Cannot see emf thumbnails

Question

In my job I manage over 30,000 files in emf, wmf and svg formats. I recently upgraded to Windows 7 from XP and the ability to see thumbnails of metafiles in windows has disappeared.

It seems this is due to a security problem, but is there any way to turn them back on. I absolutely rely on these for my job. I have tried working with image viewers. But really need the integration with windows as I have all my other systems, like updating to our VPN, through windows explorer.

Is there any way to turn on metafile thumbnails, even being fully aware of the security risks.

Or is there any tools in development that will help the situation. Or is the only way to go back to Windows XP?

Many thanks

Cate

Answer 1

Hi Cate Detheridge,

WMF and EMF files are vector based, so there really is no image from which to make a thumbnail from. A vector based image is nothing more than a mathematical set of instructions to remake some image, similar to MIDI files are on the audio side don't contain any waveforms.

You can of course convert these EMF (Enhanced Meta File) files to a raster based graphic file that should generate a thumbnail.

Windows 7 does not generate the thumbnails for these vector based files.

However there are several non- Microsoft programs which would convert and generate the thumbnails for these filetypes, you may use your favorite search engine and download these programs and check.

Important Note: This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites; therefore, Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. There are inherent dangers in the use of any software found on the Internet, and Microsoft cautions you to make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any software from the Internet.

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Thanks and Regards:

Swathi B - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

WMF and EMF files are vector based, so there really is no image from which to make a thumbnail from. A vector based image is nothing more than a mathematical set of instructions to remake some image, similar to MIDI files are on the audio side don't contain any waveforms.

It's complete nonsense to say there is no image to make a thumbnail from. Vector and raster are just different methods of recording the data of an image, each with their own limitations. It's perfectly reasonable to think that Windows should generate thumbnails for both vector and raster images.

Answer 3

posting this for other people with the same problem

http://www.mysticcoder.net/mysticthumbs.html

This works a treat on windows 7 64 and 32 bit :)

Answer 4

Hi Cate Detheridge,

WMF and EMF files are vector based, so there really is no image from which to make a thumbnail from. A vector based image is nothing more than a mathematical set of instructions to remake some image, similar to MIDI files are on the audio side don't contain any waveforms.

You can of course convert these EMF (Enhanced Meta File) files to a raster based graphic file that should generate a thumbnail.

Windows 7 does not generate the thumbnails for these vector based files.

However there are several non- Microsoft programs which would convert and generate the thumbnails for these filetypes, you may use your favorite search engine and download these programs and check.

Important Note: This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites; therefore, Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. There are inherent dangers in the use of any software found on the Internet, and Microsoft cautions you to make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any software from the Internet.

---

Thanks and Regards:

Swathi B - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

---

R. C. White, CPA Microsoft Windows MVP

Answer 5

Hi Cate Detheridge,

WMF and EMF files are vector based, so there really is no image from which to make a thumbnail from. A vector based image is nothing more than a mathematical set of instructions to remake some image, similar to MIDI files are on the audio side don't contain any waveforms.

You can of course convert these EMF (Enhanced Meta File) files to a raster based graphic file that should generate a thumbnail.

Windows 7 does not generate the thumbnails for these vector based files.

However there are several non- Microsoft programs which would convert and generate the thumbnails for these filetypes, you may use your favorite search engine and download these programs and check.

Important Note: This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites; therefore, Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. There are inherent dangers in the use of any software found on the Internet, and Microsoft cautions you to make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any software from the Internet.

---

Thanks and Regards:

Swathi B - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

---

R. C. White, CPA Microsoft Windows MVP