PDF previews broken with version 7 install

[researchguy007]

When I click a PDF file in Windows Explorer, with the Preview Pane turned on, nothing appears in the Preview Pane no matter how long I wait. Microsoft Word files are previewed instantly. PDF files used to be previewed instantly before the last (major) installation that I was prompted to perform. My version is 7.0, build 323.2. I already tried going into Help > File Associations and choosing Yes for PDF Preview Handler and Thumbnail Handler. I've also tried going back in and changing those settings to No. There was no effect on the issue. I've tried opening an entirely new Windows Explorer window and navigating to another folder. Same behavior.

[Willy Van Nuffel]

When testing this for you - just a minute ago - I saw the same behavior : nothing showing in the Preview Pane in File Explorer.

Executing the following actions made it work:

in PDF-XChange Editor V7 (build 323.2)
- click Edit (or File) > Preferences > File Associations
- at "Preview Handler for PDF Files", click the arrow
- select "Yes", and click the first "Apply..." button
- at the prompt "Do you want to allow ...", click Yes
- now, click the the second "Apply" button (just to make sure), and click OK

Finally, try the preview pane again via File Explorer.

[researchguy007]

Thank you for the quick response. I tried the steps that you outlined and I opened a new instance of Windows Explorer to test the outcome. Still no previews.

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hi guys,
what version of windows are you running? I'm on windows 10 and just snatched the fall creators update but my file explorer previews are working perfectly fine over here.
I'm thinking it could be a windows update conflict, possibly

[Willy Van Nuffel]

It can also be that the Shell Extensions component has not correctly been installed.

So, may I propose to:
1) first, make a back-up copy of your current settings (via Edit > Export Settings...)
2) after that, run an UNINSTALL of PDF-XChange Editor via Control Panel > Programs and Features
3) finally, re-install V7 323.2 by using the MSI-installer package and going via Custom Setup, making sure that Shell Extensions are installed.

Best regards.

[researchguy007]

I appreciate the suggestion, but isn't there any simpler way to find out whether shell extensions have been properly installed? Such as, are there perhaps registry entries I could go look at?

I am on Windows 7 Professional.

[Willy Van Nuffel]

1) In Control Panel via Programs and Features, instead of uninstall / reinstall, you could also look via repair or change.

2) Via Windows File Explorer, you can check if the "Shell Extensions" folder (with contents) exists in C:\Program Files\Tracker Software.

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

if that hasn't worked for you you can copy and paste these lines into your CMD console to forcibly reset them.

Code: Select all

regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Tracker Software\Shell Extensions\XCShellMenu.x64.dll
regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Tracker Software\Shell Extensions\XCShellMenu.x86.dll
regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Tracker Software\Shell Extensions\XCShInfo.x64.dll
regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Tracker Software\Shell Extensions\XCShInfo.x86.dll
regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Tracker Software\Win32\XCShInfo.dll

To Make sure it works go one at a time from top to bottom.

This KB Article Will help if you get stuck
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowle ... extensions

[researchguy007]

The first four commands succeeded, then the last one failed because there is no such file in that last specified path (there are no files there at all).

However, the problem has been resolved. I didn't even have to restart PDF-XChange Editor or my computer. Thank you so much!

[Dimitar - Tracker Supp]

Hello researchguy007,


We are happy to know that your problem has been resolved!


Thank you for choosing our software.
Best Regards Tracker Software Support Team