If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? It works for symbols too, .asy files. Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images? -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
LT Spice thumbnail
Started by ●July 19, 2018
Reply by ●July 20, 20182018-07-20
On 07/19/2018 08:57 PM, John Larkin wrote:> > > If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the > schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? > > It works for symbols too, .asy files. > > Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images? > >There's a Windows Thumbnail Cache since way back in the day that stores generated file thumbnails for many document types. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_thumbnail_cache> The Microsoft .NET framework which is roughly speaking the API used to develop Windows GUI software has lots of features/extensions, one is the Shell API which lets the software developer allow their software to do many things the shell can do including extend the thumbnail cache to store new types of thumbnails generated by the document's associated program
Reply by ●July 20, 20182018-07-20
On 07/20/2018 01:10 AM, bitrex wrote:> On 07/19/2018 08:57 PM, John Larkin wrote: >> >> >> If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the >> schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? >> >> It works for symbols too, .asy files. >> >> Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images? >> >> > > There's a Windows Thumbnail Cache since way back in the day that stores > generated file thumbnails for many document types. > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_thumbnail_cache> > > The Microsoft .NET framework which is roughly speaking the API used to > develop Windows GUI software has lots of features/extensions, one is the > Shell API which lets the software developer allow their software to do > many things the shell can do including extend the thumbnail cache to > store new types of thumbnails generated by the document's associated > programI don't believe the actual LTSpice binary is ever invoked to do it the API just offloads a set of instructions on how to generate thumbnails to the Windows thumbnail cache manager during program installation. Windows GUI stuff is not my software-jam so that's my best guess
Reply by ●July 20, 20182018-07-20
On Thu, 19 Jul 2018 17:57:53 -0700, John Larkin wrote:> If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the > schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? > > It works for symbols too, .asy files. > > Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images?Sounds like you've created an association between .asy and .asc files and LTSpice. Not a problem, is it? After all, .asc files are pretty much obsolete from the WP POV anyway. I'd guess LTS is the only app on your system that still uses them. -- This message may be freely reproduced without limit or charge only via the Usenet protocol. Reproduction in whole or part through other protocols, whether for profit or not, is conditional upon a charge of GBP10.00 per reproduction. Publication in this manner via non-Usenet protocols constitutes acceptance of this condition.
Reply by ●July 20, 20182018-07-20
El 20/07/2018 a las 2:57, John Larkin escribió:> > > If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the > schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? > > It works for symbols too, .asy files. > > Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images? > >In Windows an application can register as a previewer for recognized types, see: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/shell/how-to-register-a-preview-handler In my system Windows calls C:\Program Files\LTC\LTspiceXVII\ASCx64.dll to get the thumbnail of ASC files. -- Saludos Miguel Giménez
Reply by ●July 20, 20182018-07-20
On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:10:37 -0000 (UTC), Cursitor Doom <curd@notformail.com> wrote:>On Thu, 19 Jul 2018 17:57:53 -0700, John Larkin wrote: > >> If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the >> schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? >> >> It works for symbols too, .asy files. >> >> Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images? > >Sounds like you've created an association between .asy and .asc files and >LTSpice..asc yes, but I've never deliberately associated .asy files. Not a problem, is it? After all, .asc files are pretty much>obsolete from the WP POV anyway. I'd guess LTS is the only app on your >system that still uses them.Yes, and I can always drag any file onto the Crimson Editor icon if I want to see it. I was just impressed that Windows makes little schematic icons (and accurate, up-to-date ones, not static pics) from my various .asc files, even ones with included libraries and special symbols. Maybe Spice leaves an icon behind, for every circuit, when it's run. It can't be created in real time as I prowl around in an Explorer window. Anyway, it's cool. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc lunatic fringe electronics
Reply by ●July 20, 20182018-07-20
On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:18:50 +0200, Miguel Gim�nez <me@privacy.net> wrote:>El 20/07/2018 a las 2:57, John Larkin escribi�: >> >> >> If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the >> schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? >> >> It works for symbols too, .asy files. >> >> Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images? >> >> > >In Windows an application can register as a previewer for recognized >types, see: > >https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/shell/how-to-register-a-preview-handler > >In my system Windows calls C:\Program Files\LTC\LTspiceXVII\ASCx64.dll >to get the thumbnail of ASC files.Oh, then it does create the icons in real time, as I prowl around in the Explorer window. It's sure fast, much faster than starting up Spice. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc lunatic fringe electronics
Reply by ●July 20, 20182018-07-20
On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 07:08:21 -0700, John Larkin wrote:> Anyway, it's cool.Sounds it! As a Linux user I'm denied such delights, though. -- This message may be freely reproduced without limit or charge only via the Usenet protocol. Reproduction in whole or part through other protocols, whether for profit or not, is conditional upon a charge of GBP10.00 per reproduction. Publication in this manner via non-Usenet protocols constitutes acceptance of this condition.
Reply by ●July 21, 20182018-07-21
On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 07:08:21 -0700, John Larkin <jjlarkin@highlandtechnology.com> wrote:>On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:10:37 -0000 (UTC), Cursitor Doom ><curd@notformail.com> wrote: > >>On Thu, 19 Jul 2018 17:57:53 -0700, John Larkin wrote: >> >>> If I single-click on an .asc file in Windows Explorer, I see the >>> schematic thumbnail at the bottom of the window. How does that work? >>> >>> It works for symbols too, .asy files. >>> >>> Does Windows invoke LT Spice to make the thumbnail images? >> >>Sounds like you've created an association between .asy and .asc files and >>LTSpice. > >.asc yes, but I've never deliberately associated .asy files. > > >Not a problem, is it? After all, .asc files are pretty much >>obsolete from the WP POV anyway. I'd guess LTS is the only app on your >>system that still uses them. > >Yes, and I can always drag any file onto the Crimson Editor icon if I >want to see it. I was just impressed that Windows makes little >schematic icons (and accurate, up-to-date ones, not static pics) from >my various .asc files, even ones with included libraries and special >symbols. > >Maybe Spice leaves an icon behind, for every circuit, when it's run. >It can't be created in real time as I prowl around in an Explorer >window. > >Anyway, it's cool.Even cooler is if you turn on the preview pane, it shows the schematic. Cheers
Reply by ●July 21, 20182018-07-21
On 07/20/2018 12:50 PM, Cursitor Doom wrote:> On Fri, 20 Jul 2018 07:08:21 -0700, John Larkin wrote: > > >> Anyway, it's cool. > > Sounds it! As a Linux user I'm denied such delights, though. > > > >Not really, depending on your distribution. <https://developer.gnome.org/integration-guide/stable/thumbnailer.html.en>
