File Previews
Open Science chooses a preview from the extension, MIME type, and available renderer. A preview failure leaves the source file unchanged; use Download and open the file elsewhere when needed.
Tables and source code
CSV files appear as a row-and-column grid. Very large files may show only a bounded immediate view. Code and plain-text previews include line numbers and syntax colors, with Download and Close in the header.
JSON appears in a structured or source view. Markdown renders headings, lists, links, and code. HTML uses a controlled preview policy; don't treat a script in an untrusted HTML file as code with application privileges.
Molecules and structures
PDB files use a 3Dmol view. Drag to rotate, use the wheel to zoom, and hold Shift while dragging to pan. Cartoon, Stick, Sphere, Surface, and Line change the representation. Cartoon can be unavailable when the structure lacks usable secondary-structure data. The repository also defines other molecular formats; a parse failure falls back to a text or download message.
Preview families
| Preview family | Common formats | Main actions |
|---|---|---|
| Code and text | .py, .r, .js, .ts, .txt, and others | Line numbers, syntax colors, copy, download |
| CSV | .csv | Read rows and columns, scroll, download |
| Markdown, JSON, HTML | .md, .json, .html | Rendered or structured view |
| Images and TIFF | PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, TIFF | Zoom and pan; TIFF uses a dedicated worker and thumbnail path |
.pdf | Page thumbnails, paging, zoom, download | |
| Office | DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and related formats | Managed Office renderer with fallback actions |
| Biological sequence | FASTA and related names | Sequence-oriented view |
| Molecule and structure | PDB and supported molecule formats | 3D rotation, zoom, representation controls |
| Unknown | Other binary or oversized files | Fallback information and download |
Modal and split-view controls
A modal header can contain Download, status, File actions, Full screen, and Close. Split-view tabs also show artifact v1, v2, and later versions. Previous/Next Artifact version changes version; Full screen only changes the layout and doesn't create a new version.
Right-click inside preview content for actions appropriate to its source. A local file can offer Copy path, Download, and Save as artifact. A managed artifact can offer provenance or return-to-context actions. Saving a local file as an artifact starts a managed publication; wait for success before citing its version. A context menu does not broaden access—unknown files and links remain untrusted.
Record both the file name and artifact version when citing a research result. Two files with the same name can contain different data. The immutable provenance version ID is the reproducible reference.
PDF reading context and source previews
The PDF preview supports thumbnails, outline, document search, page navigation, zoom, selectable text, and rectangular region selection. Link up to three PDFs to the current session when the agent needs reading context; unlink them when later turns should not read them. Evidence annotations reveal their original page and region.
HTTPS citations in agent responses open in a sandboxed source preview with the full URL and an external-browser action. Verify the hostname before leaving the app. A blocked, redirected, or failed page should be treated as unavailable evidence, not as confirmation of its contents.