AutoCAD LT 2021 file thumbnails not working

[mtarch]

Hello all,

We have an issue at our office where the thumbnail/preview of our AutoCAD files are not working. We used to be able to see all AutoCAD files as a small preview of either the model space or a layout (depending on where we left the file when last saved). Instead we see the red autocad file icon with DXF (?) underneath it instead of, presumably, DWG.

We use MAcs running on Monterey 12.6 with AutoCAD 2021.2.2, Product Version R.47.M.193. We do not have any other AutoCAD versions installed and we have THUMBSAVE set to 1.

Hope we've explained the issue clearly, thanks in advance.

 

[maxim_k]

Hi @mtarch ,

Looks like there is something wrong with file associations and launch services on your Mac .

I see that DWG file type on your system has DXF icon and DWG file Kind is "DXF/DWG document", but should be "AutoCAD Drawing":

That is why preview system on your Mac cannot use AutoCAD preview plugin.

What you can try:

1/ Change "Open with" option in the Info window in Finder to something other then AutoCAD LT, then use "Change all" button to apply new settings to all DWG files. I hope they there are some other apps in the "Open with" list.

After that restart your Mac, don't open AutoCAD drawings and change "Open with" option back to AutoCAD, use "Change all" button to apply new settings to all DWG files.

Launch AutoCAD, quit it and check Info window in Finder.

If this will not help, you can:

2/ Reinstall AutoCAD - uninstall it with "Remove AutoCAD LT.app" and then use installer to install it again.

2/ Try to rebuild launch services as described here:

https://eclecticlight.co/2017/08/11/launch-services-database-problems-correcting-and-rebuilding/

[mtarch]

Thanks for the reply Maxim. We tried the initial solution you offered but unfortunately it looks inevitable that we will need to reinstall as that did not fix the issue. Thanks for the help.