Abstract: A file format and a reader for electronic periodicals composed a digital replica of a hardcopy of a periodical. The file format includes a plurality of primarily text-only files corresponding to articles in the digital replica. The reader displays the digital replica, and when a user activates a control to select an article, a separate view is displayed that displays the text only version of the selected article. In this view the text of the article appears linearly, from beginning to end, and is presented as a continuous, sequential text file.