Certain file types (.pdf and .docx) files will not open in the IDE on macOS Big Sur.

[R-Hannibal]

System details

RStudio Edition : Desktop
RStudio Version : 1.3.1093 / 1.4.1072
OS Version      : macOS Big Sur Version 11.1 Beta
R Version       : 4.0.3

Steps to reproduce the problem

1. Open the IDE > Navigate in the files pane to either a .docx or .pdf file and select it.

Describe the problem in detail

These 2 doc types (.docx + .pdf) appear inert in the IDE as selecting them from the files pane has no effect.

Describe the behavior you expected

Selecting either a .docx or .pdf file in the files pane opens it outside of the IDE.

Notes

• This issue has been reported by multiple users on community: https://community.rstudio.com/t/rstudio-accessing-word-and-or-pdf-previewer/88951

• I have read the guide for submitting good bug reports.
• I have installed the latest version of RStudio, and confirmed that the issue still persists.
• If I am reporting a RStudio crash, I have included a diagnostics report.
• I have done my best to include a minimal, self-contained set of instructions for consistently reproducing the issue.

[rressler]

I have the same issue (Mac os 11.0.1). It also affects html files. They will open in the editor but not in the browser.

[shirispitzsiddiqi]

Same issue for me! I have no info to add, just want to make it known and receive notifications about this...

[R-Hannibal]

Moving this issue into 1.4, seems like this is effecting lots of users.

Also, comment from @jjallaire - If this also prevents PDF preview for R Markdown / Sweave from working then it definitely meets the bar (for 1.4).

[ronblum]

The problem is limited to files with spaces in the name.

[ronblum]

Note: This also includes .html, .xls, and .xlsx files with spaces in the name. So, probably anything that involves opening an external application, if there are spaces in the name. (Checked on MacOS Big Sur 11.1 Beta 20C5048k.)

[rressler]

I experience with files with no spaces in the name, e.g., hw_forcats_lubridate.html From: Ron Blum <notifications@github.com> Reply-To: rstudio/rstudio <reply@reply.github.com> Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 3:37 PM To: rstudio/rstudio <rstudio@noreply.github.com> Cc: Richard Ressler <rressler@american.edu>, Comment <comment@noreply.github.com> Subject: Re: [rstudio/rstudio] Certain file types (.pdf and .docx) files will not open in the IDE on macOS Big Sur. (#8506) External Email: Use caution with links and attachments. Note: This also includes .html, .xls, and .xlsx files with spaces in the name. So, probably anything that involves opening an external application, if there are spaces in the name. (Checked on MacOS Big Sur 11.1 Beta 20C5048k.) — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/github.com/rstudio/rstudio/issues/8506*issuecomment-737481047__;Iw!!IaT_gp1N!ke9xHfuHfgp_05zixvZuuqIIXbEbtaRr41oNwjBJ7kghXiuWgvBsFtd2n99AHL3qKQ$>, or unsubscribe<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AOCMN3OTTU6PNTDMJPPR5ILSS2QPVANCNFSM4UJ7O67Q__;!!IaT_gp1N!ke9xHfuHfgp_05zixvZuuqIIXbEbtaRr41oNwjBJ7kghXiuWgvBsFtd2n98T_vrUZw$>.

[kevinushey]

@rressler: what is the full path to the file? Does that path contain any spaces (e.g. in your user name, project name, or elsewhere)?

[rressler]

Kevin, Yes there are spaces in the OneDrive connection. When I put an HTML file with no spaces in the name in the Users/rressler directory above that it works fine. If I then add a space in the filename, it does not work. So as RonBlum pointed out, the spaces are an issue, and that is if they occur anywhere in the complete path/filename. /Users/rressler/OneDrive - american.edu/Courses/STAT-412-612/Lectures_All/12_forcats-lubridate/a_factors.html Thanks! Richard From: Kevin Ushey <notifications@github.com> Reply-To: rstudio/rstudio <reply@reply.github.com> Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 4:52 PM To: rstudio/rstudio <rstudio@noreply.github.com> Cc: Richard Ressler <rressler@american.edu>, Mention <mention@noreply.github.com> Subject: Re: [rstudio/rstudio] Certain file types (.pdf and .docx) files will not open in the IDE on macOS Big Sur. (#8506) External Email: Use caution with links and attachments. @rressler<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/github.com/rressler__;!!IaT_gp1N!hRqa2Tt_IZEeEigZGyKMtHm4GS7URMbU7hHJlmksYXj43eFHGOe2E4Zrs1R7ZkuPyQ$>: what is the full path to the file? Does that path contain any spaces (e.g. in your user name, project name, or elsewhere)? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/github.com/rstudio/rstudio/issues/8506*issuecomment-737518073__;Iw!!IaT_gp1N!hRqa2Tt_IZEeEigZGyKMtHm4GS7URMbU7hHJlmksYXj43eFHGOe2E4Zrs1TiAMsQtw$>, or unsubscribe<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AOCMN3O6AFFZYCSCU6THME3SS2ZJJANCNFSM4UJ7O67Q__;!!IaT_gp1N!hRqa2Tt_IZEeEigZGyKMtHm4GS7URMbU7hHJlmksYXj43eFHGOe2E4Zrs1R7cjO3LA$>.

[gtritchie]

Investigation in progress, some notes:

• this is Big Sur-specific (doesn't happen on Catalina)
• if you run RStudio from terminal, and try to open a pdf, word-doc, etc. with spaces in the path you see something like this:

The file /Applications/RStudio.app/Contents/MacOS/file:/Users/gary/Desktop/word the doc.docx does not exist.

In this case that actual file is /Users/gary/Desktop/word the doc.docx not sure why the Application path is being prepended to the error displayed by the open command.

The code that loads files in this situation is here:

rstudio/src/cpp/desktop/DesktopGwtCallback.cpp

Lines 209 to 234 in 3ce9c7e

	if (qurl.scheme() == QString::fromUtf8("file"))
	{
	QProcess open;
	QStringList args;
	// force use of Preview for PDFs (Adobe Reader 10.01 crashes)
	if (url.toLower().endsWith(QString::fromUtf8(".pdf")))
	{
	args.append(QString::fromUtf8("-a"));
	args.append(QString::fromUtf8("Preview"));
	args.append(url);
	}
	else
	{
	args.append(url);
	}
	open.start(QString::fromUtf8("open"), args);
	open.waitForFinished(5000);
	if (open.exitCode() != 0)
	{
	// Probably means that the file doesn't have a registered
	// application or something.
	QProcess reveal;
	reveal.startDetached(QString::fromUtf8("open"), QStringList() << QString::fromUtf8("-R") << url);
	}
	return;
	}

I tried a few obvious escaping strategies with no success (surround the path with quotes, put backslash in front of spaces).

[ronblum]

Confirmed in RStudio Desktop 1.4.1093 by open a file with .html, .docx, .xlsx, and .pdf files with spaces in the name, and .xlsx with a space in the parent directory's name. In addition, for .xlsx, also confirmed that Import Dataset is successful.