diff --git a/src/client/index.js b/src/client/index.js
index e62f4f8..eb6d555 100644
--- a/src/client/index.js
+++ b/src/client/index.js
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import thunk from 'redux-thunk'
 
 import * as reducers from '../common/reducers'
 import routes from '../common/routes'
+import {Format} from '../common/constants'
+import * as Actions from '../common/actions'
 
 import LocalStorage from './LocalStorage'
 
@@ -29,6 +31,48 @@ const store = Redux.createStore(
   )
 )
 
+render()
+
+//  read and init the hash after render:
+//  because this parameter is passed as a hash, it isn't available on the server,
+//  so the server initial render will be with plaintext, so we have to start with that.
+//  lame. 
+initFormatHash(store)
+registerFormatListener(store)
+
+// detect hash parameter for markdown/plaintext format and initialize store
+function initFormatHash(store) {
+  //  get the has from the window location
+  let hash = window.location.hash.toUpperCase()
+  //  strip the hash sign
+  hash = hash.substring(1)
+
+  // dispatch the appropriate action
+  if (hash === Format.MARKDOWN)
+    store.dispatch(Actions.setMarkdownFormat())
+  else if (hash === Format.PLAINTEXT || hash === '')
+    store.dispatch(Actions.setPlaintextFormat())
+}
+
+  // listen to changes in the redux store and update the url hash parameter when appropriate
+function registerFormatListener(store) {
+
+  function handleChange() {
+    let nextFormat = store.getState().format;
+
+    if (nextFormat === Format.MARKDOWN) 
+      window.history.replaceState("", document.title, window.location.pathname+"#"+nextFormat);
+    else if (nextFormat === Format.PLAINTEXT) {
+      window.history.replaceState("", document.title, window.location.pathname);
+
+    }
+  }
+
+  let unsubscribe = store.subscribe(handleChange);
+  return unsubscribe;
+}
+
+
 function render () {
   ReactDOM.render(
     <Provider store={store}>
@@ -41,5 +85,4 @@ function render () {
   , document.getElementById('root'))
 }
 
-render()
 
diff --git a/src/common/components/Compare.js b/src/common/components/Compare.js
index 371f1d4..7c03cc7 100644
--- a/src/common/components/Compare.js
+++ b/src/common/components/Compare.js
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import {Segment, Grid} from 'semantic-ui-react'
 
 import * as Selectors from '../selectors'
 
+import {Format} from '../constants'
+
 import Header from './Header'
 import Footer from './Footer'
 import CompareControls from './CompareControls'