Thumbnail - preview size custom

[grzjoh18]

We are getting more and more to the point where we do need a quick preview for drawings after search. We need to be able to navigate through a list of drawings using the up/down arrow keys and see the thumbnail including details.

The loading times in the View tab are too long (we use DWF generated from job processor) and cannot be used for a quick search.

The thumbnail which will be created during save in Inventor is too small and cannot be used as a preview in the vault. Vault should be able to handle the thumbnail setting and the size should be set by the customer.

Please give us the options to set the size we need or to generate Thumbnails for preview in Vault  via Job Processor.

[chrisreynolds]

Would it be possible to increase the size of the thumbnail in the Vault preview window?

As it currently shows, it is very difficult to see what the drawing looks like, It just seems odd that there is such a big space for a preview yet there is only a tiny preview pane itself.

[ihayesjr]

Thank you for posting the Idea. The thumbnail is an image embedded inside of the file that Vault extracts from the file during check-in. The size of the thumbnail is controlled and created by the authoring application. Vault is only able to extract what that application provides.

[cbenner]

@chrisreynolds 

It should also be noted that the thumbnail is just that, not the preview itself.  If you click on the thumbnail you should get a preview that fills the window.  Assuming you are generating visualizations, and have your document previewers turned on.  If you need help with this, post in the Vault forums and we can help you get it set up.

[chrisreynolds]

Hi Cbennor, I am aware it is just a thumbnail & clicking it sometimes makes it fill the window.

I just thought that as the area is so large, why is it wasted with such a small thumbnail in the middle when it could have a much larger preview there instead, thus saving another click. A lot of our work for certain customers is very similar & finding the best look-a-like to copy saves a lot of time in the drawing/modelling environment. Being able to see the difference easily in the Vault environment would also save a lot of time.

Just my thoughts on it, You can do it in Windows explorer folders would be nice to be able to do it in Vault.

[ihayesjr]

@chrisreynolds , You can change the default view of the Preview Pane. Go Tools -> Options in the menu.

Click the Document Previews button and check the box next to Autodesk DWF.

[chrisreynolds]

@ihayesjr Thanks, that works much better than the crappy little preview we normally have, Just altered the other workstations to match.

[ihayesjr]

Thank you for posting the idea. However, the CAD application generates the thumbnail while saving the file. Vault does not generate the thumbnail. This request would have to made to the CAD application team.

[steveh5]

Idea from Inventor's Wishes...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/save-all-thumbnails-with-white-background/idi-p/724108...

[ssdimpfl]

I'm not sure why this is archived because this is exactly what is needed.  This is an email I sent today to one of my AutoDesk contacts:

It would also be beneficial if you could click down the list of files and instantly see a thumbnail of each file in a widget/window.  For this ask I am thinking specifically of PDF versions of our CAD files that we would automatically render using a workflow after the CAD file is finalized, which would remove the processing concern that ihayesjr used as justification for archiving this Idea Board item.  Right now in thin client I have to make at least two button clicks to get the thumbnail view (click on the file  then click on view), and the response is slow.  What I would like to see is the view window be dockable and then I could put it to the right, to the bottom, or on another monitor.  Then I want to be able to select a file in the list and hit the down arrow to navigate down the list and have the preview thumbnail change as a click down the list.  We've built internal applications outside of AutoDesk to do this, I'd like for vault thin client to take over that functionality.

[steveh5]

👍

[ihayesjr]

@ssdimpfl 

Let me clarify my previous response. My response was not a process concern. Vault does not generate Thumbnails. The CAD product creates the thumbnail and embeds it into the file. When the file is checked into Vault, Vault will extract the thumbnail and display it. Therefore, Vault will always process the extraction on check-in. 

This request concerns the resolution or size of the thumbnail. The CAD product creates a specific size and resolution thumbnail inside the file. Vault can only display what it is given by the product. If the CAD product creates a larger thumbnail, then Vault can display a larger thumbnail.

Today, the Thin Client can display the Thumbnail in two ways.

1. Add the Thumbnail column to the main grid.
   This isn't large enough, so we could increase this size.
   
2. Display the Thumbnail in the properties grid.
   

Either way, the quality of the Thumbnail is only as good as the quality and size that the CAD product creates it.

[steveh5]

Irvin Thanks for listening 😁

As for the mechanism that creates these thumbnails....please refer to the link above for the idea about consistent results for these. We are starting to utilize them outside of vault and using API to grab the same images to be used in our ERP/MRP systems and then out to our commerce website. Would provide a more consistent user experience if we could more consistently control them and not rely on iLogic to make this happen.

Best,

Steve Hilvers

[ihayesjr]

@steveh5 

After some investigation, I found that in Inventor 2023, the thumbnail size increased to 512x512. Now I can see if we can set that as the maximum size for the view in the Thin Client. 

To still make sure it is clear. Vault extracts what is in the file. It doesn't create the images.

[ihayesjr]

As another note, the Vault thick client already supports this size.

[steveh5]

So, that's the Inventor team correct that controls this mechanism?

[ihayesjr]

That is correct. Inventor creates and stores the thumbnail inside the Inventor file.

When the Inventor file is checked into Vault, Vault will extract and display it from the file.

[steveh5]

Thank you....

Oh Mr. Szymanksi...please join the conversation.

@dan_szymanski 

Thanks,

Steve H.

[ihayesjr]

@steveh5 

The Inventor team took care of it with Inventor 2023, and the increase was from 180x180 to 512x512. Now, I am opening this back up so we can support that size in the Thin Client.

[steveh5]

Sorry...starting to run two issues together...white background is the focus as well.

Thx