Re: Preview 2.0 - Generic Thread
Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:34
Actually Don, I found a solution but I don't think I understand fully why it works. It's Windows after all
What I did was do a clean install of the codec pack just to start clean. Obviously it still did not work. Anyways I then reset the file associations and this time set Windows Media Player and (specifically the x86 version) as the default player. MP4 files can now be previewed through the floating preview but not MKV. Then found out that MKV is not registered with a preview handler even though it's playable by Windows Media Player and is the default player. Using a tool called PreviewConfig http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/previ ... ows-vista/, I manually set the preview handle for mkv files. Other media files by default is already registered including ogm (which is funny since ogm and a few obscure formats are rarer than mkv yet by default it is registered with a preview handler). MKV files can now be previewed in XYplorer's floating preview. It can also now be previewed in Windows Explorer.
This is actually weird in general because of the following:
avi files: File type is associated with my preferred media player and not Windows Media Player. Registered with a preview handler. I was able to preview the file in the floating preview.
mp4 files: File type is associated with my preferred media player and not Windows Media Player. Registered with a preview handler. I was NOT able to preview the file in the floating preview. Change file association to Windows Media Player and I could then preview the file in floating preview.
mkv files: File type is associated with my preferred media player and not Windows Media Player. NOT Registered with a preview handler. I was NOT able to preview the file in the floating preview. Change file association to Windows Media Player AND manually register with a preview handler and I could then preview the file in floating preview.
And that is just these 3 formats. I have not test the other yet but I'm sure I will get more inconsistent behavior. Fun.
EDIT: Webm does not work at all unless I set it to be associated with VLC media player (my backup media player software. basically not my preferred media player but not Windows Media Player either). Webm files can be played in Windows Media Player though. Hahaha! I guess it does not depend on whether Windows Media Player can play the file or not. It just depends on whether the software it is associated with it support the preview handle. Great. Makes me life easier (not)
I guess in the far future (Preview 3.0), it might be better to find a way that makes it more independent from these variables. A few other file managers I played around with seems to be doing this somehow. So basically as long as Windows Media Player can play it, the floating preview will preview it regardless of the file associations, the preview handlers, and other funny parameters. But then again it's Windows. They will find ways to screw you up right?
What I did was do a clean install of the codec pack just to start clean. Obviously it still did not work. Anyways I then reset the file associations and this time set Windows Media Player and (specifically the x86 version) as the default player. MP4 files can now be previewed through the floating preview but not MKV. Then found out that MKV is not registered with a preview handler even though it's playable by Windows Media Player and is the default player. Using a tool called PreviewConfig http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/previ ... ows-vista/, I manually set the preview handle for mkv files. Other media files by default is already registered including ogm (which is funny since ogm and a few obscure formats are rarer than mkv yet by default it is registered with a preview handler). MKV files can now be previewed in XYplorer's floating preview. It can also now be previewed in Windows Explorer.
This is actually weird in general because of the following:
avi files: File type is associated with my preferred media player and not Windows Media Player. Registered with a preview handler. I was able to preview the file in the floating preview.
mp4 files: File type is associated with my preferred media player and not Windows Media Player. Registered with a preview handler. I was NOT able to preview the file in the floating preview. Change file association to Windows Media Player and I could then preview the file in floating preview.
mkv files: File type is associated with my preferred media player and not Windows Media Player. NOT Registered with a preview handler. I was NOT able to preview the file in the floating preview. Change file association to Windows Media Player AND manually register with a preview handler and I could then preview the file in floating preview.
And that is just these 3 formats. I have not test the other yet but I'm sure I will get more inconsistent behavior. Fun.
EDIT: Webm does not work at all unless I set it to be associated with VLC media player (my backup media player software. basically not my preferred media player but not Windows Media Player either). Webm files can be played in Windows Media Player though. Hahaha! I guess it does not depend on whether Windows Media Player can play the file or not. It just depends on whether the software it is associated with it support the preview handle. Great. Makes me life easier (not)
I guess in the far future (Preview 3.0), it might be better to find a way that makes it more independent from these variables. A few other file managers I played around with seems to be doing this somehow. So basically as long as Windows Media Player can play it, the floating preview will preview it regardless of the file associations, the preview handlers, and other funny parameters. But then again it's Windows. They will find ways to screw you up right?