Need to see if your shared folder is taking up space on your dropbox 👨‍💻? Find out how to check here.

Forum Discussion

MarcASI's avatar
MarcASI
Explorer | Level 3
6 years ago

PDF preview using Windows EXplorer

This is for my work account. We use smart sync at work. Using Windows Explorer if I open a folder I have never been to and there are PDFs present.  I will then click on said PDF.  A preview pops up...
desktop
Preview
Setting up the apps
windows
ff49kids's avatar
ff49kids
New member | Level 2
6 years ago

I have same issue, When I have a PDF file in the cloud and I click on it, it show a perview in explore and at the same time, downloads the file to my computer.  Once file is download, there is no longer a preview for the file.   I check the process is non dropbox folders and there is a a perview.  Only in dropbox folder once file downloads is there no preview.  

MarcASI's avatar
MarcASI
Explorer | Level 3
6 years ago

An idea that would not fix this issue, but at least make it less of an issue would be if dropbox didn't download files just because they were previewed.  Because if I do open a file, and then save it, the preview works.  Again not a complete fix, but solves the issue 90% of the time.

  • Nthreads's avatar
    Nthreads
    New member | Level 2
    5 years ago

    It looks like this thread began back in Sept 2020 with no resolution. I have many computers using dropbox at work. Only one new computer has this issue exactly as described earlier in this thread. Once a file has previewed one time it can't be previewed a second time. I can look at files stored in OneDrive and .pdf files preview just fine. This issue makes my workflow tedious, I need a fix for this. Did anyone come up with a solution? 

    • MarcASI's avatar
      MarcASI
      Explorer | Level 3
      5 years ago

      Unfortunately no.

       

      I have a terrible workaround. It works, but your not going to like it Nthreads .

       

      If it's a folder i rarely access, I exit the folder. Select it and click online only, then go back in and have my 1 time previews.

       

      If it's a folder with fles i absolutly need on my system at all times, or access regularly. So first set the folder to online only so it removes all files, then set it to local. If it downloads the file before you preview it, the preview will work repeatedily.

       

      It only breaks when you preview a file that does not exist on your PC, and then you preview it. It will be forever broken until you make it online only or save it.  

      • Nthreads's avatar
        Nthreads
        New member | Level 2
        5 years ago

        @marcasi, thank you for the update. Hopefully, they will fix it soon!

About Apps and Installations

Have a question about a Dropbox app or installation? Reach out to the Dropbox Community and get solutions, help, and advice from members.

The Dropbox Community team is active from Monday to Friday. We try to respond to you as soon as we can, usually within 2 hours.

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X, Facebook or Instagram.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!