How to enable preview using Sumatra, while using Acrobat as default PDF editor

[insight]

He does not, at least not in the fresh instance.

Execute this in the fresh and in the configured instance and post the results:
text get("previewhandler", "pdf") . <crlf> . "Assoc: " . get("assoc", "pdf");

Output:

No preview handler found for pdf files.
Assoc: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\SumatraPDF\SumatraPDF.exe

Also, output is same for after: Fresh; and even Fresh; + enabling 64 bit flags/ checkboxes as mentioned earlier.

Some more System data:
Win 8.1.1 x 64 - Have installed most Critical Cumulative updates upto some months back.

I dont mind uninstalling completely XYP and/or Sumatra and fresh install both if that's required / better diagnostic pathway.

PS: I currently have both + some historical context:

* PDF X Change Viewer (2.5 Build 198 - Sep 16 2011) - Installed long back. It was default viewer & used to do Preview with "issues" on XYPro as mentioned here earlier
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21724

I think its been delinked and is not in the picture at all anymore.

Open PDF X today after long time manually to get the version info for this post and it asked to want to be Default PDF, I said NO.

* Sumatra. installed several times over the years;
Older version long back for ePubs, then upped it via x86-12104-installer in 2020, 3.2-install x86 & x64 both in 2021, 3.3.3-64-install yesterday, even installed Special MEGA link "versions" on top yesterday.

Since I wanted to not mess with the above issue 2020, I figured just side add on link / replace with Sumatra. It has been a SoP since.
(worked on my laptop, but not on desktop). Some linkage is broken?

I could not follow up as I was away from desktop for months due health issues.

Are you using User-Defined Preview Handlers? Did you supply a valid GUID?

Have not don't any manual GUID or related manipulation so far due to health focus.

[Horst]

Use the attached tool to find out what preview handlers you have and assign one to pdf.

PreviewHandlerEditor-x64.zip

(90.18 KiB) Downloaded 255 times

[insight]

Use the attached tool to find out what preview handlers you have and assign one to pdf.
PreviewHandlerEditor-x64.zip

The Fields are both BLANK to start but on clicking dropdown I see w whole bunch (Extracted using NirSoft SysExp):

Code: Select all

String	Value	
Microsoft Excel previewer	0	
Microsoft Office Outlook MAPI Preview Handler	0	
Microsoft PowerPoint previewer	0	
Microsoft Visio previewer	0	
Microsoft Windows Mail Html Preview Handler	0	
Microsoft Windows Mail Html Preview Handler	0	
Microsoft Windows Mail Mime Preview Handler	0	
Microsoft Windows Mail Mime Preview Handler	0	
Microsoft Windows MAPI Preview Handler	0	
Microsoft Word previewer	0	
Microsoft XPS Rich Preview Handler	0	
[b]Nitro PDF Preview Handler	0	
PDF-XChange PDF Preview Provider	0	
[/b]Windows Contact Preview Handler	0	
Windows Font previewer	0	
Windows Media Player Rich Preview Handler	0	
Windows RTF Previewer	0	
Windows TXT Previewer	0	

E.g. for some of them when chosen in dropdown:

Microsoft Excel previewer

Code: Select all

String	Value	
.ods	0	
.xls	0	
.xlsb	0	
.xlsx	0	
.xlt	0	
.xltx	0	

Windows RTF Previewer

Code: Select all

String	Value	
rtffile	0	

PDF Relevant:

Nitro PDF Preview Handler

Code: Select all

String	Value	
NitroPDF.Document.10	0	

PDF-XChange PDF Preview Provider

Code: Select all

(its Blank).

Quick Qs:

- Does this little app check / pulls these associations from within Windows system or from XYPlorer (assuming XYP uses the Windows Preview "handlers" list as well?)

- Does it mean I have to manually create records for each FileType that's not on this list?
Starting with PDF connect with PDF X V / Sumatra??
If so, how/ what steps?

How can we avoid having to this manually for so many File types?

[insight]

Any easy way to pull/ get / export these from Horst to me? Assuming these are REGISTRY entries? Maybe Export .REG - modify some GUID info if needed and then import? Or is it more complex?

The return looks alright to me.

The first 3 lines are from:
text get("previewhandler", "pdf") . <crlf> . ...

The last line is from:
... "Assoc: " . get("assoc", "pdf");

He does not, at least not in the fresh instance.

Execute this in the fresh and in the configured instance and post the results:
text get("previewhandler", "pdf") . <crlf> . "Assoc: " . get("assoc", "pdf");

This does not give correct results in my environment.
I have installed SumatraPDF and its used if a PDF file is double clicked
but I have set the PDF-XChange Editor as PDF preview handler, which is realy used by XY.
The text get command line says SumatraPDF is preview handler which is wrong.

Screenshot - 23.08.2021 , 22_33_44.png

Screenshot - 23.08.2021 , 22_35_55.png

Screenshot - 23.08.2021 , 22_37_55.png

[admin]

This should be all automatic when you install PDF-XChange Viewer (https://www.tracker-software.com/produc ... nge-viewer).

Maybe it's not correctly installed. I would try to uninstall and then re-install it.

[insight]

This should be all automatic when you install PDF-XChange Viewer (https://www.tracker-software.com/produc ... nge-viewer).

Maybe it's not correctly installed. I would try to uninstall and then re-install it.

I'd rather not mess with PDF X V

My current concern is to have it be done properly with Sumatra - For PDF and ePub / Mobi. How can I make that happen?

I can uninstall & fresh install XYP and Sumatra (You choose & tell if some CLEANING to do in REG etc . Install in what order & which versions).

[Horst]

- Does this little app check / pulls these associations from within Windows system or from XYPlorer (assuming XYP uses the Windows Preview "handlers" list as well?)

- Does it mean I have to manually create records for each FileType that's not on this list?
Starting with PDF connect with PDF X V / Sumatra??
If so, how/ what steps?

How can we avoid having to this manually for so many File types?

The entries are from your Windows installation and not related to XY.
Usage is very simple:
Select one of the preview handlers, PDF-XChange for example
Untick the option "Only show classes associated with this handler"
and you have a list of all file types in your system.
Here you can simply click one or more extensions which should be associated with this handler.
Now tick the option "Only show classes associated with this handler" and you see the result.
This is directly set in the system, no reboot or anything else is necessary.
Don't assign the same extension to more than one preview handler !
In your case first check all pdf related handlers and remove the pdf extension from them.
Then proceed as exlained for PDF-XChange or the one you like to use..
Its easy and can be changed again in seconds.
Try an XY preview after you changed the assigment.

[jupe]

It sounds to me like maybe when you are installing SumatraPDF you aren't ticking the checkbox to install the PreviewHandler.

[insight]

It sounds to me like maybe when you are installing SumatraPDF you aren't ticking the checkbox to install the PreviewHandler.

Never EVER saw that ROFL! That fixed it for PDF. Simplest Shit that I never saw.

Now how to get the ePub and Mobi done?

I installed General x64 & also tried the MEGA NZ special release one suggested - No epub/ mobi preview yet.

Whats my next steps?

PS: Sumatra epub shows up as "checked" in the Preview Handler tool. What more needs to be done?



Update: How to get all the SUMATRA formats active and working within XYP?

PDF

GUID: {3D3B1846-CC43-42AE-BFF9-D914083C2BA3}
Assoc: C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Local\SumatraPDF\SumatraPDF.exe

ePub

GUID: {80C4E4B1-2B0F-40D5-95AF-BE7B57FEA4F9}
Assoc: C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Local\SumatraPDF\SumatraPDF.exe

Mobi

GUID: {42CA907E-BDF5-4A75-994A-E1AEC8A10954}
Assoc: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mobipocket.com\Mobipocket Reader\reader.exe

Currently: Shows this, wonder if/ how I should change the MobiPocket as well to Sumatra. How & so on.

String Value
Microsoft Excel previewer 0
Microsoft Office Outlook MAPI Preview Handler 0
Microsoft PowerPoint previewer 0
Microsoft Visio previewer 0
Microsoft Windows Mail Html Preview Handler 0
Microsoft Windows Mail Html Preview Handler 0
Microsoft Windows Mail Mime Preview Handler 0
Microsoft Windows Mail Mime Preview Handler 0
Microsoft Windows MAPI Preview Handler 0
Microsoft Word previewer 0
Microsoft XPS Rich Preview Handler 0
Nitro PDF Preview Handler 0
PDF-XChange PDF Preview Provider 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.cbt) 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.djvu) 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.epub) 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.fb2) 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.mobi) 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.pdf) 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.tga) 0
SumatraPDF Preview (*.xps) 0
Windows Contact Preview Handler 0
Windows Font previewer 0
Windows Media Player Rich Preview Handler 0
Windows RTF Previewer 0
Windows TXT Previewer 0

[highend]

By adding their extensions to the
Configuration | Preview | Previewed Formats - Preview as Thumbnail
category

[insight]

By adding their extensions to the
Configuration | Preview | Previewed Formats - Preview as Thumbnail
category

That worked, but for a couple of times, maybe single digit. Now it says cannot preview.

Even closing and restarting it says "Cannot preview"

PS: Is thumbnail the only way? Cant peer & scroll into ePubs like PDFs?

PS: Can Preview in Windows Explorer for ePubs now, thanks to you guys.

How do we XYP that?

[jupe]

I haven't tried the custom build of Sumatra, so these steps are untested, but you would need to use that build and also add epub>{3D3B1846-CC43-42AE-BFF9-D914083C2BA3} (I am assuming that GUID since you have listed 2, so may have to confirm on your system) to UDPH:

https://www.xyplorer.com/release_18.00.php#UDPH

Make sure there are no entries in Preview as thumbnail category for that file extension.

[highend]

For content preview you need those three
Configuration | Preview | Previewed Formats | User-Defined Preview Handlers

Code: Select all

epub>{80C4E4B1-2B0F-40D5-95AF-BE7B57FEA4F9}
mobi>{42CA907E-BDF5-4A75-994A-E1AEC8A10954}
pdf>{3D3B1846-CC43-42AE-BFF9-D914083C2BA3}

And yes, that works fine...

Thumbnailing is a different thing...

It works fine for 64x64 large thumbnails view but if a larger one is selected, ... only a partial set gets a thumbnail
In contrast Windows Explorer creates thumbnails for all sizes perfectly

[insight]

For content preview you need those three
Configuration | Preview | Previewed Formats | User-Defined Preview Handlers

Code: Select all

epub>{80C4E4B1-2B0F-40D5-95AF-BE7B57FEA4F9}
mobi>{42CA907E-BDF5-4A75-994A-E1AEC8A10954}
pdf>{3D3B1846-CC43-42AE-BFF9-D914083C2BA3}

And yes, that works fine...

Thumbnailing is a different thing...

It works fine for 64x64 large thumbnails view but if a larger one is selected, ... only a partial set gets a thumbnail
In contrast Windows Explorer creates thumbnails for all sizes perfectly

Finally got this done. Thank you so much.

Will do/ repeat the same for Comic book formats slowly and ping if I need help.

Does the same need to be done for MS Office files? Whats the oldest Office version that can be used? I have instances of 2010/ 2013 and so on.. 16/19.

Is there something that does this well for DWGs / AutoCAD type of CAD files?

And in terms of video/ audio is the default fine, or do you guys have a some preferred better options?

PS: Isnt there a "community best practices & options" thing on here?

[highend]

Does the same need to be done for MS Office files? Whats the oldest Office version that can be used? I have instances of 2010/ 2013 and so on.. 16/19.

If Office is registered as the default file type handler, no
Otherwise: Office 2010 works

Is there something that does this well for DWGs / AutoCAD type of CAD files?

E.g. Quick View Plus adds preview handler(s) for e.g. .dwg

And in terms of video/ audio is the default fine, or do you guys have a some preferred better options?

K-Lite codec packages if a file format is not supported...