Check a file before you send it

01Identify the file before renaming it

Practise with sample deliverables rather than important originals. Use Finder’s file information and preview tools to check the candidate’s type, contents and identity.

Do not rename several similar files before you know which is right. A clearer name helps only after you have identified the item it describes. A duplicate, alias and moved file also serve different purposes; choose the one that fits the handoff you are preparing.

02Inspect what the recipient will receive

1. Open the actual candidate. For a PDF, check the beginning and the later pages that matter to the task, rather than relying only on its first page.
2. If you create a separate delivery copy, inspect that copy too. Confirm that its content is readable, its name is understandable and its location is one you can find again. Do not assume that a copied or exported file matches the original without checking it.

03Check privacy and the destination

Previews and metadata do not prove that hidden or sensitive information was removed. Use the appropriate application when redaction or export settings matter.

Review Finder paths, file lists and information panels before sharing screenshots. This workflow is not forensic sanitization, and a shortcut reference cannot review a deliverable for you. Before starting the separate sharing action, confirm the exact selected item and where it will be sent.