Switch Preview tabs and documents without confusing them

Identify the container you are navigating

A Preview window can present more than one document, and the application can also have tabs. Decide whether you are moving between tabs or among documents inside the current window. Similar-looking PDFs make it particularly important to read the title or sidebar selection before continuing an annotation or export task.

Keep document navigation distinct from page navigation

Moving to another document is not the same as moving to the next PDF page. If the content changes more than expected, check the selected document and page indicator. A keyboard sequence that is convenient while comparing images may be inappropriate when you meant to continue reading the next page of one PDF.

Practise with clearly named files

Use two harmless documents with different titles, move between them and then return to the starting document. Repeat the exercise with tabs if your setup uses them. Learning which container the command acts on helps avoid accidentally printing or marking up the wrong document later.

Check the title after moving

After each navigation command, read the document title or visible tab name. Moving to another page of one PDF is different from switching to another open document. This check catches an unintended switch before you copy text or print the wrong file.

Documented commands for this workflow

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Keep going

• Switch Mac apps without losing the window you need
• Move a Preview PDF by page or by screenful