Frontmatter identifies the contract
pdfmd: "1.0" selects the grammar. Source and coordinate entries define document-wide facts. No optional extension is required by this small example.
Level 4 · Example
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One cross-page paragraph as PDFMD
This small record combines logical structure with physical provenance. It is illustrative syntax, not output verified against a particular PDF.
Illustrative source
What appears on the pages
Paragraph 12 begins on physical page 2. It contains a bold requirement and a short embedded list. A footer interrupts the painted sequence. The sentence continues on page 3 and cites footnote “a”. The logical object is one paragraph even though its source fragments are not contiguous.
Canonical record
The example file
---
pdfmd: "1.0"
id: example-procedure
source:
sha256: 0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
pages: 3
coordinates:
unit: pt
origin: top-left
bbox: left,top,right,bottom
required_features: []
---
{#p12 p=2 bbox="72,640,520,724" state=inferred confidence=.91}
12. The operator **must stop the press** before these checks: (a) isolate power; (b) verify zero motion. {{page:2-3}} The signed result is retained.[^note-a]
:::source-map {for=#p12}
first 0:100 @2 [72,640,520,724]
second 101:140 @3 [72,74,520,112] join=space
order first #footer-2 #number-2 page:2-3 #header-3 second
:::
:::footnote {#note-a p=3 bbox="72,744,510,786" marker=a state=confirmed}
Retain the check sheet for the prescribed period.
:::Interpretation
What each construct says
The attribute line describes the paragraph assertion
#p12 supplies a stable ID. Page and box locate the first source fragment. State and confidence qualify the paragraph decision; they do not certify the entire document.
Ordinary Markdown carries ordinary meaning
The paragraph number and compact (a)/(b) enumeration remain text. Double asterisks carry bold appearance. The footnote call uses familiar Markdown syntax. A block list would use normal Markdown list items.
The page token records a physical transition
{{page:2-3}} marks adjacent physical source indexes. It does not split the logical paragraph or claim that “2” and “3” are printed labels.
The source map explains the join
Zero-based text ranges point to page fragments. The event order records the footer, number, transition, and next header between those fragments. join=space states how the text was joined.
The note remains addressable
The call targets #note-a. The directive retains its page, geometry, printed marker, and assertion state.
Derived reading view
A renderer may hide the physical record
12. The operator **must stop the press** before these checks:
(a) isolate power; (b) verify zero motion.
The signed result is retained.[^note-a]
[^note-a]: Retain the check sheet for the prescribed period.A citation-oriented profile could instead retain a stable page marker. Neither view changes the PDFMD source.