Windows 7 - Preview other file types as text in Preview Pane

Question

I want to preview .js, .php, and other file extensions as text in explorer on Windows 7.

Any ideas on how I can accomplish this?

In the meantime, check out: http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/add-file-types-to-windows-7-preview-pane — ZoogieZork, Jan 05 '10 at 20:02

score 70 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 21 '15 at 10:34

70

On top of using PreviewConfig, you will also have to add entries into the registry to get it working on Windows 7.

Open the registry editor (regedit in the start menu search) and navigate to computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.FILE_EXT, where FILE_EXT is the extension you want to add, such as .nfo
Make 2 new string values (REG_SZ) under the file extension's key, Content Type and PerceivedType
Set the value of Content Type to text/plain and PerceivedType to text.

edited Aug 21 '15 at 10:34

StackzOfZtuff

1,540

answered Jan 05 '10 at 20:24

On Win 7, I got not success on .m3u using PreviewConfig http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/9910/regionuj.png or the manual method too http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3674/registryeditor.png . Any ideas? – ChrisJJ Mar 12 '13 at 22:55
5

I am not totally sure but it is not Perceived Type, it is PerceivedType – Devid Oct 25 '13 at 22:15
Success!! Per the answer below for most file types I did not need to manually edit the registry but for .config files I did because it had already been registered as ContentType application/xml and did not want to update. Thanks! – groksrc Mar 20 '14 at 19:19
Note well (I should have): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_before_E_except_after_C – dcromley Mar 07 '15 at 02:28
1

I have found this method (registry fix) works for .eml files without bothering with PreviewConfig at all - Windows 8.1. – gogoud Jul 02 '15 at 12:07
This method also works for text formats on Windows 7 Professional without needing PreviewConfig. – Myles Jan 02 '19 at 18:29
How can I do that for the files without an extension? – Andrew Anderson Sep 19 '21 at 14:07

score 32 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 06 '17 at 14:25

32

I just went to RegEdit> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Classes

Found .log

Added a new String Value with Value Name PerceivedType and Value Data text.

Started working straight away.

edited Aug 06 '17 at 14:25

ba_ul

103
3

answered Sep 19 '13 at 09:59

user255627

321
3
2

where did you get this tutorial from? please consider adding your source. – Lorenzo Von Matterhorn Sep 19 '13 at 10:25
The benefit of this method is that if you change the viewer for the underlying type all types that are perceived as it will change too. – Sam Hasler Jun 30 '14 at 11:56
1

This worked for Windows 10 also and was very easy to do. – smcintosh Mar 13 '16 at 20:06
1

Perfect! I wanted to do this for markdown files on Windows 10. Went to the same location and looked for .md and added the same thing (PerceivedType: text). Voila, it worked right away. – ba_ul Aug 06 '17 at 13:11
It works also for adding new key with arbitrary extension name, if the extension doesn't exist. In my case, it was unregistered .cff file type. Tested on Windows 7. – Phil B Feb 01 '18 at 10:55
My .html folder there in Classes unfortunately already has "Content Type" = "text/html" and "PerceivedType" = "text", but the previews don't work. I just see a Chrome icon. – Ryan Oct 04 '18 at 16:52
Perfect, just what I wanted... now figure out a way to get formatting in that preview and it'd be awesome :) – u8it Dec 14 '18 at 20:13
Note, it doesn't need to be HKLM, it can be just per user HKCU. – Daryn Mar 05 '20 at 09:50
2

If anyone wants a powershell 1-liner: [microsoft.win32.registry]::SetValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.js", "PerceivedType", "text") credit: @Dubas on a different question – Daryn Mar 05 '20 at 09:52
For .log on Win10, it did not work for me under HKCU. I had to set it under HKLM. – lightwing Nov 03 '21 at 13:07

score 19 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 28 '11 at 00:45

19

As of June 2010, PreviewConfig will handle Windows 7 file preview duties without the need for any manual registry editing.

answered Feb 28 '11 at 00:45

Anthony K

473

score 12 · Answer 4 · edited May 31 '17 at 04:34

12

You can solve this by using a little tool created by a Microsoft guy (Stephen Toub) called "PreviewHandlerEditor.exe", which is available here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/toub/archive/2006/12/14/preview-handler-association-editor.aspx

Download and open the tool, uncheck "Only show classes associated with this handler", select a registered preview handler from the dropdown menu (e.g. "Windows TXT Previewer"), scroll through the list of classses/extensions, and select the file type you are having trouble previewing in Windows search.

I found this answer via: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/no-preview-available-there-are-several-files-that/9a93872f-db8e-450a-96b1-951a3d687fd9?page=2&tm=1423925169058#LastReply

Direct download link to app: https://msdnshared.blob.core.windows.net/media/MSDNBlogsFS/prod.evol.blogs.msdn.com/CommunityServer.Components.PostAttachments/00/01/28/65/88/PreviewHandlerEditor.zip

edited May 31 '17 at 04:34

user3089168

3

answered Feb 14 '15 at 14:55

Michael Beijer

416
1
5
13

I find this tool to be more capable than the one in the accepted answer. It allows me to add and remove handlers from filetypes without limitation. Thanks, @Michael for the link to the download - the links in Toub's original blog posting no longer work. – yosh m Apr 19 '15 at 11:42
1

no need for tools. windows provides it check out the solution here link – Peter Moore Nov 20 '19 at 01:16
The blog post appears to be gone, but the direct download link still works. Thanks – Sam Hasler Sep 07 '20 at 09:39
blog post is gone, and direct link does not work anymore, all links are dead. – Rainb Feb 09 '22 at 13:25

score 5 · Answer 5 · edited Apr 27 '13 at 15:41

To view .ai in windows 7 preview handler

Navigate to .ai folder in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes.ai
Under that make a key named ShellEx if not already there
Under ShellEx create a key name {8895b1c6-b41f-4c1c-a562-0d564250836f}
Under this new key change the data value to {DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193} (I would have posted an image but Im not allowed to by the system but I'm sure you got it!)

Now even Adobe Illustrator files show up in the preview handler and you look like a Pro! This is possible as the preview handler for PDF files and AI files are the same so all that is being done is copy/paste the PDF one to the AI one!

Stephan Keller · Answer 6 · 2019-11-04T10:36:41.637

2

In addition to the accepted answer: If you don’t have the privilege to add a key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.log (e.g. on a computer in an office environment):

You can create the same keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.log

Worked for me with Windows 10.

edited Nov 04 '19 at 10:36

answered Oct 22 '19 at 11:46

Stephan Keller

21

score 2 · Answer 7 · edited Jul 16 '15 at 13:41

2

Try please:

PreviewConfig Tool Registers File Types for the Preview Pane in Windows 7/Vista

edited Jul 16 '15 at 13:41

DIF

205

answered Feb 15 '12 at 22:37

Dr. Hook

29

2

Could you summarize your article here? We prefer you don't just link your own site as an answer – Simon Sheehan Feb 15 '12 at 22:39
1

While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes. – Ramhound Jul 16 '15 at 12:59

score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Feb 12 '23 at 17:04

1

Using powershell

[microsoft.win32.registry]::SetValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.js", "PerceivedType", "text")

Thanks to Daryn's comment

answered Feb 12 '23 at 17:04

andreikashin

169
1
9

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center. – Community Feb 12 '23 at 17:13

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 26 '21 at 09:57

I'm too lazy to looking for the .ext(the extension file i want). So, i do:

Go to Regedit(i do with Windows+R hotkey and 'regedit' input) and set the quick view as text like above answer

Go... RegEdit> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Classes and ...

After that, export and save(ex: log.reg) this config with right-click menu enter image description here

So, with another file extention you can edit(and save) above log.reg with your wanna .ext Examle for .less file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes.less] @="txtfile" "PerceivedType"="text"

Double click this file to apply effect.

Note: I think yo should do it your self because some(strange) .reg can be harm for your system

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Jun 23 '23 at 21:01

Easy to do with PowerShell.

An example that sets text preview for .js extension:

Set-ItemProperty Registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.js -Name PerceivedType -Value text
Set-ItemProperty Registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.js -Name 'Content Type' -Value 'text/plain'

or if you want to set it for multiple extensions (.js and .php for example):

'.js', '.php' | % { 
    Set-ItemProperty Registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\$_ -Name PerceivedType -Value text
    Set-ItemProperty Registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\$_ -Name 'Content Type' -Value 'text/plain'
}

Windows 7 - Preview other file types as text in Preview Pane

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