Microsoft PhotoDraw / Photoshop / Illustrator Thumbail Previews Go

[Alan_P]

I've used XP and was able to see a 'preview' of the file image (such as a
picture) of a MS PhotoDraw, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator drawing. But since
moving to Vista (64bit Home Premium) there is NO preview (to explain this
better, look at a picture thumbail and the same applies to these).

Any idea how to 'turn on' previews in thumbnails?

 

[Frank]

I've used XP and was able to see a 'preview' of the file image (such as a
picture) of a MS PhotoDraw, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator drawing. But since
moving to Vista (64bit Home Premium) there is NO preview (to explain this
better, look at a picture thumbail and the same applies to these).

Any idea how to 'turn on' previews in thumbnails?

Under XP X64 & Vista X64 you will not see preview thumbnails of Adobe's
..ai, .psd or .pdf files.
Maybe in the upcoming CS4 we will...hopefully.

As for MS PhotoDraw...I think I last saw that app what...10 yrs ago?
I have no idea about it's thumbnails.

 

[Alan_P]

Thanks everone for your assistance...I figured it might have been a dll as
well...ugh...oh well.

Yeah PhotoDraw was back in 2000 (1999) but was such a great program, that
tons of people still use it...very simple to use and for quick graphics, it
is on par with Photoshop and Illustrator (considering you don't want to get
too advanced with drawings). Everyone always asks what software I use and
they are shocked it is that old...but it's fantastic. A shame Microsoft got
rid of it despite it's hardcore following It's just hard to view all the
images now via thumbnails! haha

 

[Alan_P]

Oh I forgot...the only thing I can add is:

- This all worked under Windows XP SP2 (Illustrator 10, Photoshop CS2,
PhotoDraw v2).

- Upon reinstalling the same software on Vista, it doesnt work.

I'm almost curious if Microsoft did this on purpose to force the purchase of
Office 2007 as I understand you can create 'preview' thumbnails in that one
only. Bizzare.

 

[Frank]

Oh I forgot...the only thing I can add is:

- This all worked under Windows XP SP2 (Illustrator 10, Photoshop CS2,
PhotoDraw v2).

- Upon reinstalling the same software on Vista, it doesnt work.

I'm almost curious if Microsoft did this on purpose to force the purchase of
Office 2007 as I understand you can create 'preview' thumbnails in that one
only. Bizzare.

Can you say "X64 bit' OS? I can see all of my thumbnails under Vista X32
and most all of them under Vista X64 save for Adobe's .pdf, .psd and .ai
files.

It is up to the 3rd party software developers to make their thumbnails
viewable under X64 OS's.
Got it?

 

[Frank]

actually there are specialized programs that create thumbnails for all
sorts of file types in windows explorer.

But Im not sure that they are updated for vista and 64 bit. For example
this was a freeware for xp 32 bit
http://sourceforge.net/projects/thumbview/#item3rd-1

I thought you said that 64 bit is fine.. lol its seems that one by one
its limitation start to pop up .. huh?

Maybe your inability to comprehend what you've just read is becoming
suspect.
I said in my first post (try google, I think you're familiar with it)
that X64 (XP & Vista) can't see those file extensions and that I've got
one or two (old) apps that don't work in X64 (XP or Vista).
That's it.
Otherwise X64 has been my OS of choice for daily usage for yrs.

To the OP,
There is a preview handler for PSD, take a look here (Im not sure this
works on 64 bit vista)
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vista/PhotoshopPreviewHandler.aspx

We always install CS3 first then install PS v7.01 so that all Adobe
thumbnails are viewable on X32 (XP & Vista).
PS 7 has that dll or you can get it from Adobe.
However, they are not viewable on any X64 (XP or Vista).
Got it?

 

[Alan_P]

Ahhhhhh....64bit!!! I can believe that. I was just reviewing one of my old
old computers (with Windows 2000) and it was able to display a thumbnail
preview of the Microsoft .mix extension even though there was no application
to display it. Same went for XP box...but all were not using 64bit.

I did some more 'web' research and it looks like on the adobe side for the
..psd (photoshop) and .ai files, there was some sort of restriction put into
place by microsoft and adobe. who knows if that is true, however.

A little sad that Microsoft won't even support their own extensions with
thumnail file previews...I understand that Office 2007 allows 'preview'
thumbnail icons, but you can't do that for any prior office versions. Sounds
like MS wants upgrades LOL

 

[Richie Ms Vista tec sprt]

Hi

Its not a Flaw in Windows Vista or XP 64 Bit
Microsoft has not disable or stopped any thumbview or shell handlers from
showing them on 64 bit windows or wants you to upgrade for that reason .

Fact:

Vista 64 Bit uses ; 64 bit "Windows Explorer" by default
and thumbview on windows explorer cannot viewed for PDF. Divix , some HD
content , some videos or picture files for which Microsoft does not provides
codecs or explorer shell handlers
They are provided by third party File viewer applications such as Adobe ,
Divix .. etc ;
application which uses "c:\Program files (x86)" as default location to get
installed are not True 64 bit applications (actually 32 bit) they work in a
Emulation on 64 bit windows ; This technology is known as "WoW" - "Windows on
Windows" .they ony install 32 bit codecs and shell extensions , 64 bit
"windows explorer" does not understands these files to create thumbview as
it does not have the 64 bit shell extension or shell handler
as windows has only the 32 bit one.

To Fix this install True 64 bit applications , codecs , shell handlers etc ;
if available.

Workaround for this .

Use 32 bit windows explorer on vista 64 bit

which works from C:\windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe
(64 bit Windows explorer works from c:\windows\explorer.exe)


Steps
1 right cick on desktop >New > shortcut .On "Type the location of this item:"
2 >Copy & Paste the following without quotes
"%Systemroot%\SysWOW64\explorer.exe /separate" click on Next
On "Type a name for this shortcut:" Name it as "Windows 32 bit Explorer"
3 Click on Finish.

To Open "My Computer" with 32 bit windows (which Known as "Computer" in
Vista )

Steps
1 right cick on desktop >New > shortcut . on "Type the location of this item:"
2 >Copy & Paste the following without quotes
"%Systemroot%\SysWOW64\explorer.exe /separate /e,
::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" click on Next
On "Type a name for this shortcut:" Name it as "Computer 32 bit Explorer"
(or as desired )
3 Click on Finish.

Thanks
Rishi Raj S
Tech Lead |L2| Microsoft windows Vista Tech Support .