(TRICK) To re-enable skp file preview

kevsterman · 3 Jun 2009, 18:35

Grr.. I'm still no nearer to solving this problem. Anyone have any other ideas?

eullicious · 5 Jun 2009, 07:33

Hi guys!
It may sound repetitive, but I've searched a lot in the forum and I hardly found it at last! So I decided to put it here for a more rapid serach (moderators are free to remove this topic if useless).
This micro-tutorial to explain how to enable the thumbnail preview if it doesn't show up automatically.
It typically happens when you have two sketchup version installed and you uninstall one of them: once uninstalled, your skp files' thumbnails are gone, and you can only see the standard sketchup.exe icon.
A solution is obviously to re-install sketchup (repairing the existing installed version), but most of the times it is more practical to re-enable the thumbnails this way:

Start -> run...
type "cmd" and then press "return"

navigate into your sketchup root directory by typing for example:
"cd C:\program files\google\sketchup 6" and press "return"

now you're in your sketchup6 root folder. Type:
"regsvr32 thumbsup.dll" and press "return".

Done

Hope this can help someone

sorry.may i know where to press 'return' on the keyboard?which key?

thomthom · 5 Jun 2009, 07:41

eullicious · 5 Jun 2009, 07:45

ok done!thx thomthom

Gaieus · 5 Jun 2009, 10:36

Yup, "Return" is an "old fashioned" name of the Enter button (does Mac still u7se it BTW?). It comes from mechanic typewriters when that button "returned" the typewriter to the beginning of the next line.

(Ehm... I still used these mechanic typewriters at university. In fact, AFAIK I was the first to write my thesis on a computer in WrdPerfect at the whole faculty)

troyhome · 5 Jun 2009, 11:54

[there's an app called GraphicConverter which used to ship with os x... it stopped shipping with macs around the same time they added .skp support to the app ..
[/quote]
This is EXACTLY what i've been wanting in a .skp viewer/organizer for mac!!! i can move, delete, etc. Brilliant!!! thanks sooo sooo much for showing us this!!!!!

kwistenbiebel · 5 Jun 2009, 12:12

For Vista 64 bit users (the TRICK is only for XP) Xnview works as well.
Being able to see the icons in the native explorer would have been better though...

kevsterman · 9 Jun 2009, 14:09

Thanks for that hint Kwist. I've downloaded Xnview and it does the trick, tho as you say, being able to do it in the native explorer would definitly have been better.

j40 · 28 Jul 2009, 04:57

@kwistenbiebel said:

For Vista 64 bit users (the TRICK is only for XP) Xnview works as well.
Being able to see the icons in the native explorer would have been better though...

Hey Biebel,
I just installed XP Pro 64bit, and the thumbnails don't work from the beginning. I've tried the command you mentioned, but this is what i got.

j40 · 10 Aug 2009, 09:35

Is there XP-64 bit users that can see SU's thumbnails?
I can't make it work. The only way to view the skp files that possible for me is the SU browser window in thumbnail view

thomthom · 10 Aug 2009, 14:13

Don't think there is. The SU preview is a shell extension and 64bit OS need 64bit shell extensions.
Though, maybe you can see them in the file dialog of 32bit applications..?

j40 · 11 Aug 2009, 07:22

Yes, as I wrote: "The only way to view the skp files that possible for me is with SU browser window in thumbnail view"
via the "open file" Su browser.

thomthom · 11 Aug 2009, 07:29

As I thought, the shell extension only works within 32bit applications that uses the 32-bit shell.

What I think you can do, in WinXP and Vista (not possible in Win7) is run this command:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe /separate
That should start an 32bit instance of explorer.exe.
Mind you, you might find other issue with that.

j40 · 11 Aug 2009, 19:57

@thomthom said:

As I thought, the shell extension only works within 32bit applications that uses the 32-bit shell.
Mind you, you might find other issue with that.

Other issues? Can you specify?
I prefer to know before i do it.

thomthom · 12 Aug 2009, 06:22

If you have 64bit extensions for other apps - you might not see them in the 32bit version unless that was also installed.

j40 · 16 Aug 2009, 21:19

Thanks Thom,
I entered this command and it poped up a explorer window in which wherever i browsed i could see the thumbnails previews (SU and PDF, yes the the pdfs are also unseen in the thumbnail view).
But if i brows from different/any explorer window the problem remains the same...

thomthom · 16 Aug 2009, 21:45

yes, you have to launch explorer.exe with that command. Make a shortcut on your desktop to it for easy access.

thomthom · 21 Aug 2009, 12:13

Right-click your desktop
New->Shortcut
Enter C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe /separate as the program path

j40 · 21 Aug 2009, 12:32

A shortcut would be great . Can you please explain how can i make one specifically for this command ?

j40 · 25 Aug 2009, 20:57

Thanks Thom Works great!