# How to open attached citation- or source-files

**URL:** <https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-open-attached-citation-or-source-files/15430>\
**Category:** RootsMagic\
**Tags:** question\
**Created:** [February 16, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-open-attached-citation-or-source-files/15430 "2026-02-16T14:08:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![marcelma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@marcelma](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/marcelma)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-open-attached-citation-or-source-files/15430/1 "2026-02-16T14:08:38Z")

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I have attached certain files, that “live” in a structured way on my harddisk, as media to sources and/or citations. My problem is, that if those files are not simple .jpg files but .docx or .doc or .pdf, I can not reliably open them by clicking on the media image. What am I doing wrong? I am using the Mac-Version of RM11.

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**Author:** ![kevinm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/85e7bf/32.png) [@kevinm](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevinm)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-open-attached-citation-or-source-files/15430/2 "2026-02-16T16:32:59Z")

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Use the crayon or pencil (Edit Media) icon rather then the magnifying glass (view) icon.

 ![Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 8.27.32 AM](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/9/98bd4fa6873553cfa13a9fec9c5ac7c818e7fc1c.png)

from online (F1) help - [Edit Person Media Album](https://help.rootsmagic.com/RM11/edit-person-media-album.html)

_The buttons above the edit panel let you_

- _Magnifying glass - view the image in a built-in viewer_
- _Pencil - view / edit the image in the program associated with the image file type_

In simple terms, the edit icon will launch the program on your computer that knows how to view that particular file type versus RM having to have built-in file viewers for a range of different file formats. I suggest using the pencil for all file types.

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**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-open-attached-citation-or-source-files/15430/3 "2026-02-16T17:24:00Z")

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> [@marcelma](#):
>
> What am I doing wrong? I am using the Mac-Version of RM11.

Clarifying your question and what you may need vs what you are asking .

You can attach media to facts or Citation/Source or BOTH

you can see summary (for RM11) on the Life Summary View like this  
(it will tell you total media count)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/6/68b21b870750277610ac6c31efdefbd982166ffc.png)

you can then see media counts by each fact

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/6/660b27314f1201a6eaaa9a88e14554ea9f094829.png)

or by citation/source

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/c/cb8a350ea54eb4c0da8efab8daadba0638b53589.png)

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**Author:** ![marcelma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@marcelma](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/marcelma)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-open-attached-citation-or-source-files/15430/4 "2026-02-16T18:55:06Z")

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Indeed, it works as you described. Thanks a lot!