QuickLook

Background

One of the few features I missed from macOS is Quick Look. It allows users to peek into a file content in lightning speed by just pressing the Space key. Windows, on the other hand, does not have this handy feature ... until now!

I am aware that several alternatives are already available on the Internet (e.g. WinQuickLook and Seer). Despite these options, I still decided to craft another one by myself, because they are either not being actively developed, lack of variety, or ask for some 💵.

Highlights

• Tons of supported file types (full list here)
• Fluent design
• Touchscreen friendly
• HiDPI support
• Preview from Open and Save File Dialog
• Preview from 3rd-party file managers (see a list here)
• Easily extended by plugins
• Strict GPL license to keep it free forever

Modification

Here is a modified version of QuickLook that continues to maintain and enhance some features.

External plugins are compatible with the original version.

What's the difference from the original QuickLook?

Functional differences

1. New build-in plugins
   1. BinaryViewer
   2. ExecutableViewer
   3. FontViewer
   4. HashViewer
2. Upgrade build-in plugins
   1. Support dark mode with MarkdownViewer
3. Upgrade main program
   1. Support dark mode NotifyIcon Tray Menu

Source code differences

1. Use .NET SDK type project.
2. Include Common project instead of using submodule.
3. Upgrade the versions of dependencies.
4. Fix some vulnerabilities.

External Plugins

Some external plugins from me.

PlantUMLViewer

TorrentViewer

XMindThumbnailViewer

DrawIOViewer

MarkmapViewer

FigmaThumbnailViewer

Usage

Download/Installation

Get it from one of the following sources:

• Microsoft Store (Windows 10 users only, no preview in open/save-dialogs available)
• Installer or portable archive of the stable version from GitHub Release
• Nightly builds from AppVeyor

What are the differences between .msi, .zip, Nightly and Store versions?

Note: Don't forget to check out the plugins for previewing office-files, epubs, fonts and more!

Typical usecase

1. Run QuickLook.exe (only necessary if autostart is disabled)
2. Select any file or folder (on the Desktop, in a File Explorer window, in an Open or Save-File dialogue, doesn't matter)
3. Press Spacebar
4. Enjoy the preview and interact with it
5. Preview next file by clicking on it or using arrow-keys (arrow-keys move selection in the background if the preview window is not in focus)
6. When you're done close it by either hitting Spacebar again, pressing Esc or clicking the ⨉ button

Hotkeys and buttons

• Spacebar Show/Hide the preview window
• Esc Hide the preview window
• Enter Open/Execute current file
• Mouse ↑ ↓ ← → Preview another file
• Mouse Wheel Zoom in/out (images)
• Ctrl+Mouse Wheel Zoom in/out (PDFs)
• Wheel Increase/decrease volume

Supported file types, file manager integration, etc.

See the Wiki page

Translations

See the Translation guide

Thanks to

• Many open-source projects and their contributors
• Our UI designers @OiCkilL (“Fluent” user interface since v0.3), @QubitsDev (app-icon v0.3-v3.6.9) and Donno (app-icon since v3.6.10)
• Our contributers who
  • teach QuickLook to speak your language
  • send pull requests, report bugs or give suggestions
• ... and you 😊

Licenses

This project references many other open-source projects. See here for the full list.

All source codes are licensed under GPL-3.0.

If you want to make any modification on these source codes while keeping new codes not protected by GPL-3.0, please contact me for a sublicense instead.