HOW TO VIEW SVG files for Windows 7- 64 bit
January 24, 2011 at 4:30 pm 13 comments
I use SVG files (or Scalable Vector Files) with my Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) program for cutting images from files rather than using Cricut Cartridges. However, since upgrading to Windows 7, I have not found a suitable “fix” for viewing the SVG files in Windows picture viewer. Even though “SCAL” let me view the files, I can only view them one at a time, and the image is rather small. I want to be able to view and organize my files without opening SCAL.
“InfranView” a free photo editor I already used for resizing photos, can be used to preview SVGs ! The trick is downloading the correct plugin for it. I tried the “download all current plugins” . I and also searched for “svg” on their site and found the exact plug-in that was required. I installed both of these to be sure I had it! Some people seem to do the “all” option and still don’t have it, so I did both.
After getting Infranview open, click “thumnails” under “file” menu. Navigate to your files. Under “options” you can make your thumbnails as large or as small as you want, and change your background colors.
You can also open an svg in your file folder, then select, under file properties, Infranview to always open this type of file. You can view images one at a time this way, and larger than in SCAL.
When inside the thunbnail Infranview viewer, you can can view ALL cut files in one folder, you can tell it to include all subfolders so you can see even all the images in your sorted SVGs at one time (as if they are not sorted by file), and you can organize, rename, and copy files into folders to organize. You can also delete unwanted files.
I could not find a way to create blank files in Infranfiew Thumbnail for creating NEW folders. A workaround for this is to create “new folders” in your Windows file manager, then just re-open Infranview and rename the “new folders” folders to whatever name you want as you need them.
I upgraded to Windows 7 about four weeks ago and this is the closest I’ve gotten to functionality with my svg files. Very excited, though I wish Windows would get their act together and just support the file type.
Good luck!
1. Cheryl | February 27, 2011 at 1:36 pm
SCAL diehard crushed when I upgraded to W7. I have hundreds of SVG files. Your solution worked great!!!! I also discovered how versatile Infraniew is!!
Thank-you so much
2. Ann W | April 17, 2011 at 2:49 pm
i cant find the svg plugin so i can view my svg files in there folder , can you help me?
Ann W
3. pat | August 4, 2011 at 7:00 am
I don’t need a Thumbnail Viewing program to see svg files in my folders on Win7. I use Mystic Thumbs. It enables Explorer to generate thumbnails of many Image formats including svg files in Windows folders.
4. Chris | July 28, 2012 at 9:18 am
well can someone help I have downloaded this but cannot get it to open. I have windows 7 where do I find Mystic thumbs
5. me2me | August 7, 2012 at 1:08 am
The program name is IRFAN View not INFRANFIEW ….holy ignorance ….
6. Maggie | August 7, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Me2Me, your comment was incorrect.
The correct program is as stated in the blog post: INFRANVIEW.
Here is the link for free download: http://www.irfanview.com/
7. zbytes | August 22, 2012 at 9:28 am
>The correct program is as stated in the blog post: INFRANVIEW.
Holy dyslexia. Just as Me2Me stated, and HIS comment is very correct, the programs is IRFANVIEW. Please read again. What’s that spell?
Gimme an I.
Gimme an R.
Gimme an F.
Gimme an A.
Gimme an N.
Irfan, just like the devolopers first name, Irfan Škiljan. IrfanView
8. Maggie | August 22, 2012 at 4:27 pm
My apologies. Google must have translated it for me when I checked it. I have called it the wrong name for many years now. Good to know. Irfan is not a common name in the English language, to give me some credit. I’ll edit the post when I get to my desktop.
9. Allen | September 4, 2012 at 11:49 am
busting up and laughing, spell check and misspelling has made my morning.
10. Richey T. | September 11, 2012 at 11:18 am
Wow, great blog. This worked for me. It took me a minute to get the proper plugin, and figure out the thumbnail option, but it works great. Just what I was looking for. Thanks for the post.
11. staci | September 23, 2012 at 12:33 pm
I tried to download it, but it will not show my svg’s it has the name of the file and above that it is a circle w/ a line through it. Maybe you have a different browser – I use Google Chrome
12. Maggie | September 27, 2012 at 11:55 am
I’m really not sure what the issue is. I also use Google Chrome. You may need to explore their FAQ page? Sorry.
13. Dee | March 6, 2013 at 7:19 pm
Couldn’t get it to work with IRFANVIEW – but thanks for the heads-up on Mystic Thumbs – worked right off the bat.