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How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 4:08 am
by mongerdesigns
I've spend lots of time looking for a solution to easily view the STL file previews in windows and could never find a viable option.

I have finally found an easy way to do this.

Download and install the Marlin 3d printer tool http://www.marlin3dprintertool.se/Lates ... erTool.msi

Run it, or just go to the installation folder and run the file called Marlin3DprinterToolStlConfiguration.exe

Click on Install and Register STL Thumbnail. Click on Color on STL and change that to gray or else it will be a hard to see blue color.

You can click on Restart Windows File Explorer but it may not be necessary.

thumbnail-explorer.png
thumbnail-explorer.png (10.29KiB)Viewed 96372 times


That's it.

Now in Windows File Explorer you can see all the STL files in the folders rendered as thumbnails. It makes it extremely easy to find STL files without having to open them one at a time.

Note: Depending on the size of the STL files in a given folder, it make take some time to generate all the thumbnails.

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 5:55 am
by exedebee
thank you Emil.

Exe

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 10:14 am
by dcpattni
HI Emil,

is it correct i download?........yr screen looks different then mine.

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 12:26 pm
by drewbacca
Some stl editors provide support for thumbnail preview such as Magics, but that is more on the expensive side. Thanks for the tip monger!

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 12:52 pm
by robin
I owe you a beer, Emil. Let me know when you're in NYC!

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 1:10 pm
by robin
dcpattni wrote:HI Emil,

is it correct i download?........yr screen looks different then mine.


Please follow EXACTLY what Emil said in the original post. Find the install folder and double click the file called "Marlin3DprinterToolStlConfiguration.exe". The default icon that gets placed on the desktop is NOT the one you want.

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 2:21 pm
by mongerdesigns
Thanks Robin! I will take you up on that one.

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 2:24 pm
by mongerdesigns
drewbacca wrote:Some stl editors provide support for thumbnail preview such as Magics, but that is more on the expensive side. Thanks for the tip monger!


I have tried with magics lite and it didn't do it. The only other way I knew was to install the software demo for kevvox studio, but they discontinued the download when the company went out of business.

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 5:38 am
by reify
Thanks Emil, this is great!

Re: How to enable STL file thumbnails in Windows File Explorer

Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 9:37 pm
by Kevin
Thank You! I have been searching for years for something just like this.