Foxit Reader is definitely best Adobe reader replacement. However, we are not able to enable the thumbnail preview in Windows Explorer if we set it as a default PDF viewer. This tip will help you to turn this feature on.
A lot of Foxit reader users request this feature, but unfortunately they haven’t implement it, even in the latest 2.3 version. I try to search through internet and i found a great article which can do this.
Steps
- Install both Foxit reader and Adobe reader.
- Go to Start -> Run -> type regedit.
- In the Registry Editor, go to Edit -> Find. Type “foxit” in the field. Press Find Next a few times until you reach something like “FOXITR~1>EXE“.
- Browse to shell -> open -> command, copy the full path of your foxit reader.exe. For example, mine one is
“C:\PROGRA~1\FOXITS~1\FOXITR~1\FOXITR~1.EXE” “%1″ <–A - Find your full address for Adobe reader. Mine one is
“C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe” “%1″ <–B
This value should be same with mine, unless you are using different version or install at different path. - Search through all registry, replace path B with path A. Remember, only replace value that exactly the same with path B, else your Foxit reader/Acrobat reader may not work!
After your finish these steps, you can view the PDF thumbnails in windows explorer while still set Foxit reader as your default PDF viewer.
This does not work for me. I got winXP and foxit 2.3. No Thumbnails after changing all reg entrys and then set foxit as default pdf viewer.
@user: Are you sure you follow all the steps? Please uninstall both application and then try again. The most important part is the registry. Make sure you follow every steps.
yeah! its working with newest version 2.3! I must have missed one entry in my first attempt. Its now perfectly working without deinstallation.
to straighten things out: Adobe Reader must be the default pdf application before changing registry settings!
thx for reply dick!
I’VE FOUND A MUCH BETTER WAY TO DO IT:
1. Install both Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader.
2. Launch Regedit.exe and navigate to the following key: “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document”.
3. Right-click on “FoxitReader.Document” and choose to create a new key, calling it “Shellex”.
4. Create a new key below that one and name it “{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}”.
5. Double-click on the (Default) value in the right-hand pane and enter in the following: “{F9DB5320-233E-11D1-9F84-707F02C10627}”.
6. Logoff and login back for the change to take effect.
I found a simpler way:
1. Install Acrobat and make it default reader.
2. Install Foxit to a folder on desktop (call it foxit folder)
3. Rename Foxit Reader.exe in foxit folder to AcroRd32.exe
4. Goto Adobe Acrobat setup folder
On my PC it’s: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader
5. Overwrite contents with that of foxit folder.
Hope that helps.
This still works with foxit reader 3 and adobe reader 9. Too bad this feature is not implemented in foxit yet