Can I use one of standard Outlook's previewers to preview other file types?

Question

Outlook's "Windows TXT previewer" only previews attachments with extension .txt. Is there a way to tell Outlook (2010) to use "Windows TXT previewer" on other type attachments?

For example, I would like to use it to preview .csv files and some other extensions that are just text.

Answer 1

In order to achieve your goal, you have to change some entries in the Registry. Preview HAndlers have GUIDs that are stored in the Registry. For each filetype, if there is one available, there is a preview handler.

For .csv files you need the Preview Handler from Microsoft Excel since a .csv file is Excel.

Answer 2

Here is a registry change:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.CSV\ShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.CSV\ShellEx\{8895b1c6-b41f-4c1c-a562-0d564250836f}]
@="{1531d583-8375-4d3f-b5fb-d23bbd169f22}"

Here {1531d583-8375-4d3f-b5fb-d23bbd169f22} is GUID for text previewer (listed among HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PreviewHandlers) and {8895b1c6-b41f-4c1c-a562-0d564250836f} is special ID that identifies previewer for this filetype. It may be different for other verisons of windows, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/cc144143(v=vs.85).aspx may or may not have more details

Answer 3

Another method: install Preview Handlers.

1. Download PreviewHandlers2007_01 and run it.

   • A folder called PreviewHandlers will be created
   • Don't worry because of that file name. That file containing "2007" worked very good for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010.

2. Go to PreviewHandlers\Installer and run Install

   • Probably it won't work because of Microsoft Visual J# is missing.
   • Download Microsoft Visual J# Version 2.0 Redistributable Package and install it (probably it appears as vjredist in your download folder)
   • Run the Install file again.
3. Restart Outlook

You will be able to see the content of that CSV attachment as a table.

Answer 4

If your goal is just to preview files like .csv, .log etc. within Outlook message panel, it is directly related with default program in Windows (operating system).

So, in Windows Explorer add default program: - open the folder containing .csv file - right click on the file and choios in the menu "Open With..." - Choose Default Program - Select desired programe (Notepad++, Excel, etc.) - Restart Outlook