Fix an article or PDF import

Try these steps when a URL will not load, a PDF has no readable text, or the source exceeds a limit.

First check that you have permission to use the source. You can import a public article URL, paste text, or upload a text-based PDF. CarouselDraft cannot read through a login or paywall.

A public URL will not load

Open the URL without signing in and check that it points to the article itself. If it loads for you but not in CarouselDraft, the site may block automated requests or render the text in the browser. Choose Paste text and add the main article text. Do not put credentials in the URL.

A PDF has no usable text

Try selecting a sentence in a PDF viewer. If you cannot select any text, use a text-based original or paste a permitted text copy; OCR is not included. For an encrypted PDF, use an unprotected copy you are allowed to share.

The input is too large or too short

Use a PDF with 1–30 pages, up to 15 MB. Source text must contain 80–120,000 usable characters. Choose a relevant section of a long report, or add supporting material to a short source. Keep any dates, definitions, and qualifications needed to understand it.

The extracted reading order looks wrong

Compare the extracted paragraphs with the original PDF pages. Columns, captions, and tables can appear out of order. If you cannot correct the reading path by choosing the right passages, paste a clean text version before generating an outline.

Choose the next step for your import error

If a public URL loads in your browser but not in CarouselDraft, paste the article text you have permission to reuse. If a PDF has no selectable text, use a text-based original or a permitted text copy. For a long report, choose a relevant section and keep its context. Retrying the same unsupported file does not make it readable.

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