How to preview in "Choose File" dialogue ??

Hi folks,
I am relatively new to OS X.

There is a limitation I have not yet figured out a way around when I am opening or choosing files from an application. Perhaps there is a solution someone can point out to me?

In Windows and Ubuntu (the two other OSs I am familiar with) when I am in an application and I try to open or attach a file, etc., there is a preview pane on the right. In OS X there is no preview.

For instance, just now I wanted to attach a photo to an email. But I can find no easy way to see what the images are without first going to Finder, putting it into Icon view, and then enlarging the zoom so that I can see the pictures easily. When I find the picture I want, I note down the name (often just a number generated by my camera), and then go and find that file again in the Choose File window. This seems somewhat inefficient. As Mac is so much about productivity I am thinking there must be a better way, that I have just not discovered.

To that effect I have two questions:
1) Is there any way to preview images WITHIN finder whilst browsing my folders? (Other than cover flow, and Icon view)

2) In the finder dialogue windows (like the one for opening files from within applications, or attaching files to emails, etc.) is there any easy way to preview files? I have tried icon view but most pictures don't show a preview in the icon, even through they do in finder when not accessed through an application. Also for the ones that do happen to show a preview in the icon, they are so tiny it is hard to see them.

I am aware I can hit Command-I on a picture and see a preview there, but that is not effective when scanning through many images.

If there is an easy solution to this I'd love to know about it.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Macbook Pro 17" i7, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 30, 2010 10:31 AM

Reply
4 replies

Oct 30, 2010 11:00 AM in response to InspiredLife

in fact, mac os has perfected this kind of preview with a finder feature called "quick look". you can quick look almost any file in finder or an "open file" dialog by pressing space while the file is selected. this even works for files where you have no normal application that opens them, it's pretty amazing and is one of the greatest features of OS X in my opinion

oh and btw: if you browse a folder full of images for example, you might want to switch to "coverflow" in finder or "icon view" in an open file dialog. the icons aren't huge but most of the time it's enough to figure out the one you want. also, if you import your images into iPhoto, you can browse your iPhoto library

Oct 30, 2010 11:22 AM in response to InspiredLife

Quick Look. Highlite your image, txt file or whatever and hit the space bar.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/quick-look.html

Hope this solves your problem

The other neat trick for viewing a full folder (ex. images, txt files) is (command-a) *selecting all* images, hit the *space bar*, select *full screen*, then the *index sheet*. This is a way of see larger images and scrolling through a lot of data quickly. Esc key to back out.

Message was edited by: leroydouglas

Nov 20, 2010 12:25 AM in response to InspiredLife

Thank you folks. Much appreciated. Now that you have pointed these things out, it somehow seems so obvious!

- Yes, putting it into columns view puts a preview to the right. Excellent. I should have figured that one out. Oh well.
- The hitting space to activate Quick View was new to me. Very handy. Nice to know about that.
- As for the cover flow view... I don't seem to get that option when in a open/select file window. The button for that is not there. But with the two options above, my requirement is well and truly met.

Thanks again,..

Jonathan

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How to preview in "Choose File" dialogue ??

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