I, like others, one day discovered thumb.db in my FrontPage files. I thought it was something devious at first, a trojan perhaps. I investigated this and found out it was 'something' Windows does when, apparently, you seek to see a thumbnail image. Well, at first I didn't publish it since, I had read, it wasn't necessary and can even be deleted without affecting anything. After awhile, and being unsure, I did go ahead and publish it without a problem, except it took about 5-10 minutes longer than usual. I've since read one can have problems publishing it however and that it unnecessarily takes up disc space.

UPDATE (5/26/04) I thought I should relate some futher experiences I've had with Thumbs.db

While it doesn't seem as if Thumbs.db has caused any harm, whether published with the other files or not, it has been both scary and aggravating. Sometimes it would publish Thumbs.db and sometimes it wouldn't. When it did, it was always (the webpage)/Thumbs.db. In other words, adding Thumbs.db to the address, as if an extension.

Also, while in the normal process of publishing a few changes I've made, FrontPage would re-publish webpages I never touched with the Thumbs.db added.

After a few days of this, I right-clicked on the Thumbs.db folder in FrontPage folder section and instructed 'don't publish'. While I would have expected that to be the end of it, it wasn't. Some (the webpage)/Thumbs.db's were being published along with my changes anyway, those I never touched, but this is tapering off. I was always getting asked "do you want to replace (the wepage)/Thumbs.db?" I always said yes without any problems. For a time, I was asked that same question for the same webpage several times.

As I said, it seems to be tapering off, as if slowly purging itself of the /Thumbs.db webpages. Stiill, occassionally, FrontPage will re-publish a few webpages with it included (which I never touched). If it stops doing this, I will probably leave well-enough alone but if not, I'll likely delete Thumbs.db from my FrontPage folders. As it stands, my website surely has webpages with both Thumbs.db and without it. I won't tell you where I think Windows should put their thumbs.

UPDATE (5-28-04) another observation... when going between those webpages with the Thumbs.db, I get a curious and instantaneous 'flash' before it loads. So far, except for this flash, all my published webpages appear normal, as if Thumbs.db wasn't even there. Also curious, about half the time, FrontPage will still publish an occassional Thumbs.db webpage, usually just one at a time lately. A webpage that I never touched however.

I haven't yet deleted Thumbs.db, it's still on 'don't publish' (which FrontPage apparently sometimes ignores). I don't like however and will probably soon delete it. I found some more information at http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0%2Caid%2C13357%2C00.asp

Thank you for your input, that is what I've been reading also. It's nice to hear it from more that one source. I'm sure I will delete it in the next few days since the 'don't publish' seems to have no effect. It continues to occasionally publish Thumbs.db regardless. Thanks again.

Update (6-6-04) Well, guess what... I deleted the Thumbs.db file but FrontPage still publishes Thumbs.db webpages nonetheless.

Update (6-11-04) Just a few things I've noticed, if you enter 'don't publish' instead of deleting it, FrontPage disregards that command. Further, Thumbs.db will recreate itself whether you use it to see a thumbnail image or not. It has been several days since I've opened a file to look at a picture but still, Thumbs.db was back as a folder once again today... as the entire file deleted previously. I finally found a Microsoft knowledge base article about Thumbs.db at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;840270

Update (6-23-04) In the last week or so, FrontPage has quit trying to re-publish thumbs.db... maybe from cussing at it, my computer got the hint! Nor have I had any problems by deleting the thumbs.db file.

Update (8-26-04) Well, guess what, while not very often, maybe twice a month, FrontPage will still publish a thumbs.db file when I'm updating another file or two. (I update my website about every three days) And, occasionally, I get prompted whether I want to replace a thumbs.db file on my published website (always thumbs.db files I've deleted before). No big deal though, I just say 'yes' to deleting without a problem. It is bizarre, my folders show no thumbs.db file at all.

That's some very odd behavior from the frontpage app. It's probably just trying to publish whatever it has in the website directory. If the thumbs.db file is in the website direcotry when you go to publish, it'll try and upload that as well..

silly frontpage

thats typical m$ actions, they want u to use what they want!
u also have thumbs.db as part of your windows system, if u enable showing of hidden files u will see them. The biggest problem i had with them is that if i was burning a folder it burned as well and woud mess up my cd's.

so i disable there use and have my system cleaner look for them to remove them if they are there

Microsoft's little annoying thumbs.db. For your review:

http://www.fcs.iastate.edu/computer/tips/thumbs/default.htm

Jonathan Arena
HMS

i just turn them off and have the system cleaners look 4 them and remove them

Easy work-around. Just do a search for "Thumbs.db" ....this won't work "*.db". Search your entire computer and delete them all before you upload your files. Frontpage will see that they do not exist on your local drive, and prompt you to delete all that exist on the host server..... no harm, no foul.

Since I began this thread in May 2004, and since haven't updated my experiences with thumbs.db in over a year, it is because I haven't had any further encounters. Thumbs.db files have just disappeared from my FrontPage 2002 scene altogether. I suspect some particular windows (Office) update was responsible for curing the aggravation. As said before, simply deleting those files never seemed to have negatively affected a thing.