Windows Preview handler for Markdown Preview

userguy 2014-10-19 07:40:15 UTC #1

It would be very useful to have the preview of markdown as a proper windows preview handler like this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/windows/desktop/cc144143%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

So that when I browse various repositories I can preview the .md documents as rendered files and then edit them using MarkdownPad if required.

There is literally no other app that seem capable of doing this simple thing. There is no markdown preview in windows at all and it is a bit silly considering.

The github for windows app has this built in but it is not a native windows preview handler.

HolisticDeveloper 2014-10-27 10:29:13 UTC #2

An interesting idea, I could see how this might be useful too. Were you wanting to see the raw markdown or a processed/HTML version?

userguy 2014-10-27 12:35:20 UTC #3

I would like to basically go into a directory/git repo on my machine and have the README/readme.md marked up in the preview windows of explorer/directory opus (clicking on it if required first).

Or click on any markdown document and see it marked up with the css of choice set in Markdownpad in the preview pane.

Windows Explorer does not even preview .md files at all unless you change it to .txt. Directory Opus currently previews the raw text.

To me it just seems like something that would make perfect sense when jumping between lots of markdown documents without having to fully open a program just to read or copy from it.

Bob 2014-12-02 05:52:24 UTC #4

Looks to be reasonably easy with SharpShell: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/533948/NET-Shell-Extensions-Shell-Preview-Handlers

Then just take render Awesomium off-screen with the correct width, and return the screenshot.

I suppose the only question is how much of the screen will be visible, and how useful that would actually be.

Jim 2016-05-04 17:16:02 UTC #5

I'd like to revive this topic. I spent some time searching to see if a solution exists and I cannot find one.

What I want in this feature is:

See rendered markdown in the preview pane in Windows Explorer
See raw markdown in the preview pane in Windows Explorer
Be able to dynamically switch between the two views