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
Lin-at-work's avatar
Lin-at-work
Explorer | Level 3
5 years ago

I've experienced this same problem and it is very annoying: I use the preview a lot to quickly find documents I need (naming conventions are not a thing where I currently work). 

 

The workaround suggested by MarcASI works: first set the folder to Online only to remove all local copies of the files. Then change SmartSync to Local to download all documents. Preview now works as intended, not just the first time or only on files that I have saved myself. Marc, you were a lifesaver, thank you! 

 

Taking troubleshooting one step further: my current thoughts. When you request a preview of an online document, the file gets downloaded to a (temporary?) location. The preview shows fine. Then when you click away from that file, something happens that makes the Explorer preview not able to find the file a second time. I'm thinking that maybe the file is removed from the temporary download location once you click away and the preview process is stopped for that particular file. Then when you open it a second time, the preview process cannot find the file in that temporary location. Preview: "That's odd, I was sure it was here the last time I looked!"

Or maybe when the preview process is called again for a file that has a Smart Sync marker "Local", it starts looking in the normal local location where it can't find the file until it has been 'properly' downloaded or saved by the user. Preview: "That's odd, it says it's a local file but there's nothing there to show!"

user2891's avatar
user2891
Helpful | Level 6
4 years ago

I also have this issue. Please fix this ASAP. It is enough of a problem that I will switch to Microsoft OneDrive soon, assuming this problem does not happen with its service.

  • Larry S.6's avatar
    Larry S.6
    New member | Level 2
    4 years ago

    Agree with the last post.  Fix the issue, or we are gone, too...

  • CouruDavance's avatar
    CouruDavance
    Explorer | Level 3
    4 years ago

    Agree with last post. It doesn't work today again !

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