Preview Preferences - Open each file in its own window

Question

Preview Preferences - Open each file in its own window

Open each file in its own window - seems pretty clear.

That's what Previews always used to do for me. Now, however, despite my selecting this option in Previews Preferences, new pdf's are opened in new tabs of an existing open Previews window.

Any suggestions on why and how I can go back to my preferred "Open each file in its own window"

Particular annoyance, when opening a new document in a new tab of an existing window, when you go looking for that open document under the "Window" menu, you don't see it. You only see the name of the first document opened in that Preview window. Very annoying. If both pdf docs in one Preview window could be found under the Window menubar, that would at least be a decent work around. But my devout wish is too be able to go back to my tried and true each pdf and Jpg in its own Previews window.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 6, 2020 1:40 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 6, 2020 3:08 PM in response to Steven Weinberg1

I would not have recommended Safe Boot for this problem. On Catalina 10.15.7 (19H15), I can select three random PDF, and whether I choose Open, or Open with Preview, I get three distinct document windows. I then press the option key to close all of them at once, before quitting preview, and repeating this with three different PDF.

There are two other possibilities acting together or separately, where there may be corruption:

In /Users/yourname/Library/Caches there may be a com.apple.Preview folder, which you can move to the Trash
in /Users/yourname/Library/Containers/com.apple.Preview, something may be messed up in that folder hierarchy, and I would advise dragging the entire com.apple.Preview folder to the Trash.
1. The next time you launch Preview, it will recreate this com.apple.Preview folder hierarchy with default settings, and you should revisit your Preview : Preferences panel to set your own preferences.

I would recommend both steps 1 and 2. Then try the first paragraph to determine if you can get three separate PDF windows.

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Answer 2

Nov 6, 2020 1:59 PM in response to Steven Weinberg1

Notice that the open each file in its own window is a feature of images (you have selected the image tab) and not PDF documents. Also, Apple is not necessarily constrained to "always" when releasing new operating systems. They have a tendency to change things contrary to our common sense use of the product.

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Answer 3

Nov 6, 2020 2:08 PM in response to Steven Weinberg1

This issue was previously being dealt with under the following title, "Lately Preview is messed up. It creates documents with multiple pages that have nothing to do with each other".

It was suggested that: "OK, let's start with this...

Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode?

Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot."

I just did that and no solution. Multiple Preview documents opening in tabs in the same window. So I'm going to restart in regular mode and wait for some additional help. Thanks in advance.

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Answer 4

Nov 30, 2020 11:42 AM in response to VikingOSX

I tried 1. and and still do not have a fix. I cannot try 2. since I don't have a Containers folder in that path.

Do you have a recommendation for another path?

If I upgrade to the newest operating system, will this problem be fixed? I'm running Catalina.

I usually wait until bugs are worked out before upgrading the operating system.

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Answer 5

Nov 30, 2020 11:58 AM in response to tmoodytmoody

Sorry. No better advice. I am an experienced user, but far from knowledgeable in all matters "blow the hood" on the OS. Good luck.

But I have made the jump to Big Sur so I just tested Preview and it IS opening each new document in its own separate window

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Preview Preferences - Open each file in its own window

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