Thread: Integrating instantaneous thumbnail in the context menu

You prefer working with the List or Details displays in Windows Explorer rather than with the thumbnails view, but you still want to have a comfortable preview alternative when it comes to image files.

The FirmTools shell extension provides an interesting solution to this. It shows a miniature preview in the context menu of the respective image file, and Start the 'shext.exe' for the installation and follow the wizard through the setup process, The tool is instantly activated. This shell extension extends the context menu by two further commands and a thumbnail, irrespective of the graphics file type. Right click on an image file to get a preview of the same. Moreover, the 'Convert to' context command is quite impressive. You can convert common graphic formats instantaneously with it. In the file dialog that is displayed, select the desired output format in the 'File Type' field and click 'Save'. You will immediately have the file in the new format. Unfortunately, it is not possible to create a detailed conversion workflow here. You can configure a few settings by calling up 'All Programs | FirmTools | ShellExtension | Configure ShellExtension' in the Start menu.

NOTE:

The preview function is also useful when you do not have any other preview option in the 'Open' file dialog of an application. And it is also applicable to Windows XP.