Quick Look: Difference between revisions

Quick Look
Developer(s)	Apple Inc.
Initial release	October 26, 2007; (Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard)
Operating system	macOS
License	Proprietary
Website	Quick Look

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 08:50, 7 February 2024

Quick Look is a quick preview feature developed by Apple Inc. which was introduced in its operating system Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The feature was announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on Jun. 11, 2007.

While macOS's Finder has always had smaller previews in Get Info windows or column view, Quick Look allows users to look at the contents of a file at full or near-full size in the Finder, depending on the size of the document relative to the screen resolution. It can preview files such as PDFs, HTML, QuickTime readable media, plain text and RTF text documents, iWork (Keynote, Pages, and Numbers) documents, ODF documents, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) files (including OOXML), and RAW camera images.^{[citation needed]}

Quick Look can also be opened in full screen and launched from the command line. Additionally, multi-page documents like PowerPoint slide shows can be navigated using the slide previews at the side of the preview window.

Quick Look technology is implemented throughout the Apple suite of software starting with Mac OS X 10.5, including iChat Theater, Time Machine, and Finder's Cover Flow.

Quick Look APIs are available to developers via the Quick Look framework on iOS^[1] and as part of the Quartz framework on the Mac.^[2]

Supported file types by default[edit]

Since its debut, Quick Look has included a number of generators for common file types.

Format	Version introduced	Notes
AAC	10.5	Cover art in icon view and can play back audio in full preview.
Adobe Photoshop	10.5
AIFF	10.5
Apple Icon Image format	10.5
AVI	10.5
BMP	10.5
COLLADA's DAE	10.6
Cinema 4D's .c4d		Displays the 2D Preview Image embedded in the file.
GIF	10.5	Did not animate animated GIFS^[3] without additional plugins^[4] until OS X 10.7.^[5]
HTML	10.5	Does not load remote resources or execute scripts.
iChat transcripts	10.5
JPEG	10.5
JPEG 2000	10.5
Microsoft Excel	10.5
Microsoft PowerPoint	10.5
Microsoft Word	10.5
MIDI	10.5	MIDI files support has been dropped in OS X 10.8.
MP3	10.5	Cover art in icon view and can play back audio in full preview.
MPEG4	10.5
MPO
PDF	10.5
PictureClipping	10.6
PICT	10.5
PNG	10.5
QuickTime movies	10.5	Additional stream formats require the appropriate QuickTime extension to be installed.
RTF	10.5
SVG	10.6
TEXT	10.5
TextClipping	10.6
TIFF	10.5
WAV	10.5

Plug-ins[edit]

Plug-ins can be added to Quick Look to allow previewing the content of other file formats. Plug-ins can also be used to add additional functionality to Quick Look such as syntax highlighting for source code files.^[6]

To add a plug-in to Quick Look it needs to be placed in the folder /Library/QuickLook/. To activate that plug-in, either the computer needs to be restarted or Quick Look needs to be reset with the command

qlmanage -r

Usage[edit]

There are multiple ways to invoke Quick Look.

Keyboard shortcuts:

⌘ Cmd-Y
space
⌥ Opt-space (open in full screen)
⌥ Opt hold to zoom an image to actual size (Quick Look must already be open)

Command line:^[7]

qlmanage -p file

Menu:

File — Quick Look file name;
Context menu (right-click or Control-mouse click), then Quick Look file name.

Caching and Forensics[edit]

Quick Look can be exploited when conducting a forensic examination of a computer's contents. A thumbnail cache is created for each user in a random subfolder of /var/folders called com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache. The cache contains two files;

index.sqlite which is a SQLite database containing two tables - files and thumbnails.

files contains the name, path, file-identifier, and volume-identifier of each file in the database.

thumbnails contains metadata about each thumbnail, including the file linked-to in the files table and the offset of its data contained in thumbnails.data.

thumbnails.data contains the raw bitmaps of the cached thumbnails.

Quick Look thumbnails are stored for documents on internal disks and also for documents located on removable disks, including those that have been encrypted and can pose a significant security hole. A document may well have a number of thumbnails, each having different dimensions that can range from very large to very small.

The cache can be reset by invoking the qlmanage -r cache command via a Terminal window.

References[edit]

^ "Using the Quick Look Framework".
^ "Introduction to Quick Look Programming Guide".
^ "Animated Gif plugin for Preview?". January 21, 2007.
^ "Animated GIF QuickLook plugin". December 17, 2014.
^ "Why can't Quick Look (Spacebar) nor Preview (App) view animated gif?". April 24, 2008.
^ Frakes, Dan (January 22, 2008). "More Quick Look plug-ins". Macworld. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
^ "qlmanage(1) Mac OS X Manual Page". developer.apple.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.

External links[edit]

A Quick Look Plugins list for Mac OS X
Gloobus, a Linux application based on Quick Look

[1] "Using the Quick Look Framework".

[2] "Introduction to Quick Look Programming Guide".

[3] "Animated Gif plugin for Preview?". January 21, 2007.

[4] "Animated GIF QuickLook plugin". December 17, 2014.

[5] "Why can't Quick Look (Spacebar) nor Preview (App) view animated gif?". April 24, 2008.

[6] Frakes, Dan (January 22, 2008). "More Quick Look plug-ins". Macworld. Retrieved September 15, 2014.

[7] "qlmanage(1) Mac OS X Manual Page". developer.apple.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|MacOS file preview feature introduced by Apple in 2007}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
-{{Infobox Software
+{{Infobox software
 | name = Quick Look
-| logo = [[Image:Quicklook Icon.png|64px|Quick Look from 10.8.]]
+| logo = Quicklook Icon.png
+| logo size = x64px
 | screenshot =
 | caption = Quick Look screenshot
 | developer = [[Apple Inc.]]
-| released = October 26, 2007<br/>([[Mac OS X v10.5|Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard"]])
+| released = October 26, 2007<br />([[Mac OS X v10.5|Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard]])
 | latest release version =
 | latest release date =
 | latest preview version =
 | latest preview date =
-| operating system = [[Mac OS X]]
+| operating system = [[macOS]]
 | platform =
 | genre =
 | license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
-| website = [http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#quicklook Quick Look]
+| website = [https://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#quicklook Quick Look]
 }}
-'''Quick Look''' is a quick preview feature developed by [[Apple Inc.]] which was introduced in their [[operating system]], [[Mac OS X v10.5]] "Leopard". It was announced and demonstrated at [[Apple Worldwide Developers Conference|Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference]] 2007.
+'''Quick Look''' is a quick preview feature developed by [[Apple Inc.]] which was introduced in its [[operating system]] [[Mac OS X v10.5|Mac OS X 10.5]] Leopard. The feature was announced at the [[Worldwide Developers Conference]] on Jun. 11, 2007.
-While OS X's [[Finder (software)|Finder]] has always had icon previews, Quick Look allows users to look at the contents of a file in the [[Macintosh Finder|Finder]] at full or near-full size, depending on the size of the document relative to the desktop. It can view files including, but not limited to: [[PDF]]s, [[HTML]], [[QuickTime|QuickTime readable media]], [[plain text]] and [[Rich Text Format|RTF]] text documents, [[Apple Keynote]], [[Pages (iWork)|Pages]] and [[Numbers (software)|Numbers]], [[OpenDocument|ODF]] documents, [[Microsoft Word]], [[Microsoft Excel|Excel]], and [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoint]] files (including [[OOXML]]), [[Raw image format|RAW]] camera images.
+While macOS's [[Finder (software)|Finder]] has always had smaller previews in Get Info windows or column view, Quick Look allows users to look at the contents of a file at full or near-full size in the Finder, depending on the size of the document relative to the screen resolution. It can preview files such as [[PDF]]s, [[HTML]], [[QuickTime|QuickTime readable media]], [[plain text]] and [[Rich Text Format|RTF]] text documents, [[iWork]] ([[Apple Keynote|Keynote]], [[Pages (iWork)|Pages]], and [[Numbers (software)|Numbers]]) documents, [[OpenDocument|ODF]] documents, [[Microsoft Office]] ([[Microsoft Word|Word]], [[Microsoft Excel|Excel]], and [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoint]]) files (including [[OOXML]]), and [[Raw image format|RAW]] camera images.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
-Quick Look can also be opened in full screen and launched from the [[command line]]. Additionally, multi-page documents like PowerPoint slide shows can be navigated using the arrow keys.
+Quick Look can also be opened in full screen and launched from the [[command line]]. Additionally, multi-page documents like PowerPoint slide shows can be navigated using the slide previews at the side of the preview window.
-Quick Look technology is implemented throughout the Apple suite of software starting with [[Mac OS X v10.5]], including [[iChat|iChat Theater]], [[Time Machine (Apple software)|Time Machine]] and the [[Cover Flow]] view on the [[Macintosh Finder|Finder]].
+Quick Look technology is implemented throughout the Apple suite of software starting with Mac OS X 10.5, including [[iChat|iChat Theater]], [[Time Machine (macOS)|Time Machine]], and Finder's [[Cover Flow]].
-Quick Look is available to developers via the Quick Look framework on iOS<ref>https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/FileManagement/Conceptual/DocumentInteraction_TopicsForIOS/Articles/UsingtheQuickLookFramework.html</ref> and as part of the [[Quartz (graphics layer)|Quartz framework]] on the Mac.<ref>https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/userExperience/Conceptual/Quicklook_Programming_Guide/Introduction/Introduction.html</ref>
+Quick Look APIs are available to developers via the Quick Look framework on iOS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/FileManagement/Conceptual/DocumentInteraction_TopicsForIOS/Articles/UsingtheQuickLookFramework.html|title=Using the Quick Look Framework}}</ref> and as part of the [[Quartz (graphics layer)|Quartz framework]] on the Mac.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/userExperience/Conceptual/Quicklook_Programming_Guide/Introduction/Introduction.html|title=Introduction to Quick Look Programming Guide}}</ref>
+==Supported file types by default==
-==Supported file types==
 Since its debut, Quick Look has included a number of generators for common file types.
@@ Line 41: / Line 42: @@
 | Cover art in icon view and can play back audio in full preview.
 |-
-| [[Adobe PhotoShop]]
+| [[Adobe Photoshop]]
 | 10.5
 |
 |-
-| [[AIFF]]
+| [[Audio Interchange File Format|AIFF]]
 | 10.5
 |
@@ Line 60: / Line 61: @@
 | 10.5
 |
+|-
+| [[COLLADA]]'s DAE
+| 10.6
+|
+|-
+| [[Cinema 4D]]'s .c4d
+|
+| Displays the 2D Preview Image embedded in the file.
 |-
 | [[GIF]]
 | 10.5
-| Did not animate [[Animated GIF|animated GIFS]]<ref>http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-apps-games/51197-animated-gif-plugin-preview.html</ref> without additional plugins<ref>http://sourceforge.net/projects/animgifqlgen/</ref> until MacOS 10.7.<ref>http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=475195</ref>
+| Did not animate [[Animated GIF|animated GIFS]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-apps-games/51197-animated-gif-plugin-preview.html|title=Animated Gif plugin for Preview?|date=January 21, 2007 }}</ref> without additional plugins<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/animgifqlgen/|title=Animated GIF QuickLook plugin|date=December 17, 2014 }}</ref> until OS X 10.7.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=475195|title=Why can't Quick Look (Spacebar) nor Preview (App) view animated gif?|date=April 24, 2008 }}</ref>
 |-
 | [[HTML]]
@@ Line 95: / Line 104: @@
 | [[MIDI]]
 | 10.5
+| MIDI files support has been dropped in OS X 10.8.
-|
 |-
 | [[MP3]]
@@ Line 125: / Line 134: @@
 |
 |-
-| [[QuickTime]] movie
+| [[QuickTime]] movies
 | 10.5
 | Additional stream formats require the appropriate QuickTime extension to be installed.
@@ Line 133: / Line 142: @@
 |
 |-
+| [[Scalable Vector Graphics|SVG]]
-| [[TEXT]]
+| 10.6
+|
+|-
+| TEXT
 | 10.5
 |
@@ Line 158: / Line 171: @@
 {{expand section|date=April 2013}}
-==Plugins==
+==Plug-ins==
-Plugins can be added to quick look to allow for the viewing of other file types, plugins can also be used to add additional functionality to quick look such as syntax highlighting for source code files.
+[[Plug-in (computing)|Plug-ins]] can be added to Quick Look to allow previewing the content of other [[List of file formats|file formats]]. Plug-ins can also be used to add additional functionality to Quick Look such as [[syntax highlighting]] for [[source code]] files.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.macworld.com/article/1131753/quicklookplugins.html|title = More Quick Look plug-ins|date = January 22, 2008|access-date = September 15, 2014|website = Macworld|last = Frakes|first = Dan}}</ref>
-To add a plugin to quick look open the folder <code>/Library/QuickLook/</code> and drop the plugin to the folder. to activate the plugin restart your computer or reset quick look by typing the command <source lang="bash">qlmanage -r</source>
+To add a plug-in to Quick Look it needs to be placed in the folder <code>/Library/QuickLook/</code>. To activate that plug-in, either the computer needs to be restarted or Quick Look needs to be reset with the command <syntaxhighlight lang="bash">qlmanage -r</syntaxhighlight>
 ==Usage==
-There are multiple ways to use Quick look.
+There are multiple ways to invoke Quick Look.
+[[Keyboard shortcuts]]:
+* {{keypress|Cmd}}-{{keypress|Y}}
+* {{keypress|space}}
+* {{keypress|Opt}}-{{keypress|space}} (open in full screen)
+* {{keypress|Opt}} hold to zoom an image to actual size (Quick Look must already be open)
+[[Terminal (macOS)|Command line]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man1/qlmanage.1.html |title=qlmanage(1) Mac OS X Manual Page |website=developer.apple.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007203441/http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man1/qlmanage.1.html |archive-date=2011-10-07}} </ref>
+<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">qlmanage -p file</syntaxhighlight>
+Menu:
+* File — Quick Look ''file name'';
+* Context menu (right-click or {{keypress|Control}}-mouse click), then Quick Look ''file name''.
+==Caching and Forensics==
+Quick Look can be exploited when conducting a [[Computer forensics|forensic examination]] of a computer's contents. A [[thumbnail]] cache is created for each user in a random subfolder of <code>/var/folders</code> called '''com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache'''. The cache contains two files;
+* '''index.sqlite''' which is a [[SQLite]] database containing two tables - '''files''' and '''thumbnails'''.
+::'''files''' contains the name, path, file-identifier, and volume-identifier of each file in the database.
+::'''thumbnails''' contains metadata about each thumbnail, including the file linked-to in the files table and the offset of its data contained in '''thumbnails.data'''.
+* '''thumbnails.data''' contains the raw [[bitmap]]s of the cached thumbnails.
+Quick Look thumbnails are stored for documents on internal disks and also for documents located on removable disks, ''including those that have been encrypted'' and can pose a significant security hole. A document may well have a number of thumbnails, each having different dimensions that can range from very large to very small.
+The cache can be reset by invoking the <code>qlmanage -r cache</code> command via a Terminal window.
-Key board shortcuts:
-: {{keypress|Cmd}}-{{keypress|Y}} or {{keypress|space}}
-command line:<ref>https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man1/qlmanage.1.html</ref>
-<source lang="bash"> qlmanage -p file </source>
-menus:
-:<code>File-Quick look</code> or <code>RIGHT CLICK-Quick Look</code>
 ==See also==
+* [[GNOME sushi]]
 * [[Office Open XML software]]
 * [[OpenDocument software]]
@@ Line 182: / Line 212: @@
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.quicklookplugins.com/ A directory of Quick Look Plugins for Apple’s OS X 10.5 Leopard]
+* [http://www.quicklookplugins.com/ A Quick Look Plugins list for Mac OS X]
-* [https://launchpad.net/gloobus Gloobus], an [[Linux]] application based on Quick Look
+* [https://launchpad.net/gloobus Gloobus], a [[Linux]] application based on Quick Look
-{{Mac OS X}}
+{{macOS}}
-[[Category:OS X]]
+[[Category:MacOS]]