Show Thumbnails for Certian file types.

[xcrx]

I am looking to incorporate thumbnails similar to what can be seen in windows explore for non bitmap file types such as IDW files or PSD files.

I am not even sure what could be used to accomplish this. I am pretty sure explore uses a dll to render the thumbnails it displays. I don't know if anybody has any knowledge about adapting these dlls for use in access.

I am open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks
Ryan

 

[darbid]

That is an interesting question, but you are going to explain a little more where you want and what you want. maybe a picture or something.

 

[xcrx]

Well the basic idea of what I want is when you click on, lets say an IDW file in Windows explorer it can show you a thumbnail of that file. I want to use that in Access.

More specifically I want to attach an IDW file to a related record using it's location (c:/prints/1234.idw). I then want to be able to display the same thumbnail that windows explore can generate, with in my database. This thumbnail would be used as an on screen reference as well as being able to use in on reports for printing.

I hope that helps.

Ryan

 

[darbid]

Ok well as long as you are not in a continuous form then just add a picture to your form and use the onclick event of the image to then open the file.

In your load event check the field your path is in to this file and if it is empty then make the icon not visible.

How does that sound

 

[xcrx]

I understand what you are saying and that is similar to the system I have in place now but it only works with jpg files because access can render those. I am currently converting all the IDW files to jpg files and storing them.

The problem comes when the IDW file is updated by our engineers. They don't always remember to let me know about the change so the jpg files are then out of date.

I am looking for a way to make access render a preview of an IDW file similar to what Explore can do. (It does this with many files types, AVI, PDF, PSD, ect)

 

[SOS]

I am looking for a way to make access render a preview of an IDW file similar to what Explore can do. (It does this with many files types, AVI, PDF, PSD, ect)

You are trying to take Access to places it isn't designed for. If this feature is necessary then you really should use something like .NET which has more capabilities in this area.

Oh, and it is ETC (not ect) - et cetera

 

[xcrx]

You are trying to take Access to places it isn't designed for. If this feature is necessary then you really should use something like .NET which has more capabilities in this area.

Oh, and it is ETC (not ect) - et cetera

That is kind of what I was thinking but I wanted to throw the question out there in case someone else had come up with a way to bend access's functionality to fit something like this.

Thanks
Ryan

 

[SOS]

You might be able to find an ActiveX control which can do the trick but I hate using them. They can cause more problems than they're worth sometimes. I only use them if absolutely, positively nothing else will work.

 

[darbid]

The problem comes when the IDW file is updated by our engineers. They don't always remember to let me know about the change so the jpg files are then out of date.

Now I get you. And I agree with SOS you are going into pretty complicated territory. I am happy to be wrong but you could not do this from VBA alone. You would need a real language like VB.net or C#.net etc.

I was just thinking you wanted the typical icon which indicated the type of file, but you are going the next step.

By the way in 2003 I have more succes with gif files than jpegs on forms.

 

[darbid]

Your file extension is for Autocad right. it is dissappointing that you cannot see those drawing. I still think it is near impossible with vba alone but here are some links

http://www.bigresource.com/Tracker/Track-vb-QJhE26IKDG/

http://www.bigresource.com/Tracker/Track-vb-EAi5Amjdnv/

 

[darbid]

I would suggest you go searching for .dlls for vba and autocad you might find one that does other things but shows a preview

http://www.dailyautocad.com/2007/08/programming-languages-in-autocad.html

If you could open a file on a form in a really small control that would be like a preview.

 

[xcrx]

If I found a dll that would help me implement this how would I go about telling VBA to use it?

 

[xcrx]

I found this forum post. It isn't exactly what I am trying to do but I think it will work as a substitute as long as it isn't too slow.

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=139043

I am working on getting it functioning now. I will let you guys know if I get it to work.

Thanks
Ryan

 

[xcrx]

Okay so I got the Inventor View ActiveX File registered and such. I can put it in my database and it all works however if I change the size of the control, larger or smaller it causes access to crash.

Any ideas on how to get around this?

 

[darbid]

I think I have had that problem with active X sizes before. eg Internet Explorer.

If you do not get a response, maybe you could have more than one on the form already set at your size, then just make them visible or not.

 

[xcrx]

I am going to try a 32 bit version of inventor view and see if it makes any difference.

 

[xcrx]

I tried an older version of viewer but it doesn't seem to help any. Has anyone else run into this problem and been able to fix it?

Ryan