How to create an preview-picture? Topic is solved

[fox287]

My application uses wxwidgets to create, edit and visualize finite element meshes.
For saving it uses a proprietary file format.
It would be nice (at least under windows) to see a preview of the mesh in the operating system explorer by only selecting a file (as it is done with several picture or office file formats).
What I mean is the picture that appears on the left side of the explorer window, not the normal thumbnails.


How does this preview work?
Are there any hidden pictures in the folders?

[orbitcowboy]

if you have the printed version of wxWidgets-Book (http://www.wxwidgets.org/about/datashee ... tsBook.pdf). There is a programm called wxThumbnailCtrl. It shows preview images.

I hope it helps?

Best regards

Orbitcowboy

[fox287]

Thank you for your answer, but what I mean is the preview picture that appears on the left side of the explorer-window by selecting a file, not the thrumbnails.
You can see it on the attached picture.

I`d like to have a preview like this with my own program files (which have their own format).

[upCASE]

Hi!

Well, basically this "preview" is a larger thumbnail.
Simply load the image and scale it for display.

[doublemax]

i think the OP wants to know how to integrate it into Windows Explorer so that it displays a preview for a custom file type.

As usual with Windows APIs, which tend to be more complicated than necessary, this is not a trivial task

This might get you started:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... 85%29.aspx
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/shell/thumbextract.aspx

[fox287]

Yes doublemax, you are right - thats what I want to know.
Thank you very much for your links.