FreeCommander Forum

Is it possible to have the contents of a .epub file displayed in the Quick View panel?

what is the best tool (plugin)/settings to use to realize this?

Thanks,

I use sLister plugin from TotalCommander
https://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic. ... &start=105

I followed the thread and downloaded two zip files:
wlx_sumatrapdf_0.8.1
wlx_sLister_1.1.2

The comment mentions that we should replace the Sumatrapdf exe file.
So I extracted the contents of the wlx_sLister_1.1.2 zip file in a folder called "sLister", and replaced the Sumatrapdf exe file with the latest 32 bit version of Sumatrapdf (version#3.3.3).
Then I moved that folder to my Program files folder.

But I have some doubts:
Question#1:
the wlx_sumatrapdf_0.8.1 zip file also has another file: pluginst.inf
Is this also to be copied into the sLister folder?

Question#2:
How will QV invoke sLister?
What configuration setting is needed for this?

I tried the following method:
1. Select the Tools > Settings menu
2. Select programs in the tree.
3. Add a row.
4. In the Filter field, enter *.epub
5. In the Program field, enter the path (C:\Program Files (x86)\Util\sLister_1.1.2\SumatraPDF.exe)
6. I left the Parameters field blank.

But this has not worked: If I activate QV, it shows junk characters for any epub file.
So where have I erred?

The SumatraPDF files from the plugin are much to old and don't support epub files.
You should update this files with the actual SumatraPDF from
https://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/downlo ... pdf-viewer
or even better install SumatraPDF in the OS.

Thanks for the tips!

I tried these steps with 32-bit version of Sumatrapdf.
But still QV has problems, as described below:
1. The epub files still show junk characters in QV. But if I press F3, Sumatrapdf window pops up and shows the epub file properly.
2. The QV is unable to show preview (a statement appears in QV: "unable to generate preview")

So I uninstalled the 32-bit version and installed 64-bit bit version.
I get somewhat different results, but still a problem exists, as described below:
1. The QV shows preview of pdf files, but still shows junk characters for epub files.
2. If I select a pdf/epub and press F3, a Sumatrapdf window pops up and shows the file correctly.

I am using Windows 10 Home 64-bit (fully updated till today and restarted).

FC uses a plugin for QV.
I have installed the SLister plugin from Total Commander which uses SumatraPDF for viewing.
https://totalcmd.net/plugring/slister.html

I am sorry I am unable to get this.

Your previous reply shows a screenshot where the Sumatrapdf.exe is being called directly.
So I assume that we have to copy all the files in the sLister folder into the Sumatrapdf folder.

So I removed all old installations, and conducted a fresh experiment as follows:
1. I downloaded the 32-bit versions of wlx_sLister and Sumatrapdf.
2. I installed Sumatrapdf in C:\Program Files (x86)\Util\SumatraPDF.
3. I opened the wlx_sLister_1.1.2.zip file, and copied the following files into the Sumatrapdf folder.
pluginst.inf, slister.wlx, slister.ini
4. I used the Tools>Settings menu, and in the window that pops up, I changed to Viewer tab.
Then I added the following entry:
Filter: *.epub
Program: C:\Program Files (x86)\Util\SumatraPDF\SumatraPDF.exe
Parameters: %ActivSel%
5. I created a second entry for pdf files.
5. After this, I saved the settings and restarted FC.

Now the QV does not show pdf preview at all, and it shows junk characters for epub files.

Apparently, I am committing some mistakes here.

Viewer Plugins are not installed this way.
Use the following steps:

Settings / View / Viewer
Button Viewer and then the Plugins tab
Take the + option and add the SLister plugin from where you stored the expanded archive.

Looks like this for me
Don't forget to change the SLister.ini entry
to point to the installed SumatraPDF
or update the files in the SLister plugin dir with the actual ones from
https://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/downlo ... pdf-viewer

I tried all your steps, but still the QV shows epub as junk characters.

Your screenshot shows C:\Tools\Wincmd path. I had used C:\Program Files (x86)\Util\, which has spaces in the name.
Sometimes the spaces create a problem.
So I shifted the folder to D:\Downloads (which is a non-Windows partition).
But this failed to solve the issue.

What could be the reason?

I have observed two potential reasons:
1. Have you used the 64-bit versions of Sumatrapdf and sLister? (Your screenshot shows "64")
I have used 32-bit versions for both.
Could this be the reason for the failure?

2. The Detect string field in the plugin dialog reads as follows:
MULTIMEDIA& (EXT="PDF" | EXT="DJVU" | EXT="DJV"| EXT="XPS" | EXT="CBZ" | EXT="CBR" )
This list does not include the "epub" extension at all.
I changed it to-
MULTIMEDIA& (EXT="PDF" | EXT="DJVU" | EXT="DJV"| EXT="XPS" | EXT="CBZ" | EXT="CBR" | EXT="EPUB" )
But this made no difference: The QV still shows junk characters for epub files.
I don't know if I have done this correctly...

But if I select an epub, and press F3, a separate window of Sumatrapdf pops up and shows the epub file properly.
(This works only if I have added the link to Sumatrapdf.exe in the Tools>Settings window; Programs node in the tree, Viewers tab.)

Update:

I finally cracked this after a lot of experiments!

The main tip is, use the 32-bit combo of sLister and Sumatrapdf.
Also, use the portable version of Sumatrapdf.

Here is the step-by-step process I followed:
1. unzip the sLister files and create a folder with a suitable name.
2. Extract the portable version of Sumatrapdf into this folder (replace the outdated Sumatrapdf.exe).
3. This folder can work in any location.
4. Edit the sLister.ini file with a text editor, and change the path to the current location of Sumatrapdf.exe.
5. Start FC and add sLister as plugin; using the following steps:
5a. Select the Tools > Settings menu
5b. Choose View>Viewer node in the tree (in the panel on the left)
5c. Click on the Viewer button at the bottom
5d. Select the Plugins tab.
5e. Click on the + button to add an entry.
5f. Browse to the Sumatrapdf+sLister folder.
5g. Select slister.wlx file.
(sLister is the wrapper, so it will in turn use the Sumatrapdf.exe file).
5h. By default, sLister does not have "epub" in its list of extensions.
So you have to add this extension manually.
To do this, click on the Edit button in the toolbar.
Enter this string at the end

| EXT = "EPUB"

(Note that there are spaces on both sides of all words.)
The edited string looks like this: MULTIMEDIA& (EXT="PDF" | EXT="DJVU" | EXT="DJV"| EXT="XPS" | EXT="CBZ" | EXT="CBR" | EXT = "EPUB" | EXT = "AZW3" )

5i. Click on the OK button to save and close.
5j. Close the higher-level window ("Settings") also by clicking OK.
6. Restart FC.

Now the Quick Viewer will start showing the preview for pdf and epub files.

In the description for sLister you can see

sLister it is PDF,DJVU,XPS,CBZ,CBR viewer based on SumatraPDF.

Nothing ebout epub.

What do you want to see with F3 for epub?
Epub is a zip file, you can open the file with Ctrl+PgDn.

Karol wrote: 22.12.2021, 08:22 What do you want to see with F3 for epub?
Epub is a zip file, you can open the file with Ctrl+PgDn.

I don't want to see the structure of the epub file, but its cover page.

But I want to keep the folder panel in Details view; rather than in Thumbnails view.
Thus, I get the best of both worlds by activating the QV and using the folder panel in Details view.

I would like to see the preview of office files (doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, odt, ods, odp).
That's my next project!

Raindrops wrote: 22.12.2021, 09:44

Karol wrote: 22.12.2021, 08:22 What do you want to see with F3 for epub?
Epub is a zip file, you can open the file with Ctrl+PgDn.

I don't want to see the structure of the epub file, but its cover page.

But I want to keep the folder panel in Details view; rather than in Thumbnails view.
Thus, I get the best of both worlds by activating the QV and using the folder panel in Details view.

I would like to see the preview of office files (doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, odt, ods, odp).
That's my next project!

The easy way to get a preview for all of this and many more formats
is to install the Total Commander plugin ULister together with the Oracle Viewer Technology files.
https://totalcmd.net/plugring/oilister.html
https://www.oracle.com/middleware/techn ... loads.html

Karol wrote: 22.12.2021, 08:22 In the description for sLister you can see

sLister it is PDF,DJVU,XPS,CBZ,CBR viewer based on SumatraPDF.

Nothing ebout epub.

What do you want to see with F3 for epub?
Epub is a zip file, you can open the file with Ctrl+PgDn.

Viewing EPUB files is a function of newer SumatraPDF versions and not related to SLister.
Just the extension has to be enabled in SLister.

I would like to see the preview of office files (doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, odt, ods, odp).

I have no problem with office files in QV, all are visible.
First check if preview in Windows Explorer works for office files.