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Quicklook - "what's in that file?"

Quicklook - look at file content without opening a program.

New with Mac OS X Leopard is a program called Quicklook. This time saving utility enables a user to view the contents of a file without having to open the program used to edit it. For example, say you have a PDF document and want to quickly review its contents. Normally one would have to open Preview in order to see it. Now with Quicklook, one can simply touch the spacebar and the file 'opens' on screen instantly. You can scroll, view in full screen and even move on to the next file without having to open any other program.

Accessing Quicklook is easy. In any finder window simply higlight the file and touch the spacebar. Alternatively, just click on the Quicklook icon. (It looks like an eye)

Quicklook will open image files, text, PDF, spreadsheets, documents and even movies!
Below is a quick video showing Quicklook in action.

There are plugins available that allow Quicklook to work with folders and other supported file types. Quicklook along with Spotlight can help you find information in your Mac quickly boosting your productivity immensely!
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Comments

Unknown said…
Very cool I did not realize i could do that! Thanks!
December 5, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Bob Kuivanen said…
Glad you find it useful!
December 11, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Thanks for the post :) also check out www.QLPlugins.com

the BetterZip plugin lets you see the content of a zipped file, VERY useful. it saves time from having to unzip, look thru it, then trash the unzipped folder.
December 12, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Bob Kuivanen said…
Great tip, Alex! I like to use a plug-in that shows the contents of folders too.
December 12, 2008 at 10:28 PM
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