Is there any way to get the the file selection option to do something like open the target file in writer, or a pdf in adobe?
This question does not make any sense! What ‘file selection’? Where? Please ask with something like: ’ I go File > Open and I want … to happen ’ which gives some idea of where you are and what part of LibreOffice you are in when you do it.
In general, how files open depends on the part of LibreOffice you open them from and their file type. LibreOffice won’t open a file in adobe. You will have to save it in pdf format first (File > Export as PDF) and then it will open in Adobe Acrobat.