diff --git a/frontend/src/app/DocumentsRoute.tsx b/frontend/src/app/DocumentsRoute.tsx
index efd6028..f1b0ade 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/DocumentsRoute.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/DocumentsRoute.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   DocumentsFilterProvider,
 } from '../documents/context/DocumentsFilterContext';
 import { PreviewProvider } from '../preview/PreviewContext';
+import { DocumentOpenProvider } from '../context/DocumentOpenContext';
 import { useWorkspaceSurface } from './useWorkspaceSurface';
 import { DocumentsHeaderBreadcrumb } from '../documents/panel/DocumentsPanelHeader';
 import { SidebarProvider, useSidebarContext } from '../sidebar/SidebarContext';
@@ -83,7 +84,9 @@ const DocumentsRouteContent: React.FC = () => {
       <PreviewProvider
         onNavigate={handleDocumentNavigate}
       >
-        {content}
+        <DocumentOpenProvider onOpenViewer={handleDocumentNavigate}>
+          {content}
+        </DocumentOpenProvider>
       </PreviewProvider>
     </DocumentsFilterProvider>
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/context/DocumentOpenContext.tsx b/frontend/src/context/DocumentOpenContext.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..692ac2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/context/DocumentOpenContext.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import React, { createContext, useContext, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { usePreviewContext } from '../preview/PreviewContext';
+import { useAppShell } from '../appShellContext';
+import type { Document } from '../types/documents';
+import type { Identifier } from '../types/identifiers';
+
+export type DocumentOpenTarget = 'preview' | 'sidepanel' | 'viewer';
+
+export interface DocumentOpenContextValue {
+    openDocument: (doc: Document, target?: DocumentOpenTarget) => void;
+}
+
+const DocumentOpenContext = createContext<DocumentOpenContextValue | null>(null);
+
+export const useDocumentOpen = () => {
+    const context = useContext(DocumentOpenContext);
+    if (!context) {
+        throw new Error('useDocumentOpen must be used within a DocumentOpenProvider');
+    }
+    return context;
+};
+
+export const DocumentOpenProvider: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode; onOpenViewer?: (docId: Identifier) => void }> = ({ children, onOpenViewer }) => {
+    const { openPreview } = usePreviewContext();
+    const appShell = useAppShell();
+
+    // We cast appShell.openDetailPanel because AppShellContext is loosely typed
+    const openDetailPanel = appShell.openDetailPanel as ((args: { documentIds: Identifier[] }) => void) | undefined;
+
+    const openDocument = useCallback((doc: Document, target: DocumentOpenTarget = 'preview') => {
+        if (!doc) return;
+
+        switch (target) {
+            case 'preview':
+                openPreview(doc);
+                break;
+            case 'sidepanel':
+                if (openDetailPanel) {
+                    openDetailPanel({ documentIds: [doc.id] });
+                } else {
+                    console.warn('openDetailPanel is not available in AppShellContext');
+                }
+                break;
+            case 'viewer':
+                if (onOpenViewer) {
+                    onOpenViewer(doc.id);
+                }
+                break;
+        }
+    }, [openPreview, openDetailPanel, onOpenViewer]);
+
+    return (
+        <DocumentOpenContext.Provider value={{ openDocument }}>
+            {children}
+        </DocumentOpenContext.Provider>
+    );
+};
diff --git a/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.tsx b/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.tsx
index 85b7968..6c6f474 100644
--- a/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.tsx
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ import { createDocumentEntryKey } from '../app/entryKey';
 import { PointerTrackingProvider, usePointerTracking } from './PointerTrackingContext';
 import type { Identifier } from '../types/identifiers';
 import type { DocumentsListEntry, Document } from '../types/documents';
-import { usePreviewContext } from '../preview/PreviewContext';
 import { useAppState } from '../app/appState';
+import { useDocumentOpen } from '../context/DocumentOpenContext';
 
 type TagLike = { id?: Identifier | null; label?: string; color?: string | null } | null;
 type OverlaySource = { url: string; alt?: string | null; mimeType?: string | null; };
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ export interface DesktopWorkspaceProps {
   entries: DocumentsListEntry[];
   ensureAssetUrl?: (...args: any[]) => Promise<unknown>;
   getDocumentAsset?: (...args: any[]) => unknown;
-  onDocumentActivate?: (doc: DeskDocument, event?: unknown) => void;
   onSelectionChange?: (selectedIds: Identifier[]) => void;
   onDocumentTagAttach?: (docId: Identifier, tagId: Identifier) => void;
   onDocumentTagDetach?: (docId: Identifier, tagId: Identifier) => void;
@@ -83,14 +82,13 @@ const DesktopWorkspaceContent: React.FC<DesktopWorkspaceProps> = ({
   entries,
   ensureAssetUrl,
   getDocumentAsset,
-  onDocumentActivate,
   onSelectionChange,
   onDocumentTagAttach,
   onDocumentTagDetach,
   viewId,
   defaultCardSize = 200,
 }) => {
-  const { openPreview } = usePreviewContext();
+  const { openDocument } = useDocumentOpen();
   const { tenant } = useAppState();
   const tenantId = tenant?.id as Identifier;
   const { addPointer, removePointer } = usePointerTracking();
@@ -240,7 +238,7 @@ const DesktopWorkspaceContent: React.FC<DesktopWorkspaceProps> = ({
         const doc = items.find(i => String(i.id) === lastId);
         if (doc) {
           e.preventDefault();
-          openPreview(doc);
+          openDocument(doc, 'preview');
           return;
         }
       }
@@ -352,7 +350,7 @@ const DesktopWorkspaceContent: React.FC<DesktopWorkspaceProps> = ({
 
     window.addEventListener('keydown', handleWindowKeyDown);
     return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleWindowKeyDown);
-  }, [selectedDocumentIds, items, openPreview, layoutStore, handleSelectionChange]);
+  }, [selectedDocumentIds, items, openDocument, layoutStore, handleSelectionChange]);
 
   return (
     <>
@@ -424,7 +422,10 @@ const DesktopWorkspaceContent: React.FC<DesktopWorkspaceProps> = ({
                 ensureAssetUrl={ensureAssetUrl}
                 getDocumentAsset={getDocumentAsset}
                 handleNavigatorSnapshot={() => { }}
-                onDocumentActivate={(_id, event) => { onDocumentActivate?.(doc, event) }}
+                onDocumentActivate={(_id, event) => {
+                  const isPreview = event && ((event as any).altKey || (event as any).button === 1);
+                  openDocument(doc, isPreview ? 'preview' : 'sidepanel');
+                }}
                 layoutCard={layoutCard}
                 onTagDragEnter={tagInteractions.handleTagDragEnterDoc}
                 onTagDragOver={tagInteractions.handleTagDragOverDoc}
diff --git a/frontend/src/documents/DocumentsView.tsx b/frontend/src/documents/DocumentsView.tsx
index a95f855..ad219c4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/documents/DocumentsView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/documents/DocumentsView.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { useDocumentViewLogic, DocumentViewLogic } from './hooks/useDocumentView
 import { useDocumentsNavigation } from './hooks/useDocumentsNavigation';
 import { useWorkspaceSelectionContext } from '../app/WorkspaceSelectionContext';
 import { usePanelManager } from '../app/PanelManagerContext';
-import { usePreviewContext } from '../preview/PreviewContext';
 import DocumentsListRow from './components/DocumentsListRow';
 import DocumentsGridCard from './components/DocumentsGridCard';
 import DocumentsListContainer from './components/DocumentsListContainer';
@@ -24,7 +23,6 @@ const AbstractDocumentsView = <CProps extends { clearSelection: () => void; chil
     ...props
 }: AbstractDocumentsViewProps<CProps>) => {
     const { entries, onDocumentRename, onFolderRename, onFolderSelect, scrollRef, viewId } = props;
-    const { openPreview } = usePreviewContext();
     const viewLogic = useDocumentViewLogic({
         onDocumentRename,
         onFolderRename,
@@ -32,7 +30,6 @@ const AbstractDocumentsView = <CProps extends { clearSelection: () => void; chil
     const { handleKeyDown, handleFocus } = useDocumentsNavigation({
         entries,
         onFolderSelect,
-        onPreview: openPreview,
         viewMode: props.viewMode,
         scrollRef: props.scrollRef,
     });
@@ -105,7 +102,6 @@ const AbstractDocumentsView = <CProps extends { clearSelection: () => void; chil
                     entry={entry}
                     viewLogic={viewLogic}
                     {...props}
-                    onPreview={openPreview}
                 />
             ))}
         </ContainerComponent>
diff --git a/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentItemLogic.ts b/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentItemLogic.ts
index 90deca2..5a4ae9a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentItemLogic.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentItemLogic.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React, { type DragEvent } from 'react';
 import { parseTagTransferPayload } from '../tagTransfer';
 import { createDocumentEntryKey } from '../../app/entryKey';
+import { useDocumentOpen } from '../../context/DocumentOpenContext';
 import type { Document } from '../../types/documents';
 import type { DocumentsViewProps } from '../panel/DocumentsPanel';
 import type { DocumentViewLogic } from './useDocumentViewLogic';
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@ export const useDocumentItemLogic = (props: UseDocumentItemLogicProps) => {
         doc,
         viewLogic,
         draggingDocumentIdsSet,
-        onDocumentActivate,
         onDocumentDragStart,
         onDocumentDragEnd,
         onDocumentTagDragStart,
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ export const useDocumentItemLogic = (props: UseDocumentItemLogicProps) => {
         isEditingDoc && trimmedDocumentDraft.length > 0 && trimmedDocumentDraft !== doc.title;
     const allowInlineDocumentEdit = onDocumentRename && isSelected && totalSelectionCount === 1;
 
+    const { openDocument } = useDocumentOpen();
+
     const handlers = {
         onClick: (event: React.MouseEvent) => {
             if (props.onEntryPointer) {
@@ -63,7 +65,10 @@ export const useDocumentItemLogic = (props: UseDocumentItemLogicProps) => {
                 handleEntrySelection(key, event);
             }
         },
-        onDoubleClick: (event: React.MouseEvent) => onDocumentActivate?.(doc, event),
+        onDoubleClick: (event: React.MouseEvent) => {
+            const isPreview = event && (event.altKey || event.button === 1);
+            openDocument(doc, isPreview ? 'preview' : 'sidepanel');
+        },
         onDragStart: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>) => onDocumentDragStart?.(event, doc),
         onDragEnd: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>) => onDocumentDragEnd?.(event),
         onDragOver: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>) => onDocumentTagDragOver?.(event, doc.id),
diff --git a/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsNavigation.ts b/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsNavigation.ts
index 684f30c..99812d9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsNavigation.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsNavigation.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import React, { useCallback, useMemo } from 'react';
 import type { DocumentsListEntry } from '../../types/documents';
 import { useWorkspaceSelectionContext } from '../../app/WorkspaceSelectionContext';
+import { useDocumentOpen } from '../../context/DocumentOpenContext';
 
 interface UseDocumentsNavigationProps {
     entries: DocumentsListEntry[];
     onFolderSelect?: (folderId: string) => void;
-    onPreview?: (doc: any) => void;
     viewMode?: string;
     scrollRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLElement | null>;
 }
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ interface UseDocumentsNavigationProps {
 export const useDocumentsNavigation = ({
     entries,
     onFolderSelect,
-    onPreview,
     viewMode,
     scrollRef,
 }: UseDocumentsNavigationProps) => {
@@ -25,6 +24,8 @@ export const useDocumentsNavigation = ({
         applySelection,
     } = useWorkspaceSelectionContext();
 
+    const { openDocument } = useDocumentOpen();
+
     const navigableRows = useMemo(
         () => entries.map((entry) => ({ key: entry.key, type: entry.type, id: entry.id })),
         [entries],
@@ -109,7 +110,8 @@ export const useDocumentsNavigation = ({
                     } else {
                         const entry = getEntryByKey(activeRow.key);
                         if (entry && entry.type === 'document') {
-                            onPreview?.(entry.document);
+                            const isPreview = key === ' ' || key === 'Space' || key === 'Spacebar';
+                            openDocument(entry.document, isPreview ? 'preview' : 'sidepanel');
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -175,7 +177,7 @@ export const useDocumentsNavigation = ({
             navigableRows,
             onFolderSelect,
             selectedEntries,
-            onPreview,
+            openDocument,
             handleEntrySelection,
             setFocusedEntryKey,
             viewMode,
diff --git a/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsPanelProps.ts b/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsPanelProps.ts
index 4bee8c6..a05ee60 100644
--- a/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsPanelProps.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/documents/hooks/useDocumentsPanelProps.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ export interface UseDocumentsPanelPropsArgs {
   clearDocumentSelection?: () => void;
   handleDeleteSelection?: () => void;
   handleEntryPointerCore?: (...args: unknown[]) => void;
-  onDocumentActivate?: (docId: Identifier | null, metadata?: unknown) => void;
   tags?: unknown[];
   correspondents?: unknown[];
   documentLookup?: unknown;
@@ -105,7 +104,6 @@ const useDocumentsPanelProps = (props: UseDocumentsPanelPropsArgs) => {
     handleDocumentsViewModeChange,
     handleDeleteSelection,
     handleEntryPointerCore,
-    onDocumentActivate,
     tags,
     correspondents,
     documentLookup,
@@ -159,7 +157,6 @@ const useDocumentsPanelProps = (props: UseDocumentsPanelPropsArgs) => {
       onViewModeChange: handleDocumentsViewModeChange,
       onDeleteSelection: handleDeleteSelection,
       onEntryPointer: handleEntryPointerCore,
-      onDocumentActivate,
       tags,
       correspondents,
       documentLookup,
@@ -206,7 +203,6 @@ const useDocumentsPanelProps = (props: UseDocumentsPanelPropsArgs) => {
       handleFolderDragEnd,
       handleFolderDragStart,
       handleFolderRename,
-      onDocumentActivate,
       moveDocumentsToFolder,
       refreshCurrentFolder,
       searchLoading,
diff --git a/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsPanel.tsx
index d6325dd..2fd501a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsPanel.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import type {
 } from '../../types/documents';
 import DesktopWorkspace from '../../desktop/DesktopWorkspace';
 import { isTagTransferEvent } from '../tagTransfer';
-import { usePreviewContext } from '../../preview/PreviewContext';
 import { isPointerModifierEvent, isPrimaryPointerEvent } from '../useEntryPointer';
 import {
   WorkspaceSelectionProvider,
@@ -65,7 +64,6 @@ export interface DocumentsViewProps {
   onFolderDragStart?: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>, folderId: Identifier | 'root') => void;
   onFolderDragEnd?: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>) => void;
   onFolderRename?: (folderId: Identifier | 'root', nextName: string) => Promise<boolean> | boolean;
-  onDocumentActivate?: (doc: Document, event?: unknown) => void;
   onDocumentDragStart?: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>, document: Document) => void;
   onDocumentDragEnd?: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>) => void;
   onDocumentTagDragStart?: (event: DragEvent<HTMLElement>, docId: Identifier, tagId: Identifier) => void;
@@ -106,7 +104,6 @@ const DocumentsPanelInner: React.FC<DocumentsPanelInnerProps> = ({
   onDocumentDragEnd,
   onDocumentRename,
   onEntryPointer = null,
-  onDocumentActivate = null,
   tagLookupById,
   activeCorrespondentIds = [],
   ensureAssetUrl = null,
@@ -317,8 +314,6 @@ const DocumentsPanelInner: React.FC<DocumentsPanelInnerProps> = ({
   const isGridView = viewMode === 'grid';
   const isDeskView = viewMode === 'desk';
 
-  const { openPreview } = usePreviewContext();
-
   const isTagDragEvent = useCallback((event) => isTagTransferEvent(event), []);
 
   const draggingTagRef = useRef<{ docId: Identifier; tagId: Identifier } | null>(null);
@@ -365,26 +360,6 @@ const DocumentsPanelInner: React.FC<DocumentsPanelInnerProps> = ({
     [isTagDragEvent],
   );
 
-  const handleDocumentActivate = useCallback(
-    (doc, event?: React.MouseEvent | KeyboardEvent | null) => {
-      if (!doc) {
-        return;
-      }
-
-      // Handle Preview (Alt+Click or Middle Click)
-      if (event && (event.altKey || ((event as React.MouseEvent).button === 1))) {
-        openPreview(doc);
-        return;
-      }
-
-      // Handle Activation (Double Click, Enter, or explicit call)
-      if (onDocumentActivate) {
-        onDocumentActivate(doc);
-      }
-    },
-    [onDocumentActivate, openPreview],
-  );
-
   const handleFolderClick = useCallback(
     (folder, event) => {
       if (!folder) {
@@ -445,7 +420,6 @@ const DocumentsPanelInner: React.FC<DocumentsPanelInnerProps> = ({
     onFolderDragStart,
     onFolderDragEnd,
     onFolderRename,
-    onDocumentActivate: handleDocumentActivate,
     onDocumentDragStart: handleDocumentDragStartLocal,
     onDocumentDragEnd: handleDocumentDragEndLocal,
     onDocumentTagDragStart: handleDocumentTagDragStart,
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.ts
index 84b12cc..8c1ce1e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.ts
@@ -1069,7 +1069,6 @@ const useDocumentsWorkspace = ({
     detailPanelProps,
     detailPanelOpen,
     openDetailPanel,
-    inspectDocument,
     previewActive,
     previewWorkspaceDocument,
     resolveFolderPath,
@@ -1178,7 +1177,6 @@ const useDocumentsWorkspace = ({
     clearDocumentSelection,
     handleDeleteSelection,
     handleEntryPointerCore,
-    onDocumentActivate: inspectDocument,
     tags,
     correspondents,
     documentLookup,