setting a thumbnail image for pdf file when seen in explorer file list

Question

Hi,

1) I'm trying to set the thumbnail image that you see in explorer for a pdf. At the moment, all the thumbnails are just the Abode PDF logo ... I'd like to set it to an image of my choice. I have looked at the Win 7 shell pack api, and cannot find any way to set the image, only ways to extract the (default) image. Can this even be done, or is it the adobe dll that sets the thumbnail??

2) Also, related I think, is there a way to set the 'explorer star rating' from code?

Any pointers are appreciated!

Answer 1

For first one, there has to be shell extension that provides thumbnail image (see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb774614.aspx and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa969351.aspx)

Check this part of code project article series - "A tutorial on writing an extension to customize the icons displayed for a file type"