Work with files - Quick reference

Task

Action

Open a frequently used document

After having added the document to the Special menu, display the Special menu and choose the document.

Open a recently used document

Display the Special menu and choose the document from the Recent Documents submenu.

Open a document with a specific application

Select the document in the Special menu and choose the application from the Open With submenu.

If the application is running, you can choose it from the Open With Running Application submenu.

Show a file in the Finder

Select the file in the Special menu and choose Show in Finder.

Share a file with Mail, Messages, AirDrop, Twitter, Facebook, and other services

Select the file in the Special menu and choose a service from the Share submenu.

View the contents of a file package

After having enabled the display of package contents in previews, select the file package in the Special menu and display the Package Contents submenu.

On macOS 14 or earlier, you can also hold down the Control key and select the file package in the Special menu.

Run an AppleScript

Select the AppleScript in the Special menu and choose Run Script.

Preview a song, movie, or document

Select the file in the Special menu.

View a PDF file as a slideshow

Select the PDF file in the Special menu and choose Slideshow.

View a file’s kind, UTI, size, creation and modification date, and tags

Select the file in the Special menu.

View when a file was last opened

Select the file in the Special menu and display the More Info submenu.

View the metadata associated with a song, movie, or PDF file

Select the file in the Special menu and display the More Info submenu.

View information about a zip archive

Select the zip archive in the Special menu and display the More Info and Zip Archive Contents submenus.

Move a file to another folder or disk

Select the file in the Special menu and choose “Move to”. Browse and select the destination folder or disk and click Move.

Move a file to the Trash

Select the file in the Special menu, hold down the Control key, and choose Move to Trash.

Copy a file to another folder or disk

Select the file in the Special menu and choose “Copy to”. Browse and select the destination folder or disk and click Copy.

Copy a file to the desktop

Select the file in the Special menu and choose Copy to Desktop.

Copy a file path to the Clipboard

Select the file in the Special menu and choose a path style from the Copy Path submenu.