph tags, so the link preview shows your thumbnail image.

What Toombler stores about you

An opaque account ID, your flipbook titles and share links, embed settings and a view counter. Not your name, not your email, not your PDF.

Toombler is designed to be privacy-minimal. Here is exactly what is stored and what is not.

What Toombler stores (per account)

• An opaque account identifier from Google or Microsoft — not your email address and not your name
• Flipbook title and the share link you pasted
• Embed settings per flipbook
• View count per flipbook (a simple integer counter)
• A PIN hash, if you set a PIN (PBKDF2, salted — never the PIN itself)
• Login date, once per user per day, for internal statistics

What Toombler never stores

• Your email address or name — these stay in your browser session only
• The content of your PDF — your file never leaves your own storage
• IP addresses of your readers
• Any passwords (sign-in is handled entirely by Google or Microsoft)
• Cookies for tracking across sites

How your PDF reaches the reader

Toombler holds the link, not the file. Where the provider allows it, the reader's browser fetches the PDF straight from the source and nothing passes through Toombler at all. Google Drive and OneDrive block cross-origin requests, so for those the bytes are relayed through Toombler and streamed on — never written to disk, never cached, never stored.

Third-party services used

Copyright: who is responsible for what

Toombler does not host your document, so you remain the publisher of everything you put in a flipbook — and the person who needs the rights to publish it.

Toombler does not host your documents. It stores a link to a file that lives in your own Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive, and renders that file for readers. You remain the publisher of everything you put into a flipbook.

Your responsibility

• Only create flipbooks from material you own, or have permission to publish.
• Publishing a flipbook publicly — on your site or in the Toombler gallery — is an act of publication. Licences that allow private use often do not allow this.
• Stock images, fonts and third-party content inside your PDF carry their own licence terms.

Reporting infringing content

If you believe a flipbook infringes your rights, email abuse@toombler.com with the flipbook URL and a description of the work. Toombler can remove the flipbook so it no longer renders. Because Toombler does not hold the file, only its owner can take down the document itself at its source.