When working with CorelDRAW, having multiple versions installed on the same system can cause thumbnail previews to disappear, especially when defaulting to an older version to open .cdr files. This blog post will guide you through a detailed solution to this common problem.

Issue Description

Sometimes, when you have multiple versions of CorelDRAW installed, the thumbnail previews for .cdr files might disappear. For example, if CorelDRAW 2020 and CorelDRAW 2007 are installed on the same system and you set the default program to the older version, you might lose the thumbnail previews. This happens because Windows tries to generate thumbnails based on the older version, which may not always succeed.

Solution Overview

Solution 1: Setting the Default Program to the Latest Version

1. Close CorelDRAW: Ensure all instances of CorelDRAW are closed.
2. Right-click on a .cdr file: Select “Open with” > “Choose another app”.
3. Select CorelDRAW 2020: Choose the latest version of Coreldraw in my case it is CorelDRAW 2020 and check the box that says “Always use this app to open .cdr files”.
4. Confirm the Selection: Click “OK” to set CorelDRAW 2020 as the default program.

This method ensures that Windows uses the latest version of CorelDRAW to generate thumbnail previews, thus resolving the issue.

Solution 2: Using an Older Version as Default While Retaining Thumbnail Previews

If you prefer using an older version of CorelDRAW (e.g., 2007) but still want to see thumbnail previews, follow these steps:

1. Uninstall the Windows Shell Extension for the Latest Version:
   • Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program.
   • Find the CorelDRAW 2020 Shell Extension and uninstall it.
2. Install the Shell Extension for the Older Version:
   • Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Corel\CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 17\. Change the folder with your version of coreldraw you want to use for thumbnails.
   • Search for ShellExt.
   • Run the setup file (ShellExt.msi), accept the terms, and install it.
3. Restart Your System: After the installation, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Detailed Steps for Solution 2

1. Uninstall CorelDRAW 2020 Shell Extension:
   • Click the Start Menu and go to Control Panel.
   • Select Programs and Features.
   • Find CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2020 Shell Extension.
   • Click Uninstall and confirm.
2. Install CorelDRAW 2007 Shell Extension:
   • Open File Explorer and go to C:\Program Files\Corel\CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 17\.
   • Type ShellExt in the search bar.
   • Locate ShellExt.msi and double-click to run the installer.
   • Follow the installation prompts: accept the terms, click Next, and then Install.
   • Confirm any warning messages by clicking Yes.
   • Click Finish once the installation is complete.
3. Restart Your Computer:
   • Restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.
   • After restarting, you should see the thumbnail previews for your .cdr files as expected.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can ensure that your .cdr files display thumbnail previews correctly, even with multiple versions of CorelDRAW installed. Whether you prefer using the latest version or an older version, these solutions provide flexibility while maintaining functionality.

For more desktop publishing tips and solutions, stay tuned to our blog. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.

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