Thumbnailprovider.dll

[kisolre]

Not sure how this works but can this be extended to show thumbnails for backup versions also? For all "FCStd*" or at least FCStd1 - FCStd9? Maybe show some overlay to distinguish backups?

[kisolre]

And also for FCBak extension?

[uwestoehr]

For the records: The process of installing and compiling the DLL on Windows is now described in the Wiki:
Compile_on_Windows#Tumbnail_Provider

[kisolre]

I think this should be supplied with the windows installation and description how to enable it in a readme, doc, ... It is jusr 160kb /(77kb upx-ed) and would be really nice to have. Maybe just a BAT file and a simple "run as administrator" explanation will do the trick.

[uwestoehr]

I think this should be supplied with the windows installation

This is already the case. Since 0.18.4 the FC for Windows installer will automatically install the DLL if FC is installed with admin privileges. See few posts from me here above.

[kisolre]

Missed that...
Is it hard to implement my previous suggestions? Preview also backup files? Maybe some overlay to indicate that it is a backup file?

[uwestoehr]

Missed that...
Is it hard to implement my previous suggestions? Preview also backup files? Maybe some overlay to indicate that it is a backup file?

I am not the author of the DLL. You can change the code to work also for FCBak files. As far as I can see, it is just copying and modifying line 110 of Main.cpp:
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD/blob ... n.cpp#L110

I can have a closer look later.

[uwestoehr]

I can have a closer look later.

It was really that simple: https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD/pull/3292

[kisolre]

That is good. But in recent discussion I was reminded that FreeCAD does not open its backup files without firs renaming them to FCStd to avoid inadvertently editing the backup file and thus defeat its purpose. Now if they display proper icons/thumbnails there will be users complaining that they can not directly open them. Could we draw an overlay before passing the image to windows so the user has an indication that this is not a regular FCStd file?

[uwestoehr]

Now if they display proper icons/thumbnails there will be users complaining that they can not directly open them.

I don't understand. The way files are displayed in Windows explorer is in general independent on how they can be opened. What would help an overlay that it is a backup? it will not be more clear that backup files cannot directly be opened.

But why not? Please step in and implement this as you like. But take care of the readability.
Here is how it looks here in Windows Explorer with large symbols:

large size

explorer_8TiNDl7pev.png (10.64 KiB) Viewed 1012 times

and with midsize symbols:

midsize

explorer_iFgQeJih5P.png (5.43 KiB) Viewed 1012 times