diff --git a/src/app/line/renderer/basicrenderer.tsx b/src/app/line/renderer/basicrenderer.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 2862b0a12..000000000
--- a/src/app/line/renderer/basicrenderer.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,276 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2023, Command Line Inc.
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-
-import * as React from "react";
-import * as mobxReact from "mobx-react";
-import * as mobx from "mobx";
-
-import { debounce } from "throttle-debounce";
-import * as util from "@/util/util";
-import { GlobalModel } from "@/models";
-
-class SimpleBlobRendererModel {
-    context: RendererContext;
-    opts: RendererOpts;
-    isDone: OV<boolean>;
-    api: RendererModelContainerApi;
-    savedHeight: number;
-    loading: OV<boolean>;
-    loadError: OV<string> = mobx.observable.box(null, {
-        name: "renderer-loadError",
-    });
-    lineState: LineStateType;
-    ptyData: PtyDataType;
-    ptyDataSource: (termContext: TermContextUnion) => Promise<PtyDataType>;
-    dataBlob: Blob;
-    readOnly: boolean;
-    notFound: boolean;
-
-    initialize(params: RendererModelInitializeParams): void {
-        this.loading = mobx.observable.box(true, { name: "renderer-loading" });
-        this.isDone = mobx.observable.box(params.isDone, {
-            name: "renderer-isDone",
-        });
-        this.context = params.context;
-        this.opts = params.opts;
-        this.api = params.api;
-        this.lineState = params.lineState;
-        this.savedHeight = params.savedHeight;
-        this.ptyDataSource = params.ptyDataSource;
-        if (this.isDone.get()) {
-            setTimeout(() => this.reload(0), 10);
-        }
-    }
-
-    dispose(): void {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    giveFocus(): void {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    updateOpts(update: RendererOptsUpdate): void {
-        Object.assign(this.opts, update);
-    }
-
-    updateHeight(newHeight: number): void {
-        if (this.savedHeight != newHeight) {
-            this.savedHeight = newHeight;
-            this.api.saveHeight(newHeight);
-        }
-    }
-
-    setIsDone(): void {
-        if (this.isDone.get()) {
-            return;
-        }
-        mobx.action(() => {
-            this.isDone.set(true);
-        })();
-        this.reload(0);
-    }
-
-    reload(delayMs: number): void {
-        mobx.action(() => {
-            this.loading.set(true);
-        })();
-        if (delayMs == 0) {
-            this.reload_noDelay();
-        } else {
-            setTimeout(() => {
-                this.reload_noDelay();
-            }, delayMs);
-        }
-    }
-
-    reload_noDelay(): void {
-        let source = this.lineState["prompt:source"] || "pty";
-        if (source == "pty") {
-            this.reloadPtyData();
-        } else if (source == "file") {
-            this.reloadFileData();
-        } else {
-            mobx.action(() => {
-                this.loadError.set("error: invalid load source: " + source);
-            })();
-        }
-    }
-
-    reloadFileData(): void {
-        // todo add file methods to API, so we don't have a GlobalModel dependency here!
-        let path = this.lineState["prompt:file"];
-        if (util.isBlank(path)) {
-            mobx.action(() => {
-                this.loadError.set("renderer has file source, but no prompt:file specified");
-            })();
-            return;
-        }
-        let rtnp = GlobalModel.readRemoteFile(this.context.screenId, this.context.lineId, path);
-        rtnp.then((file) => {
-            this.notFound = (file as any).notFound;
-            this.readOnly = (file as any).readOnly;
-            this.dataBlob = file;
-            mobx.action(() => {
-                this.loading.set(false);
-                this.loadError.set(null);
-            })();
-        }).catch((e) => {
-            mobx.action(() => {
-                this.loadError.set("error loading file data: " + e);
-            })();
-        });
-    }
-
-    reloadPtyData(): void {
-        this.readOnly = true;
-        let rtnp = this.ptyDataSource(this.context);
-        if (rtnp == null) {
-            console.log("no promise returned from ptyDataSource (simplerenderer)", this.context);
-            return;
-        }
-        rtnp.then((ptydata) => {
-            this.ptyData = ptydata;
-            this.dataBlob = new Blob([this.ptyData.data]);
-            mobx.action(() => {
-                this.loading.set(false);
-                this.loadError.set(null);
-            })();
-        }).catch((e) => {
-            mobx.action(() => {
-                this.loadError.set("error loading data: " + e);
-            })();
-        });
-    }
-
-    receiveData(pos: number, data: Uint8Array, reason?: string): void {
-        // this.dataBuf.receiveData(pos, data, reason);
-    }
-}
-
-@mobxReact.observer
-class SimpleBlobRenderer extends React.Component<
-    {
-        rendererContainer: RendererContainerType;
-        lineId: string;
-        plugin: RendererPluginType;
-        onHeightChange: () => void;
-        initParams: RendererModelInitializeParams;
-        scrollToBringIntoViewport: () => void;
-        isSelected: boolean;
-        shouldFocus: boolean;
-    },
-    {}
-> {
-    model: SimpleBlobRendererModel;
-    wrapperDivRef: React.RefObject<any> = React.createRef();
-    rszObs: ResizeObserver;
-    updateHeight_debounced: (newHeight: number) => void;
-
-    constructor(props: any) {
-        super(props);
-        let { rendererContainer, lineId, plugin, initParams } = this.props;
-        this.model = new SimpleBlobRendererModel();
-        this.model.initialize(initParams);
-        rendererContainer.registerRenderer(lineId, this.model);
-        this.updateHeight_debounced = debounce(1000, this.updateHeight.bind(this));
-    }
-
-    updateHeight(newHeight: number): void {
-        this.model.updateHeight(newHeight);
-    }
-
-    handleResize(entries: ResizeObserverEntry[]): void {
-        if (this.model.loading.get()) {
-            return;
-        }
-        if (this.props.onHeightChange) {
-            this.props.onHeightChange();
-        }
-        if (!this.model.loading.get() && this.wrapperDivRef.current != null) {
-            let height = this.wrapperDivRef.current.offsetHeight;
-            this.updateHeight_debounced(height);
-        }
-    }
-
-    checkRszObs() {
-        if (this.rszObs != null) {
-            return;
-        }
-        if (this.wrapperDivRef.current == null) {
-            return;
-        }
-        this.rszObs = new ResizeObserver(this.handleResize.bind(this));
-        this.rszObs.observe(this.wrapperDivRef.current);
-    }
-
-    componentDidMount() {
-        this.checkRszObs();
-    }
-
-    componentWillUnmount() {
-        let { rendererContainer, lineId } = this.props;
-        rendererContainer.unloadRenderer(lineId);
-        if (this.rszObs != null) {
-            this.rszObs.disconnect();
-            this.rszObs = null;
-        }
-    }
-
-    componentDidUpdate() {
-        this.checkRszObs();
-    }
-
-    render() {
-        let { plugin } = this.props;
-        let model = this.model;
-        if (model.loadError.get() != null) {
-            let errorText = model.loadError.get();
-            let height = this.model.savedHeight;
-            return (
-                <div ref={this.wrapperDivRef} style={{ minHeight: height, fontSize: model.opts.termFontSize }}>
-                    <div className="load-error-text">ERROR: {errorText}</div>
-                </div>
-            );
-        }
-        if (model.loading.get()) {
-            let height = this.model.savedHeight;
-            return (
-                <div
-                    ref={this.wrapperDivRef}
-                    className="renderer-loading"
-                    style={{ minHeight: height, fontSize: model.opts.termFontSize }}
-                >
-                    loading content <i className="fa fa-ellipsis fa-fade" />
-                </div>
-            );
-        }
-        let Comp = plugin.simpleComponent;
-        if (Comp == null) {
-            <div ref={this.wrapperDivRef}>(no component found in plugin)</div>;
-        }
-        let { festate, cmdstr, exitcode } = this.props.initParams.rawCmd;
-        return (
-            <div ref={this.wrapperDivRef} className="sr-wrapper">
-                <Comp
-                    cwd={festate.cwd}
-                    cmdstr={cmdstr}
-                    exitcode={exitcode}
-                    data={model.dataBlob as ExtBlob}
-                    readOnly={model.readOnly}
-                    notFound={model.notFound}
-                    lineState={model.lineState}
-                    context={model.context}
-                    opts={model.opts}
-                    savedHeight={model.savedHeight}
-                    scrollToBringIntoViewport={this.props.scrollToBringIntoViewport}
-                    isSelected={this.props.isSelected}
-                    shouldFocus={this.props.shouldFocus}
-                    rendererApi={model.api}
-                />
-            </div>
-        );
-    }
-}
-
-export { SimpleBlobRendererModel, SimpleBlobRenderer };
diff --git a/src/electron/emain.ts b/src/electron/emain.ts
index be4f429f6..2b6114775 100644
--- a/src/electron/emain.ts
+++ b/src/electron/emain.ts
@@ -308,16 +308,21 @@ function shFrameNavHandler(event: Electron.Event<Electron.WebContentsWillFrameNa
         // only use this handler to process iframe events (non-iframe events go to shNavHandler)
         return;
     }
-    event.preventDefault();
     const url = event.url;
     console.log(`frame-navigation url=${url} frame=${event.frame.name}`);
     if (event.frame.name == "webview") {
         // "webview" links always open in new window
         // this will *not* effect the initial load because srcdoc does not count as an electron navigation
         console.log("open external, frameNav", url);
+        event.preventDefault();
         electron.shell.openExternal(url);
         return;
     }
+    if (event.frame.name == "pdfview" && url.startsWith("blob:file:///")) {
+        // allowed
+        return;
+    }
+    event.preventDefault();
     console.log("frame navigation canceled");
 }
 
diff --git a/src/models/model.ts b/src/models/model.ts
index ad65aa55f..8d35ef550 100644
--- a/src/models/model.ts
+++ b/src/models/model.ts
@@ -1550,12 +1550,15 @@ class Model {
         return remote.remotecanonicalname;
     }
 
-    readRemoteFile(screenId: string, lineId: string, path: string): Promise<ExtFile> {
-        const urlParams = {
+    readRemoteFile(screenId: string, lineId: string, path: string, mimetype?: string): Promise<ExtFile> {
+        const urlParams: Record<string, string> = {
             screenid: screenId,
             lineid: lineId,
             path: path,
         };
+        if (mimetype != null) {
+            urlParams["mimetype"] = mimetype;
+        }
         const usp = new URLSearchParams(urlParams);
         const url = new URL(this.getBaseHostPort() + "/api/read-file?" + usp.toString());
         const fetchHeaders = this.getFetchHeaders();
diff --git a/src/plugins/pdf/pdf.less b/src/plugins/pdf/pdf.less
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4f58b90f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/pdf/pdf.less
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+.pdf-renderer {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: row;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    padding-top: var(--termpad);
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/pdf/pdf.tsx b/src/plugins/pdf/pdf.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dda6208e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/pdf/pdf.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// Copyright 2024, Command Line Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import * as React from "react";
+import * as mobx from "mobx";
+import * as mobxReact from "mobx-react";
+
+import "./pdf.less";
+
+@mobxReact.observer
+class SimplePdfRenderer extends React.Component<
+    { data: ExtBlob; context: RendererContext; opts: RendererOpts; savedHeight: number },
+    {}
+> {
+    objUrl: string = null;
+
+    componentWillUnmount() {
+        if (this.objUrl != null) {
+            URL.revokeObjectURL(this.objUrl);
+        }
+    }
+
+    render() {
+        let dataBlob = this.props.data;
+        if (dataBlob == null || dataBlob.notFound) {
+            return (
+                <div className="pdf-renderer" style={{ fontSize: this.props.opts.termFontSize }}>
+                    <div className="load-error-text">
+                        ERROR: file {dataBlob && dataBlob.name ? JSON.stringify(dataBlob.name) : ""} not found
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            );
+        }
+        if (this.objUrl == null) {
+            const pdfBlob = new File([dataBlob], "test.pdf", { type: "application/pdf" });
+            this.objUrl = URL.createObjectURL(pdfBlob);
+        }
+        const opts = this.props.opts;
+        const maxHeight = opts.maxSize.height - 10;
+        const maxWidth = opts.maxSize.width - 10;
+        return (
+            <div className="pdf-renderer">
+                <iframe src={this.objUrl} width={maxWidth} height={maxHeight} name="pdfview" />
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+export { SimplePdfRenderer };
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugins.ts b/src/plugins/plugins.ts
index 0ef90c1b0..e55b01619 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugins.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/plugins.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { SourceCodeRenderer } from "./code/code";
 import { SimpleMustacheRenderer } from "./mustache/mustache";
 import { CSVRenderer } from "./csv/csv";
 import { OpenAIRenderer, OpenAIRendererModel } from "./openai/openai";
+import { SimplePdfRenderer } from "./pdf/pdf";
 import { isBlank } from "@/util/util";
 import { sprintf } from "sprintf-js";
 
@@ -78,6 +79,16 @@ const PluginConfigs: RendererPluginType[] = [
         mimeTypes: ["image/*"],
         simpleComponent: SimpleImageRenderer,
     },
+    {
+        name: "pdf",
+        rendererType: "simple",
+        heightType: "pixels",
+        dataType: "blob",
+        collapseType: "hide",
+        globalCss: null,
+        mimeTypes: ["application/pdf"],
+        simpleComponent: SimplePdfRenderer,
+    },
 ];
 
 class PluginModelClass {
diff --git a/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go b/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go
index 2d66c5ae2..544890b51 100644
--- a/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go
+++ b/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ func init() {
 	registerCmdFn("imageview", ImageViewCommand)
 	registerCmdFn("mdview", MarkdownViewCommand)
 	registerCmdFn("markdownview", MarkdownViewCommand)
+	registerCmdFn("pdfview", PdfViewCommand)
 
 	registerCmdFn("csvview", CSVViewCommand)
 }
@@ -4883,6 +4884,37 @@ func ImageViewCommand(ctx context.Context, pk *scpacket.FeCommandPacketType) (sc
 	return update, nil
 }
 
+func PdfViewCommand(ctx context.Context, pk *scpacket.FeCommandPacketType) (scbus.UpdatePacket, error) {
+	if len(pk.Args) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s requires an argument (file name)", GetCmdStr(pk))
+	}
+	// TODO more error checking on filename format?
+	if pk.Args[0] == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s argument cannot be empty", GetCmdStr(pk))
+	}
+	ids, err := resolveUiIds(ctx, pk, R_Session|R_Screen|R_RemoteConnected)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	outputStr := fmt.Sprintf("%s %q", GetCmdStr(pk), pk.Args[0])
+	cmd, err := makeStaticCmd(ctx, GetCmdStr(pk), ids, pk.GetRawStr(), []byte(outputStr))
+	if err != nil {
+		// TODO tricky error since the command was a success, but we can't show the output
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// set the line state
+	lineState := make(map[string]any)
+	lineState[sstore.LineState_Source] = "file"
+	lineState[sstore.LineState_File] = pk.Args[0]
+	update, err := addLineForCmd(ctx, "/"+GetCmdStr(pk), false, ids, cmd, "pdf", lineState)
+	if err != nil {
+		// TODO tricky error since the command was a success, but we can't show the output
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	update.AddUpdate(sstore.InteractiveUpdate(pk.Interactive))
+	return update, nil
+}
+
 func MarkdownViewCommand(ctx context.Context, pk *scpacket.FeCommandPacketType) (scbus.UpdatePacket, error) {
 	if len(pk.Args) == 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s requires an argument (file name)", GetCmdStr(pk))
diff --git a/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go b/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go
index 4544d9552..3cb043da2 100644
--- a/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go
+++ b/wavesrv/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ var BareMetaCmds = []BareMetaCmdDecl{
 	{"markdownview", "markdownview"},
 	{"mdview", "markdownview"},
 	{"csvview", "csvview"},
+	{"pdfview", "pdfview"},
 }
 
 const (