Hookmark, Skim, and Preview

This is not really a problem, but I’m interested to hear what other users find most workable. I’ve noticed that when I set my default pdf reader to Preview, Hookmark links only take me to the first page, even where I’ve set up a deep link in Skim. If I change the default reader back to Skim, all works as expected. I could leave Skim as the default reader, but for everything else related to pdf files (particularly searching) I find Preview far more versatile. I’m wondering whether it would be better (1) to keep Preview as default and manually select Skim In Finder Information for every file for which I’ve created a Hookmark link, or (2) make Skim the default and use 'Open with … ’ whenever I want to use Preview. I’m working with the second option at present, but am inclined to think that the first would be better long term.

I use OpenIn (link) which gives you a pop up menu when you open a PDF. Then you click on which you want, or press 1, 2, 3, etc to choose the app you want.

Alternatively you can make it use a specific app by opening the file while holding down shift, cmd or option.

You can also set it up with rules, like always using a certain option when opened in a particular app, or when opened from a certain path on the file system.

Its free with SetApp or costs £12 as a one off. Its main task is actually to handle opening links in different browsers, but since it works with suffixes as well as prefixes, it’ll work with any file typ. I also like using it with MD files so I can switch between editing and previewing MD files in different apps.

Thanks for this @bishblaize, I didn’t know about Openin but it looks like it’s worth a go.

I too wish that I could ‘control’ which app to use when opening a Hookmark hook. My workaround, for the time being, is to change the “Open With” default app in Finder to Skim for those deep-linked PDFs. It’s a hassle, I know and sometime I forget to change the default app for those particular files; however, an unintended side effect is that I have a visual cue in Hookmark for those files that -if I did the homework- are referenced as having a deep link.

Now that I wrote it, maybe that’s a good idea for an enhancement. The ability to specify in Hookmark which application to use when a deep link is present in the hook reference.

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Thank you for this request, @Tetoco .

I have created an issue for this feature request.

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Much appreciated.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I failed miserably at creating a script to run in Preview’s Open Item tab, that would identify a deep-link url hook and redirect to open with Skim. It proved to be beyond my scripting abilities and understanding of how Scripts option works in Hookmark.

Thanks again