Add file type support to Vista's Explorer preview pane with PreviewConfig

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Microsoft, Freeware

Add file type support to Vista's Explorer preview pane with PreviewConfig

by Danny Mendez Apr 21st 2008

PreviewConfig is a utility that gives Vista users the power to add file type support to the Explorer preview pane, which can be activated via "Organize." Though the preview pane can be an interesting and useful feature of the OS, it really lacks in file support. It's possible to add support for more without a 3rd party program, but that requires some risky and time-consuming registry tweaking.

But fear not lazy and/or less-advanced Vista users! PreviewConfig makes it easy to add support for more file types. Simply open the application, choose the file type on the left and select how to preview it on the right. In the photo above, you can see the results of adding support for a multimedia file -- in this case an MP3 -- which is previewed through Windows Media Player.

Though it was easy to add support for MP3 files, adding more would require the user to go through the process again. This isn't a big deal if you're looking to add a few more, but adding support for 20, 30, or more file types could prove to be extra boring. Then again, it beats doing the registry hack over and over again.

[via the How-To-Geek]

Tags: explorer, preview, preview pane, previewconfig, PreviewPane, vista

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Quikboy said 6:28PM on 4-21-2008

So wait a minute. Vista has had Preview Pane since it launched, and Leopard came later with Quick Look?

And I though everybody said MS copied all the time. :O

ross said 1:02PM on 4-22-2008

mp3 IS supported by Vista out of the box.

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