yelnic Posted October 22, 2003 Posted October 22, 2003 We have a rather bizarre issue here, and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas: The Windows API exposes the call IExtractImage, which, among other things, can extract a bitmap from a URL link. It works quite nicely, except that it doesn't work in XP. The call is still there, but apparently doesn't supported extracting images from URLs in XP. Now, XP does create thumbnails from html in Windows Explorer, so I know the functionality is there. The question is: where is it? Where did they hide it? I've seen one product (html2jpg) that basically does this, but nobody seems to have noticed that this functionality is not available in XP. The reason that this is an issue is that if a server is updated from 2000 to XP, we would lose the ability to create thumbnails on the fly for clients. Any help would be greatly appreciated Quote
*Gurus* Derek Stone Posted October 22, 2003 *Gurus* Posted October 22, 2003 You can download the image file directly using the [msdn]System.Net.WebClient[/msdn] class, unless there's some particular need for the API, that is. Quote Posting Guidelines
yelnic Posted October 23, 2003 Author Posted October 23, 2003 this converts html to an image? I'm not sure we're on the same page. Basically, I need to convert html (google's home page, for instance) to an image. I have no image resource to download. I'm looking at System.Net.WebClient, and I don't see any mention of taking a URL and converting into a jpg/bmp/whatever...unless this DownloadData() method is more powerful than it looks. Is there something I'm missing there? Thanks mike Quote
*Gurus* Derek Stone Posted October 23, 2003 *Gurus* Posted October 23, 2003 The way in which you worded your question led me to believe you were asking for something slightly different. WebClient will not work for such a task. Steve McMahon from vbAccelerator has an example that you might just like however: Thumbnail Extraction Using the Shell. Quote Posting Guidelines
yelnic Posted October 23, 2003 Author Posted October 23, 2003 Unfortunately, that uses the IExtractImage call from the Win API. It works perfectly in all versions other than XP. :( It pulls an image perfectly on my 2000 box, but just leaves a blank on the XP machine. Somehow, XP is doing this for Windows Explorer, but has hidden the call (or made it unavailable). I have no idea why they did so or where it might be now. mike Quote
Leaders dynamic_sysop Posted October 23, 2003 Leaders Posted October 23, 2003 not sure if this link helps, it's done in C# and uses IExtractImage ... thumbs using IExtractImage Quote
*Gurus* Derek Stone Posted October 24, 2003 *Gurus* Posted October 24, 2003 The code runs smoothly on Windows XP, yelnic. Steve McMahon developed the application on it and I just tested it. There's something different with your machine. Quote Posting Guidelines
yelnic Posted October 27, 2003 Author Posted October 27, 2003 odd that is strange if it worked with URLs for you---it only works with images on every XP box here---are you running an unusual setup? Quote
privateer Posted December 12, 2005 Posted December 12, 2005 Looking for a solution to this as well Hey, is it possible to use the old shell32.dll file? Before service pack 1 or 2 it did work, so, shouldn't it be possible to register the old dll under another name and use it? BTW, you can check this out as well: http://www.nbrandt.com/html-preview-xp-thumbnails.html it talks about how to revert the setting change. It isn't actully a change in the shell32.dll file itself. Let me know if you find a solution, and I will do the same. Quote
privateer Posted December 12, 2005 Posted December 12, 2005 More sites that I have found. Microsoft's note about removing this feature: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;327833 Microsoft telling you how to use the feature(but without web documents): http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dv_vstechart/html/shareptthum.asp Quote
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