missing epub thumbs, again :'(

[kileytoo]

So getting epub thumbnails was so difficult last time that I took notes of all the steps, and I think I reused them at least once and they worked, but sadly not this time...

I recently reinstalled Win 7 and XYplorer with my custom ini files (for the product key and settings, including "Show thumbnails for non-images"), and then followed the steps I recorded:

1. install CBX Shell, run and check zip files
2. replaced two dll files with a batch file (to be run as Admin)
3. added a .reg file with 12 entries

The last two steps were installing the software I use to read epubs (an old version of ADE, this changes the thumbnail from generic doc to generic epub, the standard brown red/white icon) and adding "epub" in Previewed Formats > Image Files (XYplorer configuration), don't remember in which order I followed them.

From step 3 onward I tried the usual testing sequence (Cache > Refresh thumbnails/restart XYplorer/log off/restart Windows) but this still no epub thumbnails. Not sure what is different this time but this is what I tried:

Undid all the steps above and installed ADE first, followed all the steps again, no change.

Searched the forums for updates and found mentions of a new "Use 64-bit preview handlers for preview" option, not sure if it is related but figured it was a good time to upgrade to the latest version of XYplorer anyway, so I downloaded it and checked the option but no change (except that all thumb images have some padding around them now, which I like)

Also in the forums I found mention of a new Thumbs64Ext option in the ini file, again not sure if related but I added epub there as well. no change.

Rechecked that epub was added to Image Files under Previewed Formats, then I also found it under Documents, so I tried unchecking it from Documents, no change.

The only thing different in this installation that I could think of was that I had some old version of WinZip installed, probably not related but I uninstalled it anyway, no change.

I am always testing with multiple epub files, for some of which I know the thumbnail showed correctly (so not an issue with the files themselves, which can happen).

I am kind of giving up now, so any suggestions or ideas would be really welcome...

[admin]

Difficult? You just need a Codec. Can you see epub thumbs in File Explorer?

[kileytoo]

Can you see epub thumbs in File Explorer?

No, just the standard epub icon.

[admin]

You have to go find an EPUB Codec, thumbnail provider, thumbnail handler, preview handler, shell extension, or whatever they call it.

[kileytoo]

Thank you, so the issue may be with CBX Shell? I'll double-check that the 32-bit DLLs were actually replaced, and the registry keys... and then at possible replacements for CBX Shell.

Difficult? You just need a Codec.

Well, in theory it's not difficult, just four steps, but it doesn't always work and when it doesn't you have three different places where to look for issues (the handler, the registry, and XYplorer configuration/ini file).

I guess the two new "64 bit" options in XYplorer are not relevant? Only "Show thumbs for non images" and manually adding epub under Image Files? Or is it okay if I already find it under Documents?

[admin]

...new "64 bit" options...? These are more than 10 years old. Which version of XY are you using?

[Horst]

I have installed DarkThumbs.
https://github.com/fire-eggs/DarkThumbs ... V2.0actual

Works fine here for .epub files,
under Windows Explorer, Everything and Total Commander
All are x64, of course.
Unfortunately, not with XY

[admin]

If it works in File Explorer, it works in XY as well. 64-bit thumbs are no problem.

[Horst]

If it works in File Explorer, it works in XY as well. 64-bit thumbs are no problem.

It works in Windows Explorer, as I said.
Tried the relevant options (as far as I know) without success.

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[kileytoo]

DarkThumbs is based on CBX Shell, maybe that's why it doesn't work?

CBX Shell used to work very well, as documented here in the forums, but not anymore, at least on my system. Tried the usual steps in every possible way today but no luck.

I remember that MysticThumbs also worked on Windows 7 x64, but was very resource-heavy, installing hundreds of thumbnail handlers (that's how Microsoft calls them) for file types I don't need...

[Horst]

DarkThumbs is based on CBX Shell, maybe that's why it doesn't work?

CBX Shell used to work very well, as documented here in the forums, but not anymore, at least on my system. Tried the usual steps in every possible way today but no luck.

I remember that MysticThumbs also worked on Windows 7 x64, but was very resource-heavy, installing hundreds of thumbnail handlers (that's how Microsoft calls them) for file types I don't need...

I only can speak about Windows 11 actual official version.
I updated Dark Thumbs to the newest version with no negative effects.
It runs on any tool I tried except for XY.

Tested successful with x64 programs
- Explorere
- Everything
- Total Commander
- Free Commander

[admin]

Add *.epub to this list: extlist("thumbs64");

[kileytoo]

...new "64 bit" options...? These are more than 10 years old. Which version of XY are you using?

..new to me

I tried the same steps with multiple versions, including the latest one, but to no effect. Anyway I don't have that many epubs, mostly PDFs, and .pdf thumbs are easy (just one step, install PDFXchange, it even has a specific option to install the shell extension).

[admin]

Try this script:

Code: Select all

extlist("thumbs64", "epub", "a");  //add epub to the 64-bit Thumbnails

[kileytoo]

I only can speak about Windows 11 actual official version.
I updated Dark Thumbs to the newest version with no negative effects.
It runs on any tool I tried except for XY.

Yes of course! CBX Shell and DarkThumbs are two similar tool and they are both great, lightweight and effective. They were also among the few handlers that worked for epubs on XYplorer + Win 7 x64 but for some reason that does not seem to be the case anymore, so my complaining was just about my particular version of Windows.