Set Outlook Default PDF Previewer

On my computer I have various PDF readers - I generally use Edge for PDF reading, but I also have Adobe Acrobat DC, and Foxit Phantom Editor.

I installed a trial of Adobe Acrobat first, and then Foxit Phantom, and decided to go with Phantom as my PDF editor. So I uninstalled Acrobat.

However, Acrobat was the set previewer for my PDF files in Outlook 2013 (because I installed it before Phantom). After uninstalling it, Outlook 2013 gives me

This file cannot be previewed because there is no previewer installed for it

but I know there is because Foxit Phantom includes one.

What can I do to set Phantom as the previewer?

Couple Of Minor Details

In Default Programs, Open With has been set as the following and the Acrobat Preview worked.

Open With Edge
Open With Acrobat
Open With Phantom

It is currently set as Open With Phantom

CalvT

Posted 2016-05-18T10:58:25.353

Reputation: 641

The Preview Handler is not included by default. Did you install it?

– Daniel B – 2016-05-18T11:12:32.817

@CalvT Do you see any PDF preview handler registered at HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\current version\preview handlers ? – pun – 2016-05-18T11:22:31.817

@The_IT_Guy_You_Don't_Like yes there's the Foxit PDF Preview Handler and the Foxit PDF Preview Provider (XP) – CalvT – 2016-05-18T11:24:07.900

@DanielB I'm not actually sure - the link is interesting thanks. Only I have Outlook 2013, and it never previewed PDF files until I installed Acrobat if I recall correctly – CalvT – 2016-05-18T11:25:17.390

@CalvT 64bit Office or 64Bit OS ? check this key too HKLM\Software\wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PreviewHandlers How about you backup the preview handlers key and delete the PDF handlers registered there – pun – 2016-05-18T11:28:01.803

@The_IT_Guy_You_Don't_Like I'm running Office 32bit on Windows 10 64bit - I'll give deleting them a shot – CalvT – 2016-05-18T11:31:27.497

@The_IT_Guy_You_Don't_Like Hmm interesting - deleting the strings out of one key deletes them out of the other - but it hasn't made a difference. – CalvT – 2016-05-18T11:36:00.270

@CalvT You tried restarting the computer right ? – pun – 2016-05-18T11:47:54.060

1@The_IT_Guy_You_Don't_Like Yup I did - Just did again but still no go – CalvT – 2016-05-18T12:06:05.587

@CalvT How about you check this and maybe turn OFF and then Turn it back ON the preview handler you want

– pun – 2016-05-26T06:24:53.773

Answers

I'm having this also but with DocsCorp's PDFDocs.

I found this which lets me remove the default previewer but I'm having issues getting one put back in. Might assist you;

To manually enable or disable the PDF File Preview integration within Microsoft Outlook, please follow the instructions below:

Within Microsoft Outlook 2010, go to "File" menu and click "Options".
Select the "Trust Center" link.
Click on the "Trust Center Settings..." button.
Select the "Attachment Handling" menu.
Click on the "Attachment and Document Previewers..." button.
Locate the "zeon PDF PreviewHandler" option from the "File Previewing Options" list.
To enable the PDF File Preview option, place a check in the "zeon PDF PreviewHandler" checkbox.
Note: To disable the PDF File Preview option, remove the check from the "zeon PDF PreviewHandler" checkbox.
Click "OK" to apply the changes.
Note: The "zeon PDF PreviewHandler" File Previewing Option may also be listed as "Nuance PDF PreviewHandler".

After I had done this I had to reinstall Acrobat DC to get it to re-handle the PDF Previewing

gorlaz

Posted 2016-05-18T10:58:25.353

Reputation: 121

Have you tried changing Phantom to being your default PDF viewer?

Assuming you are using Windows, you can make this change within Default Programs either in the Start Menu, Control Panel or by typing it in to Windows Search.

Once opened, select Associate a file type or protocol with a program, look for the *.pdf extension and select Phantom as your default application.

When you have made the change, try restarting Outlook and see if that has made a difference.

brendonofficial

Posted 2016-05-18T10:58:25.353

Reputation: 101

Hi Brendon, thanks for your answer - If you look at the end of my question I put the following: It is currently set as Open With Phantom - I'll update my question so that it's clearer. – CalvT – 2016-05-18T11:47:55.720