×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

(OP)
Does anyone know if it is possible to preview Drawings / Models in Windows Explorer (for Win XP)?

Like the way Pictures, Videos, html, etc... are previewed in that little frame on the left (if the folders and everything else is off)

If so, I think you would need to tweak the registery...

If anyone knows how, please share the solution with me, so I don't spend to much time looking into it

Thanks in advance,
-Josh

RE: Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

I'm not sure what you're looking to view exactly, since models aren't 2D items.  However, if you don't like E-Drawings, and you aren't afraid of a little programming, you can check out ModelPress.  I believe it's a free download you can add to your web site, along with saved models that can be observed with or without certain parts shown and in full spherical rotation.

www.modelpress.com


Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC
http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

RE: Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

Open Windows Explorer, then select "Tools > Folder Options > select Show common tasks in folders > hit OK or enter"

Maximize the window & expand "Details" & you should see a preview, albeit low quality & distorted, of SW parts,  assemblies & drawings.

My system has always shown the previews & I did not have to create any scripts or do any registry tweaks.

Hope this helps...If it does not then maybe it is a graphics card "problem".


CorBlimeyLimey
Barrie, Ontario
FAQ559-863

RE: Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

In SolidWorks under Tools>Options>General there's a "show graphics in in Window explorer" option that you can select. Not sure what the resolution on the drawings would be, but you get a good idea of the model.

RE: Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

While in explorer, click on VIEW then THUMBNAILS and you get a preview of SW parts PDF files spreadsheets Etc. ACAD drawings don't seem to show up though.

RE: Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

automationbabe is right. I had forgotten that switch. SW must load a plug-in or ? for Windows Explorer to view SW files.


CorBlimeyLimey
Barrie, Ontario
FAQ559-863

RE: Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

(OP)
BTW...

I am running SW 2001+ on Win XP Pro

My SW does have that option, and I checked it, but I don't see any differnce in explorer...

It does show the previews in the SW Open Dialog, (and always has) but it does not show the previews in Explorer...

I might try restarting my pc later on today and I will post the results back here if it works.

In the mean time, are there any other Ideas?

RE: Preview SW Parts/Drawings in Windows Explorer ?

SWVB101

While in windows explore select tools>folder options>under web view make sure that enable web content is selected.
I am running win 2000 and soldiworks 2003.
I dont know if it will work for sw 2001+.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources