File Preview
Canopy offers two ways to preview files: a quick inline preview for a view-only look, and a full previewer for annotations, comments, and file actions — they are not interchangeable.
Required: Available to all Canopy users with access to Files.
Why it matters: Being able to confirm you have the right document before opening it saves time when working through a large client file list. The full previewer keeps you in context — no need to download a file just to review it or leave your place to add a note.
Table of Contents
Preview a File from Search Results
When to use this: You want a quick look at a file's contents without opening it — available in search results only.
Inline preview is part of the Document Search beta. Enable it in Settings > Experimental Features before using this workflow.
Run a search in Files from Global Files or a Client Record.
Hover over the Preview (eye) icon on the right side of any file row in the results.
A thumbnail of the document appears inline, showing the first page.
Use the arrow controls on either side of the thumbnail to page through the document.
Move your cursor away to dismiss the preview.
📝 Note: Inline preview is view-only — no actions are available from this view. To annotate, rename, or act on the file, open it in the full previewer instead.
Open the Full File Previewer
When to use this: You need to annotate, comment on, or take action on a file — available in Global Files, Client Records, and search results.
Locate the file in Global Files, a Client Record, or search results.
Click the three-dot menu on the right side of the file row.
Select View, then choose Preview.
The file opens in an overlay window on top of the current page.
Close the previewer by clicking the X in the top right — no need to navigate back in your browser.
Actions in the Full File Previewer
Once a file is open in the full previewer, the following actions are available in the toolbar:
Rename — Rename the file without closing the previewer.
Edit file — Open the file for editing.
Make visible to client / Remove from client portal — Toggle the file's visibility in the client portal.
Download — Download the file to your device.
Download with annotations - Download the file with annotations.
Print — Print the file directly.
Print with annotations - Print the file with annotations.
Open in new tab — Open the file in a new browser tab for a larger view.
View details — See file metadata including upload date, added by, and modification history.
You can also add annotations, comments, and notes directly to the file from this view. For a full guide to annotations, see How do I annotate files in Canopy?.
Summary
Use inline preview to quickly check a file's contents from search results without opening it, and the full previewer when you need to annotate, comment, or take action on a file. The full previewer is available from Global Files, Client Records, and search results via the three-dot menu.
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