The CS series of Adobe Illustrator doesn’t allow you to view .ai files as thumbnails in Windows Explorer, previously it was enabled but Adobe stopped developing this function. Nevertheless, here is a simple workaround for viewing .ai. files as thumbnails.
First and foremost download Illustrator Thumbnail Viewer. Follow these instructions:
1. Extract the downloaded zip file and copy aiicon.dll to X:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell; X: is the directory where your operating system resides. Create a new directory if it doesn’t exist by default.
2. Open AI_Thumb.reg file in notepad and change @=”C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Adobe\\Shell\\aiicon.dll” to the path specified above. Leave it as it is if your Windows drive is C.
3. Save and merge the registry file by double clicking it.
That’s it, now you can view your .ai files as thumbnails in Windows Explorer.
P.S: This method is working absolutely fine in Windows XP. I haven’t tested it in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Related: How to preview Photoshop PSD files as thumbnails in Windows Explorer
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
In CS4 the folder where you say aiicon.dll is located does not contain that file. Instead, it has a folder called CS4 with two dll files inside it which I cannot edit with Notepad. Is there a workaround for this?
Nevermind. Got it to work! Thanks you genius!
Follow this link http://geekace.com/psai-thumbs-lets-you-preview-photoshops-psd-and-illustrators-eps-files-as-thumbnails-in-windows-explorer.html
I tried with Vista but it doesn’t work.
Strange because I found the same method for Photoshop thumbnails and it worked. I’ll search somewhere else!
It doesn’t appear to work in Windows 7. I can try a reboot, but unless I report back otherwise, it doesn’t work for me in Windows 7.
It works! Thank you!!
The registry files must be changed if you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows. Illustrator and Photoshop, both 32-bit applications, are installed in the “Program Files (x86)” folder, and the registry entries must point there rather than to “Program Files”, which is for 64-bit programs.
Yeah sure thing jsh!!! Did you ever try it for yourself or are you just guessing?
Works well on Win XP SP3 & AI CS3, though some thumbnails need to be refreshed manually to appear (my AI files are usually pretty big). Gonna save me lots of time and stress. Thanks!!
Right now i need veiw AI thumbnails in Windows 7 how can i do?
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