View and inspect files

Phials chooses a representation that fits the selected file. Use the File panel for quick, selection-following inspection, or open a file tab when you want the file to remain in the center while you browse elsewhere.

Start with Inspect files in the File panel or Open files in file tabs if those surfaces are new to you. Then use the format-specific article below for the controls and limitations of the representation you see.

• View images and graphics
• Play audio and video
• Read PDFs and text-based files
• Browse spreadsheets and databases
• Inspect folders and technical projects
• Inspect apps, executables, disk images, and archives
• View fonts and 3D models
• Handle files Phials cannot display

These articles describe how to inspect files, not every supported extension. Use File viewing and editing support for the complete format matrix, Metadata support by file type for extracted fields, and Thumbnail support by file type for Grid and Gallery coverage.

When a representation can also change a file, the procedure belongs under Edit files in Phials. Inspection-only surfaces do not add editing controls merely because the same file is editable elsewhere.