Question re PDF files.

[polly7]

I have quite a few PDF files saved for different projects, and would like to be able to see the first page of each as an image thumbnail for easier reference. Does anyone know if this is possible?

[NYC_SKP]

1. For PCs, I wish I could help. On Macs, the option to see thumbnails of docs, pdfs, etc, is built-in

And I am so grateful for that.

Looking at any list of files we have different view options, including a zoomable view of the first page of any document.

There must be similar for Windows, no?

[Duer 157099]

2. Yes it is possible

the real question is how much effort it will take.

You could always DIY by taking screen shots of the first page of each and save as jpg.

Or if you Google you might find some software that does something similar.

Here's one, but I can't vouch for it since I just Googlefound it

http://www.coolpdf.com/pdfthumbnail.html

edit: oops, looks like that one is for putting thumbnails into PDFs, not of PDFS...

edit again:

this link might have helpful info

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-files/pdf-thumbnails-not-showing-up-in-folders/86165edc-9b8c-412a-bc2a-70f8732702ee

[pokerfan]

3. On Linux this is the default

with the Nautilus file manager. I'm surprised Windows has yet to catch up. Not real surprised, but a little.

[ChromeFoundry]

4. What Operating System? 32/64 bit?

Windows 7 - 32-bit
You may want to try the following steps:
PDF thumbnail view via the Acrobat reader:
1. Run Acrobat Reader. In Reader, click File > Open and navigate to the folder(s) containing your PDF file(s). If necessary, move the slider to show all your PDF files.
2. Cancel out of Open and exit Reader.
3. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folders(s) containing your PDF file(s).
4. Click Views and move the slider until you see PDF thumbnails.

Source: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-files/pdf-thumbnails-not-showing-up-in-folders/86165edc-9b8c-412a-bc2a-70f8732702ee

[polly7]

5. Thanks all for the help and tips.

I tried a few things, and it looks like that because my machine is 64-bit (I don't even know what that is!), saving them as thumbnails won't work. Maybe some day I have nothing else to do, I'll take screenshots of the first pages and make little shortcuts ..... but that sounds like a whole lot of work. Ugh.

[Donna111]

6. reply

HI there
I think it is possible to see the first page of each PDF files as an image thumbnail using a powerful PDF processing tool.
It is hard to do that without a third party tool.YOu can try to google it

[polly7]

9. Thanks, Donna111. nt.

[Make7]

7. Did you try turning on the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer?

When you single click on a file to select it, a preview of the content for many file types (including PDF files) appears on the right hand side of the window.

You can toggle the Preview Pane on and off with the keyboard shortcut of ALT+P. See if that is enough to let you know what is in a PDF file without having to open it (if that is what you are trying to do).


The problem with normal thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer appears to be on Adobe's end with them not having a 64-bit version of their thumbnail generator. Someone has written a fix for that issue, but I haven't tried it so I am not recommending it or vouching for it - just letting you know it is out there should you really, really, really want to try it. See info here:

http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/index.html

[polly7]

8. Thanks, Make7 ...

I did manage to get it working by using that 64-bit fix, and it's all good now.