Files app shows generic preview

[SonOfThunder]

The Files app on iPad shows a generic preview image rather than a preview image of the actual design.

iOS 15.7.2

iPad Air 5th generation

Designer 2.0.3

Please fix this! It helps to be able to see a preview in the Files app. Thanks.

[SonOfThunder]

Just updated to iPadOS 16.3 and this still happens (I was thinking it might fix it).

This obviously isn't a major bug, but still can be very annoying when you have a lot of files, all showing the same generic preview. So a fix would be appreciated!

[SonOfThunder]

I did a bit of work on a file with the desktop version (which I don't use often), then saved to iCloud (where I have my Designer files saved), and it then showed the thumbnail image on iPad.

So it appears the desktop version has something in it to trigger files to show the proper thumbnail preview, while the iPad version doesn't.

[walt.farrell]

Works fine on my iPad, so I'm not sure what's happening with yours. Sorry.

[Paul Mudditt]

2 hours ago, SonOfThunder said:

I did a bit of work on a file with the desktop version (which I don't use often), then saved to iCloud (where I have my Designer files saved), and it then showed the thumbnail image on iPad.

So it appears the desktop version has something in it to trigger files to show the proper thumbnail preview, while the iPad version doesn't.

Try moving your files to another folder, that often triggers the thumbnails being rebuilt.

[SonOfThunder]

16 hours ago, SonOfThunder said:

I did a bit of work on a file with the desktop version (which I don't use often), then saved to iCloud (where I have my Designer files saved), and it then showed the thumbnail image on iPad.

So it appears the desktop version has something in it to trigger files to show the proper thumbnail preview, while the iPad version doesn't.

And when I save that file again on iPad it reverts to the generic icon.

So clearly there's something in the iPad version that is triggering the generic thumbnail.

[DM1]

2 hours ago, SonOfThunder said:

So clearly there's something in the iPad version that is triggering the generic thumbnail.

Works fine on my iPad too. Did you try Paul’s suggestion to move the files to another folder (on the iPad).

[SonOfThunder]

21 hours ago, Paul Mudditt said:

Try moving your files to another folder, that often triggers the thumbnails being rebuilt.

 

5 hours ago, DM1 said:

Works fine on my iPad too. Did you try Paul’s suggestion to move the files to another folder (on the iPad).

Tried that already, before I started this thread. Also tried a hard reset of my iPad.

[SonOfThunder]

Looks like it might be a Files problem:

https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/142371-filesapp-thumbnails-only-showing-generic-designer-logo/

Though as the last post in that thread says, it's only Affinity that is having this problem, and it's the same for me: Only Affinity Designer does this.

[SonOfThunder]

To the Affinity developers, can you please sort this out? It’s proving to be a significant issue, not being able to see a preview of the design as the icon. Designer 2 is a tool for creating visual images. Absolutely no reason for this problem to exist, especially since the last version didn’t have this problem. Doesn’t matter if Apple is somehow to blame (something I don’t believe, considering Designer 2 is the only app that does this), because it’s still on you to take care of how your app performs. If you need to address something with Apple, then do so. Whatever the case, fix your app so that it works right.

[Paul Mudditt]

3 hours ago, SonOfThunder said:

To the Affinity developers, can you please sort this out? It’s proving to be a significant issue, not being able to see a preview of the design as the icon. Designer 2 is a tool for creating visual images. Absolutely no reason for this problem to exist, especially since the last version didn’t have this problem. Doesn’t matter if Apple is somehow to blame (something I don’t believe, considering Designer 2 is the only app that does this), because it’s still on you to take care of how your app performs. If you need to address something with Apple, then do so. Whatever the case, fix your app so that it works right.

Here is an example where some files did not have their icons, just a matter of selecting them in the files app and then selecting “download now” so the file system can see the file contents so it can rebuild the thumbnail always fixes it for me. Of course you need an internet connection for this to work that is not bogged down doing other activities.

Sorry I could not record designer thumbnails because mine are all ok, but second recording shows it is not just affinity files that sometimes need to be redownloaded to rebuild icons.

To further emphasis that this is an OS filing system issue, the still photo show my iPad Designer files with thumbnails and my Mac Mini looking at the same folder without thumbnails. Remember thumbnails are always held locally on your mac and iPad and not in each file.

What I am trying to say is, just because you can see the thumbnail on your Mac does not mean you should see it on your iPad.

Each OS needs to build its own thumbnail and can only do that IF the file has been downloaded to that filing system previously.

[Paul Mudditt]

On 1/30/2023 at 2:31 AM, SonOfThunder said:

And when I save that file again on iPad it reverts to the generic icon.

So clearly there's something in the iPad version that is triggering the generic thumbnail.

I wonder whether your .afdesign files are still associated with V1 and you are using V2? If you click on one of you .afdesign files using the files app does Designer V2 open or something else?