Default Preview
When Phials does not have a specialized preview for a file, you see the default preview: a clear file-type icon and a short message that a richer preview is not available. This is normal for unknown extensions and common compressed archives, along with other cases where Phials does not render inner contents, and it keeps browsing fast and predictable.
For how previews fit together in the window, see File previews.
When you see the default preview
You see this preview when Phials treats the file as a common compressed archive (for example .zip and similar “bundle” types in that same family) or as an unknown type, and no other preview is a better match. If another preview applies, such as images, video, plain text, Markdown, or spreadsheets, that preview is shown instead.
Some other archive-like formats may fall outside this fallback. In those cases the preview area can show a simple “No preview available” empty state instead. Both states mean Phials is not drawing file contents inside the preview. Only the wording and layout differ slightly.
Specialized previews for photos, movies, readable documents, and similar files always take precedence when a match exists.
You may see the default preview in the preview sidebar, in a preview tab, or in thumbnail slots that follow the same rules.
What is on screen
- A large icon based on the file name, the same idea as the file-type icons elsewhere in the app.
- The line: “Preview not available for this file type.”
That is all the preview body shows. It is informational, not an error.
What you can still do
The default preview only replaces rich content. Other parts of the window, such as metadata, properties in a Vial, notes, and backlinks when applicable, can still update for the selected file. To open or edit the file with another app, use your usual command or double-click behavior for that file type. The default preview does not open a preview tab on double-click the way some fullscreen-capable previews do.
Tips
- Archives without a listing preview still get a recognizable icon so you can confirm the selection at a glance.
- If you expected an image or document preview, check the file extension or whether the file is actually a bundle or renamed type. Phials follows the file’s detected kind when choosing a preview.