Self-contained .NET (#22217)

* dotnet sc

* MD preview - C# app

 - working self-contained

* Gcode preview - C# app

* DevFiles preview - C# app

* Fix passing path with spaces as cmd arg and monacocpp proj file

* Pdf preview - C# app

* Svg preview - C# app

* Fix comment

* Gcode thumbnail - C# app

TODO:
	- installer
	- why IThumbnailProvider and IIntializeWithFile doesn't work?

* Pdf thumbnail - C# app

TODO:
        - installer
        - why IThumbnailProvider and IIntializeWithFile doesn't work?

* Pdf thumbnail - C# app

TODO:
        - installer
        - why IThumbnailProvider and IIntializeWithFile doesn't work?

* Fix GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp.vcxproj

* Svg thumbnail - C# app

TODO:
        - installer
        - why IThumbnailProvider and IIntializeWithFile doesn't work?

* Fix Svg tests

* Thumbnail providers - installer

* Self-contained Hosts and FileLocksmith

* Fix hardcoded <RuntimeIdentifier>

* Remove unneeded files

* Try to fix Nuget in PR CI

* Prefix new dlls with PowerToys.
Sign new dlls and exes

* Add new .exe files to ProcessList

* ci: debug by listing all env vars

* ci: try setting variable in the right ci file

* Bring back hardcoded RuntimeIdentifier

* ci: Add comment and remove debug action

* Remove unneeded lib

* [WIP] Platform conditional dotnet files & hardlinks

* Cleanup

* Update expect.txt

* Test fix - ARM installer

* Fix uninstall bug

* Update docs

* Fix failing test

* Add dll details

* Minor cleanup

* Improve resizing

* Add some logs

* Test fix - release build

* Remove InvokeOnControlThread

* Test fix: logger initialization

* Fix arm64 installer

Co-authored-by: Jaime Bernardo <jaime@janeasystems.com>
Co-authored-by: Dustin L. Howett <dustin@howett.net>

src/modules/FileLocksmith/FileLocksmithUI/FileLocksmithUI.csproj

@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@
     <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>
     <SupportedOSPlatformVersion>10.0.19041.0</SupportedOSPlatformVersion>
     <ApplicationIcon>Assets/Icon.ico</ApplicationIcon>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup>

src/modules/FileLocksmith/FileLocksmithUI/Properties/PublishProfiles/InstallationPublishProfile.pubxml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=208121.
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
     <PublishDir>$(PowerToysRoot)\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileLocksmith</PublishDir>
     <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-$(Platform)</RuntimeIdentifier>
-    <SelfContained>false</SelfContained>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
     <PublishSingleFile>False</PublishSingleFile>
     <PublishReadyToRun>False</PublishReadyToRun>
     <ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>false</ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>

src/modules/Hosts/Hosts/Hosts.csproj

@@ -20,6 +20,15 @@
     <AssemblyName>PowerToys.Hosts</AssemblyName>
     <DefineConstants>DISABLE_XAML_GENERATED_MAIN,TRACE</DefineConstants>
     <ApplicationIcon>Assets/Hosts.ico</ApplicationIcon>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <!-- See https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/develop/platform/csharp-winrt/net-projection-from-cppwinrt-component for more info -->

src/modules/MeasureTool/MeasureToolUI/MeasureToolUI.csproj

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
     <ApplicationManifest>app.manifest</ApplicationManifest>
     <Platforms>x86;x64;arm64</Platforms>
     <RuntimeIdentifiers>win10-x86;win10-x64;win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifiers>
-    <PublishProfile>win10-$(Platform).pubxml</PublishProfile>
     <UseWinUI>true</UseWinUI>
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>    
     <AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>false</AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>
@@ -22,6 +21,14 @@
     <WindowsPackageType>None</WindowsPackageType>
     <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>
     <SupportedOSPlatformVersion>10.0.19041.0</SupportedOSPlatformVersion>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <!-- See https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/develop/platform/csharp-winrt/net-projection-from-cppwinrt-component for more info -->

src/modules/PowerOCR/PowerOCR/PowerOCR.csproj

@@ -10,6 +10,15 @@
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup>

src/modules/awake/Awake/Awake.csproj

@@ -17,6 +17,15 @@
     <SupportedOSPlatformVersion>10.0.19041.0</SupportedOSPlatformVersion>
     <PackageProjectUrl>https://awake.den.dev</PackageProjectUrl>
     <RepositoryUrl>https://github.com/microsoft/powertoys</RepositoryUrl>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <!-- See https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/develop/platform/csharp-winrt/net-projection-from-cppwinrt-component for more info -->

src/modules/colorPicker/ColorPickerUI/ColorPickerUI.csproj

@@ -9,7 +9,17 @@
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
     <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
     <StartupObject>ColorPicker.Program</StartupObject>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
   </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ProjectGuid>{BA58206B-1493-4C75-BFEA-A85768A1E156}</ProjectGuid>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>

src/modules/fancyzones/editor/FancyZonesEditor/FancyZonesEditor.csproj

@@ -11,9 +11,18 @@
     <AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>false</AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>
     <AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>false</AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
-    <OutputPath>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FancyZones</OutputPath> 
+    <OutputPath>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FancyZones</OutputPath>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
   </PropertyGroup>
-  
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ProjectGuid>{5CCC8468-DEC8-4D36-99D4-5C891BEBD481}</ProjectGuid>
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>

src/modules/imageresizer/ui/ImageResizerUI.csproj

@@ -8,8 +8,17 @@
     <AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>false</AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
     <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
   </PropertyGroup>
-  
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ProjectGuid>{2BE46397-4DFA-414C-9BD4-41E4BBF8CB34}</ProjectGuid>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>

src/modules/launcher/PowerLauncher/PowerLauncher.csproj

@@ -19,8 +19,16 @@
     <AssemblyName>PowerToys.PowerLauncher</AssemblyName>
     <OutputPath>..\..\..\..\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\launcher\</OutputPath>
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
     <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>

src/modules/launcher/PowerLauncher/Properties/PublishProfiles/InstallationPublishProfile.pubxml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=208121.
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
     <PublishDir>$(PowerToysRoot)\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\launcher</PublishDir>
     <RuntimeIdentifier>win-$(Platform)</RuntimeIdentifier>
-    <SelfContained>false</SelfContained>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
     <PublishSingleFile>False</PublishSingleFile>
     <PublishReadyToRun>False</PublishReadyToRun>
     <ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>false</ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>

src/modules/poweraccent/PowerAccent.Core/PowerAccent.Core.csproj

@@ -7,8 +7,18 @@
         <Nullable>disable</Nullable>
         <AllowUnsafeBlocks>True</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
         <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
-	  <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
+	    <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
+        <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
     </PropertyGroup>
+
+    <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+    <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+        <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+    </PropertyGroup>
+    <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+        <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+    </PropertyGroup>
+
     <PropertyGroup>
         <CsWinRTIncludes>PowerToys.GPOWrapper;PowerToys.PowerAccentKeyboardService</CsWinRTIncludes>
         <CsWinRTGeneratedFilesDir>$(OutDir)</CsWinRTGeneratedFilesDir>

src/modules/poweraccent/PowerAccent.UI/PowerAccent.UI.csproj

@@ -10,10 +10,19 @@
 		<ApplicationIcon>icon.ico</ApplicationIcon>
 		<AssemblyName>PowerToys.PowerAccent</AssemblyName>
 		<XamlDebuggingInformation>True</XamlDebuggingInformation>
-    <StartupObject>PowerAccent.UI.Program</StartupObject>
-    <OutputPath>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\PowerAccent</OutputPath>
-    <AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>false</AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>
-    <AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>false</AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>
+		<StartupObject>PowerAccent.UI.Program</StartupObject>
+		<OutputPath>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\PowerAccent</OutputPath>
+		<AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>false</AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>
+		<AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>false</AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>
+		<SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+	</PropertyGroup>
+
+	<!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+	<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+		<RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+	</PropertyGroup>
+	<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+		<RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
 	</PropertyGroup>
 
 	<ItemGroup>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandler/GcodePreviewHandler.cs

@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
-// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
-// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
-
-using System;
-using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-using Common;
-using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
-
-namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Gcode
-{
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Extends <see cref="StreamBasedPreviewHandler"/> for Gcode Preview Handler.
-    /// </summary>
-    [Guid("ec52dea8-7c9f-4130-a77b-1737d0418507")]
-    [ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.None)]
-    [ComVisible(true)]
-    public class GcodePreviewHandler : StreamBasedPreviewHandler, IDisposable
-    {
-        private GcodePreviewHandlerControl _gcodePreviewControl;
-        private bool disposedValue;
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="GcodePreviewHandler"/> class.
-        /// </summary>
-        public GcodePreviewHandler()
-        {
-            Initialize();
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public override void DoPreview()
-        {
-            _gcodePreviewControl.DoPreview(Stream);
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc/>
-        protected override IPreviewHandlerControl CreatePreviewHandlerControl()
-        {
-            PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new Telemetry.Events.GcodeFileHandlerLoaded());
-            _gcodePreviewControl = new GcodePreviewHandlerControl();
-
-            return _gcodePreviewControl;
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Disposes objects
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="disposing">Is Disposing</param>
-        protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
-        {
-            if (!disposedValue)
-            {
-                if (disposing)
-                {
-                    _gcodePreviewControl.Dispose();
-                }
-
-                disposedValue = true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public void Dispose()
-        {
-            // Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in 'Dispose(bool disposing)' method
-            Dispose(disposing: true);
-            GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
-        }
-    }
-}

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandler/GcodePreviewHandler.csproj

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <AssemblyTitle>PowerToys.GcodePreviewHandler</AssemblyTitle>
     <AssemblyDescription>PowerToys GcodePreviewHandler</AssemblyDescription>
@@ -11,13 +12,21 @@
     <CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>true</CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
     <AssemblyName>PowerToys.GcodePreviewHandler</AssemblyName>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ProjectGuid>{805306FF-A562-4415-8DEF-E493BDC45918}</ProjectGuid>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Gcode</RootNamespace>
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
-    <EnableComHosting>true</EnableComHosting>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <Import Project="..\..\..\Version.props" />
@@ -40,6 +49,7 @@
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- Disable missing comment warning. WinRT/C++ libraries added won't have comments on their reflections. -->
     <NoWarn>$(NoWarn);1591</NoWarn>
+    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
@@ -48,7 +58,9 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\Common.UI\Common.UI.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\GPOWrapper\GPOWrapper.vcxproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\interop\PowerToys.Interop.vcxproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\ManagedTelemetry\Telemetry\ManagedTelemetry.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\common\PreviewHandlerCommon.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandler/GcodePreviewHandlerControl.cs

@@ -46,52 +46,50 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Gcode
             if (global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GPOWrapper.GetConfiguredGcodePreviewEnabledValue() == global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled)
             {
                 // GPO is disabling this utility. Show an error message instead.
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    _infoBarAdded = true;
-                    AddTextBoxControl(Properties.Resource.GpoDisabledErrorText);
-                    Resize += FormResized;
-                    base.DoPreview(dataSource);
-                });
+                _infoBarAdded = true;
+                AddTextBoxControl(Properties.Resource.GpoDisabledErrorText);
+                Resize += FormResized;
+                base.DoPreview(dataSource);
 
                 return;
             }
 
-            InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
+            try
             {
-                try
+                Bitmap thumbnail = null;
+
+                if (!(dataSource is string filePath))
                 {
-                    Bitmap thumbnail = null;
-
-                    using (var stream = new ReadonlyStream(dataSource as IStream))
-                    {
-                        using (var reader = new StreamReader(stream))
-                        {
-                            thumbnail = GetThumbnail(reader);
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    _infoBarAdded = false;
-
-                    if (thumbnail == null)
-                    {
-                        _infoBarAdded = true;
-                        AddTextBoxControl(Properties.Resource.GcodeWithoutEmbeddedThumbnails);
-                    }
-                    else
-                    {
-                        AddPictureBoxControl(thumbnail);
-                    }
-
-                    Resize += FormResized;
-                    base.DoPreview(dataSource);
-                    PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new GcodeFilePreviewed());
+                    throw new ArgumentException($"{nameof(dataSource)} for {nameof(GcodePreviewHandlerControl)} must be a string but was a '{typeof(T)}'");
                 }
-                catch (Exception ex)
+
+                FileStream fs = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);
+
+                using (var reader = new StreamReader(fs))
                 {
-                    PreviewError(ex, dataSource);
+                    thumbnail = GetThumbnail(reader);
                 }
-            });
+
+                _infoBarAdded = false;
+
+                if (thumbnail == null)
+                {
+                    _infoBarAdded = true;
+                    AddTextBoxControl(Properties.Resource.GcodeWithoutEmbeddedThumbnails);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    AddPictureBoxControl(thumbnail);
+                }
+
+                Resize += FormResized;
+                base.DoPreview(fs);
+                PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new GcodeFilePreviewed());
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                PreviewError(ex, dataSource);
+            }
         }
 
         /// <summary>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandler/Program.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Gcode
+{
+    using System.Globalization;
+    using System.Windows.Threading;
+    using Common.UI;
+    using interop;
+
+    internal static class Program
+    {
+        private static CancellationTokenSource _tokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
+
+        private static GcodePreviewHandlerControl _previewHandlerControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///  The main entry point for the application.
+        /// </summary>
+        [STAThread]
+        public static void Main(string[] args)
+        {
+            ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
+            if (args != null)
+            {
+                if (args.Length == 6)
+                {
+                    string filePath = args[0];
+                    int hwnd = Convert.ToInt32(args[1], 16);
+
+                    Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                    int left = Convert.ToInt32(args[2], 10);
+                    int right = Convert.ToInt32(args[3], 10);
+                    int top = Convert.ToInt32(args[4], 10);
+                    int bottom = Convert.ToInt32(args[5], 10);
+
+                    _previewHandlerControl = new GcodePreviewHandlerControl();
+                    _previewHandlerControl.SetWindow((IntPtr)hwnd, s);
+                    _previewHandlerControl.DoPreview(filePath);
+
+                    NativeEventWaiter.WaitForEventLoop(
+                        Constants.GcodePreviewResizeEvent(),
+                        () =>
+                        {
+                            Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                            _previewHandlerControl.SetRect(s);
+                        },
+                        Dispatcher.CurrentDispatcher,
+                        _tokenSource.Token);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    MessageBox.Show("Wrong number of args: " + args.Length.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+                }
+            }
+
+            // To customize application configuration such as set high DPI settings or default font,
+            // see https://aka.ms/applicationconfiguration.
+            Application.Run();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+#include "GcodePreviewHandler.h"
+
+#include <new>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+ClassFactory::ClassFactory() :
+    m_cRef(1)
+{
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+ClassFactory::~ClassFactory()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+//
+// IUnknown
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(ClassFactory, IClassFactory),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+//
+// IClassFactory
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::CreateInstance(IUnknown *pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_NOAGGREGATION;
+
+    if (pUnkOuter == NULL)
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        GcodePreviewHandler* pExt = new (std::nothrow) GcodePreviewHandler();
+        if (pExt)
+        {
+            hr = pExt->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pExt->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::LockServer(BOOL fLock)
+{
+    if (fLock)
+    {
+        InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.h

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Unknwn.h>
+
+class ClassFactory : public IClassFactory
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IClassFactory
+    IFACEMETHODIMP CreateInstance(IUnknown* pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP LockServer(BOOL fLock);
+
+    ClassFactory();
+
+protected:
+    ~ClassFactory();
+
+private:
+    long m_cRef;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/GcodePreviewHandler.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "GcodePreviewHandler.h"
+
+#include <shellapi.h>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <common/interop/shared_constants.h>
+#include <common/logger/logger.h>
+#include <common/SettingsAPI/settings_helpers.h>
+#include <common/utils/process_path.h>
+
+extern HINSTANCE g_hInst;
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+GcodePreviewHandler::GcodePreviewHandler() :
+    m_cRef(1), m_hwndParent(NULL), m_rcParent(), m_punkSite(NULL), m_process(NULL)
+{
+    m_resizeEvent = CreateEvent(nullptr, false, false, CommonSharedConstants::GCODE_PREVIEW_RESIZE_EVENT);
+
+    std::filesystem::path logFilePath(PTSettingsHelper::get_local_low_folder_location());
+    logFilePath.append(LogSettings::gcodePrevLogPath);
+    Logger::init(LogSettings::gcodePrevLoggerName, logFilePath.wstring(), PTSettingsHelper::get_log_settings_file_location());
+
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+GcodePreviewHandler::~GcodePreviewHandler()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+#pragma region IUnknown
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(GcodePreviewHandler, IPreviewHandler),
+        QITABENT(GcodePreviewHandler, IInitializeWithFile),
+        QITABENT(GcodePreviewHandler, IPreviewHandlerVisuals),
+        QITABENT(GcodePreviewHandler, IOleWindow),
+        QITABENT(GcodePreviewHandler, IObjectWithSite),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+GcodePreviewHandler::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+GcodePreviewHandler::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IInitializationWithFile
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode)
+{
+    m_filePath = pszFilePath;
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandler
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc)
+{
+    if (hwnd && prc)
+    {
+        m_hwndParent = hwnd;
+        m_rcParent = *prc;
+    }
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::SetFocus()
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = ::GetFocus();
+        if (*phwnd)
+        {
+            hr = S_OK;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            hr = HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(GetLastError());
+        }
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = S_FALSE;
+    IPreviewHandlerFrame* pFrame = NULL;
+    if (m_punkSite && SUCCEEDED(m_punkSite->QueryInterface(&pFrame)))
+    {
+        hr = pFrame->TranslateAccelerator(pmsg);
+
+        pFrame->Release();
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::SetRect(const RECT* prc)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (prc != NULL)
+    {
+        if (!m_resizeEvent)
+        {
+            Logger::error(L"Failed to create resize event for GcodePreviewHandler");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (m_rcParent.right != prc->right || m_rcParent.left != prc->left || m_rcParent.top != prc->top || m_rcParent.bottom != prc->bottom)
+            {
+                if (!SetEvent(m_resizeEvent))
+                {
+                    Logger::error(L"Failed to signal resize event for GcodePreviewHandler");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        m_rcParent = *prc;
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::DoPreview()
+{
+    try
+    {
+        Logger::info(L"Starting GcodePreviewHandler.exe");
+
+        STARTUPINFO info = { sizeof(info) };
+        std::wstring cmdLine{ L"\"" + m_filePath + L"\"" };
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        std::wostringstream ss;
+        ss << std::hex << m_hwndParent;
+
+        cmdLine += ss.str();
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.left);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.right);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.top);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.bottom);
+        std::wstring appPath = get_module_folderpath(g_hInst) + L"\\PowerToys.GcodePreviewHandler.exe";
+
+        SHELLEXECUTEINFO sei{ sizeof(sei) };
+        sei.fMask = { SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS | SEE_MASK_FLAG_NO_UI };
+        sei.lpFile = appPath.c_str();
+        sei.lpParameters = cmdLine.c_str();
+        sei.nShow = SW_SHOWDEFAULT;
+        ShellExecuteEx(&sei);
+        m_process = sei.hProcess;
+    }
+    catch (std::exception& e)
+    {
+        std::wstring errorMessage = std::wstring{ winrt::to_hstring(e.what()) };
+        Logger::error(L"Failed to start GcodePreviewHandler.exe. Error: {}", errorMessage);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::Unload()
+{
+    Logger::info(L"Unload and terminate .exe");
+
+    m_hwndParent = NULL;
+    TerminateProcess(m_process, 0);
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::SetTextColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IOleWindow
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::GetWindow(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = m_hwndParent;
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode)
+{
+    return E_NOTIMPL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IObjectWithSite
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite)
+{
+    if (m_punkSite)
+    {
+        m_punkSite->Release();
+        m_punkSite = NULL;
+    }
+    return punkSite ? punkSite->QueryInterface(&m_punkSite) : S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodePreviewHandler::GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    *ppv = NULL;
+    return m_punkSite ? m_punkSite->QueryInterface(riid, ppv) : E_FAIL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region Helper Functions
+
+#pragma endregion

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/GcodePreviewHandler.h

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <ShlObj.h>
+#include <string>
+
+class GcodePreviewHandler :
+    public IInitializeWithFile,
+    public IPreviewHandler,
+    public IPreviewHandlerVisuals,
+    public IOleWindow,
+    public IObjectWithSite
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IInitializeWithFile
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode);
+
+    // IPreviewHandler
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFocus();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetRect(const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP DoPreview();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Unload();
+
+    // IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetTextColor(COLORREF color);
+
+    // IOleWindow
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetWindow(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode);
+
+    // IObjectWithSite
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+
+    GcodePreviewHandler();
+protected:
+    ~GcodePreviewHandler();
+
+private:
+    // Reference count of component.
+    long m_cRef;
+
+    // Provided during initialization.
+    std::wstring m_filePath;
+    
+    // Parent window that hosts the previewer window.
+    // Note: do NOT DestroyWindow this.
+    HWND m_hwndParent;
+    // Bounding rect of the parent window.
+    RECT m_rcParent;
+
+    // Site pointer from host, used to get IPreviewHandlerFrame.
+    IUnknown* m_punkSite;
+
+    HANDLE m_process;
+    HANDLE m_resizeEvent;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp.rc

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#include <windows.h>
+#include "resource.h"
+#include "../../../common/version/version.h"
+
+#define APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+#include "winres.h"
+#undef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+
+1 VERSIONINFO
+FILEVERSION FILE_VERSION
+PRODUCTVERSION PRODUCT_VERSION
+FILEFLAGSMASK VS_FFI_FILEFLAGSMASK
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+FILEFLAGS VS_FF_DEBUG
+#else
+FILEFLAGS 0x0L
+#endif
+FILEOS VOS_NT_WINDOWS32
+FILETYPE VFT_DLL
+FILESUBTYPE VFT2_UNKNOWN
+BEGIN
+    BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        BLOCK "040904b0" // US English (0x0409), Unicode (0x04B0) charset
+        BEGIN
+            VALUE "CompanyName", COMPANY_NAME
+            VALUE "FileDescription", FILE_DESCRIPTION
+            VALUE "FileVersion", FILE_VERSION_STRING
+            VALUE "InternalName", INTERNAL_NAME
+            VALUE "LegalCopyright", COPYRIGHT_NOTE
+            VALUE "OriginalFilename", ORIGINAL_FILENAME
+            VALUE "ProductName", PRODUCT_NAME
+            VALUE "ProductVersion", PRODUCT_VERSION_STRING
+        END
+    END
+    BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        VALUE "Translation", 0x409, 1200 // US English (0x0409), Unicode (1200) charset
+    END
+END

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
+  <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
+    <VCProjectVersion>16.0</VCProjectVersion>
+    <Keyword>Win32Proj</Keyword>
+    <ProjectGuid>{5a5dd09d-723a-44d3-8f2b-293584c3d731}</ProjectGuid>
+    <RootNamespace>GcodePreviewHandlerCpp</RootNamespace>
+    <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0.19041.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="Shared">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview\</OutDir>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetName>PowerToys.$(ProjectName)</TargetName>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
+      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
+      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="GcodePreviewHandler.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="GcodePreviewHandler.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Create</PrecompiledHeader>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def" />
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="GcodePreviewHandlerCpp.rc" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\logger\logger.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{d9b8fc84-322a-4f9f-bbb9-20915c47ddfd}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\SettingsAPI\SettingsAPI.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{6955446d-23f7-4023-9bb3-8657f904af99}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\deps\spdlog.props" />
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
+    <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
+    <PropertyGroup>
+      <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
+    </PropertyGroup>
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props'))" />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets'))" />
+  </Target>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj.filters

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Filter Include="Source Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{4FC737F1-C7A5-4376-A066-2A32D752A2FF}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>cpp;c;cc;cxx;c++;cppm;ixx;def;odl;idl;hpj;bat;asm;asmx</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Header Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{93995380-89BD-4b04-88EB-625FBE52EBFB}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>h;hh;hpp;hxx;h++;hm;inl;inc;ipp;xsd</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Resource Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{67DA6AB6-F800-4c08-8B7A-83BB121AAD01}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>rc;ico;cur;bmp;dlg;rc2;rct;bin;rgs;gif;jpg;jpeg;jpe;resx;tiff;tif;png;wav;mfcribbon-ms</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="GcodePreviewHandler.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="GcodePreviewHandler.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </None>
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="GcodePreviewHandlerCpp.rc">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ResourceCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/GlobalExportFunctions.def

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+EXPORTS
+    DllGetClassObject   PRIVATE
+    DllCanUnloadNow     PRIVATE

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/dllmain.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+// dllmain.cpp : Defines the entry point for the DLL application.
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+
+HINSTANCE g_hInst = NULL;
+long g_cDllRef = 0;
+
+// {A0257634-8812-4CE8-AF11-FA69ACAEAFAE}
+static const GUID CLSID_GcodePreviewHandler = { 0xa0257634, 0x8812, 0x4ce8, { 0xaf, 0x11, 0xfa, 0x69, 0xac, 0xae, 0xaf, 0xae } };
+
+BOOL APIENTRY DllMain(HMODULE hModule,
+                      DWORD ul_reason_for_call,
+                      LPVOID lpReserved)
+{
+    switch (ul_reason_for_call)
+    {
+    case DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH:
+        g_hInst = hModule;
+        DisableThreadLibraryCalls(hModule);
+        break;
+    case DLL_THREAD_ATTACH:
+    case DLL_THREAD_DETACH:
+    case DLL_PROCESS_DETACH:
+        break;
+    }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllGetClassObject
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Create the class factory and query to the specific interface.
+//
+//   PARAMETERS:
+//   * rclsid - The CLSID that will associate the correct data and code.
+//   * riid - A reference to the identifier of the interface that the caller
+//     is to use to communicate with the class object.
+//   * ppv - The address of a pointer variable that receives the interface
+//     pointer requested in riid. Upon successful return, *ppv contains the
+//     requested interface pointer. If an error occurs, the interface pointer
+//     is NULL.
+//
+STDAPI DllGetClassObject(REFCLSID rclsid, REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_CLASSNOTAVAILABLE;
+
+    if (IsEqualCLSID(CLSID_GcodePreviewHandler, rclsid))
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        ClassFactory* pClassFactory = new ClassFactory();
+        if (pClassFactory)
+        {
+            hr = pClassFactory->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pClassFactory->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllCanUnloadNow
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Check if we can unload the component from the memory.
+//
+//   NOTE: The component can be unloaded from the memory when its reference
+//   count is zero (i.e. nobody is still using the component).
+//
+STDAPI DllCanUnloadNow(void)
+{
+    return g_cDllRef > 0 ? S_FALSE : S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/packages.config

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<packages>
+  <package id="Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT" version="2.0.220929.3" targetFramework="native" />
+</packages>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/pch.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// pch.cpp: source file corresponding to the pre-compiled header
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+// When you are using pre-compiled headers, this source file is necessary for compilation to succeed.

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/pch.h

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// pch.h: This is a precompiled header file.
+// Files listed below are compiled only once, improving build performance for future builds.
+// This also affects IntelliSense performance, including code completion and many code browsing features.
+// However, files listed here are ALL re-compiled if any one of them is updated between builds.
+// Do not add files here that you will be updating frequently as this negates the performance advantage.
+
+#ifndef PCH_H
+#define PCH_H
+
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN // Exclude rarely-used stuff from Windows headers
+// Windows Header Files
+#include <windows.h>
+
+#endif //PCH_H

src/modules/previewpane/GcodePreviewHandlerCpp/resource.h

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+//{{NO_DEPENDENCIES}}
+// Microsoft Visual C++ generated include file.
+// Used by AlwaysOnTopModuleInterface.rc
+
+//////////////////////////////
+// Non-localizable
+
+#define FILE_DESCRIPTION "PowerToys Gcode Preview Handler Module"
+#define INTERNAL_NAME "PowerToys.GcodePreviewHandlerCpp"
+#define ORIGINAL_FILENAME "PowerToys.GcodePreviewHandlerCpp.dll"
+
+// Non-localizable
+//////////////////////////////

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProvider/GcodeThumbnailProvider.cs

@@ -1,32 +1,31 @@
 // Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
 // The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Drawing;
 using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
-using System.IO;
-using System.Linq;
-using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-using System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes;
 using System.Text;
-using Common.ComInterlop;
-using Common.Utilities;
 
 namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.ThumbnailHandler.Gcode
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// G-code Thumbnail Provider.
     /// </summary>
-    [Guid("BFEE99B4-B74D-4348-BCA5-E757029647FF")]
-    [ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.None)]
-    [ComVisible(true)]
-    public class GcodeThumbnailProvider : IInitializeWithStream, IThumbnailProvider
+    public class GcodeThumbnailProvider
     {
+        public GcodeThumbnailProvider(string filePath)
+        {
+            FilePath = filePath;
+            Stream = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the file path to the file creating thumbnail for.
+        /// </summary>
+        public string FilePath { get; private set; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the stream object to access file.
         /// </summary>
-        public IStream Stream { get; private set; }
+        public Stream Stream { get; private set; }
 
         /// <summary>
         ///  The maximum dimension (width or height) thumbnail we will generate.
@@ -140,44 +139,36 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.ThumbnailHandler.Gcode
             return destImage;
         }
 
-        /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public void Initialize(IStream pstream, uint grfMode)
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Generate thumbnail bitmap for provided Gcode file/stream.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="cx">Maximum thumbnail size, in pixels.</param>
+        /// <returns>Generated bitmap</returns>
+        public Bitmap GetThumbnail(uint cx)
         {
-            // Ignore the grfMode always use read mode to access the file.
-            this.Stream = pstream;
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc/>
-        public void GetThumbnail(uint cx, out IntPtr phbmp, out WTS_ALPHATYPE pdwAlpha)
-        {
-            phbmp = IntPtr.Zero;
-            pdwAlpha = WTS_ALPHATYPE.WTSAT_UNKNOWN;
-
             if (cx == 0 || cx > MaxThumbnailSize)
             {
-                return;
+                return null;
             }
 
             if (global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GPOWrapper.GetConfiguredGcodeThumbnailsEnabledValue() == global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled)
             {
                 // GPO is disabling this utility.
-                return;
+                return null;
             }
 
-            using (var stream = new ReadonlyStream(this.Stream as IStream))
+            using (var reader = new StreamReader(this.Stream))
             {
-                using (var reader = new StreamReader(stream))
+                using (Bitmap thumbnail = GetThumbnail(reader, cx))
                 {
-                    using (Bitmap thumbnail = GetThumbnail(reader, cx))
+                    if (thumbnail != null && thumbnail.Size.Width > 0 && thumbnail.Size.Height > 0)
                     {
-                        if (thumbnail != null && thumbnail.Size.Width > 0 && thumbnail.Size.Height > 0)
-                        {
-                            phbmp = thumbnail.GetHbitmap(Color.Transparent);
-                            pdwAlpha = WTS_ALPHATYPE.WTSAT_ARGB;
-                        }
+                        return (Bitmap)thumbnail.Clone();
                     }
                 }
             }
+
+            return null;
         }
     }
 }

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProvider/GcodeThumbnailProvider.csproj

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <ProjectGuid>{809AA252-E17A-4FA2-B0A1-0450976B763F}</ProjectGuid>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.PowerToys.ThumbnailHandler.Gcode</RootNamespace>
@@ -7,13 +8,21 @@
     <AssemblyTitle>PowerToys.GcodeThumbnailProvider</AssemblyTitle>
     <AssemblyDescription>PowerToys GcodePreviewHandler</AssemblyDescription>
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
-    <EnableComHosting>true</EnableComHosting>
     <AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>true</AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>
     <Description>PowerToys GcodePreviewHandler</Description>
     <OutputPath>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview\</OutputPath>
     <AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>false</AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>
     <AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>false</AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>
     <CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>true</CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <Import Project="..\..\..\Version.props" />
@@ -27,6 +36,7 @@
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- Disable missing comment warning. WinRT/C++ libraries added won't have comments on their reflections. -->
     <NoWarn>$(NoWarn);1591</NoWarn>
+    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProvider/Program.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.ThumbnailHandler.Gcode
+{
+    using System.Globalization;
+
+    internal static class Program
+    {
+        private static GcodeThumbnailProvider _thumbnailProvider;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///  The main entry point for the application.
+        /// </summary>
+        [STAThread]
+        public static void Main(string[] args)
+        {
+            ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
+            if (args != null)
+            {
+                if (args.Length == 2)
+                {
+                    string filePath = args[0];
+                    uint cx = Convert.ToUInt32(args[1], 10);
+
+                    _thumbnailProvider = new GcodeThumbnailProvider(filePath);
+                    Bitmap thumbnail = _thumbnailProvider.GetThumbnail(cx);
+                    filePath = filePath.Replace(".gcode", ".bmp");
+                    thumbnail.Save(filePath, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Bmp);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    MessageBox.Show("Gcode thumbnail - wrong number of args: " + args.Length.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/ClassFactory.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+#include "GcodeThumbnailProvider.h"
+
+#include <new>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+ClassFactory::ClassFactory() :
+    m_cRef(1)
+{
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+ClassFactory::~ClassFactory()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+//
+// IUnknown
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(ClassFactory, IClassFactory),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+//
+// IClassFactory
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::CreateInstance(IUnknown *pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_NOAGGREGATION;
+
+    if (pUnkOuter == NULL)
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        GcodeThumbnailProvider* pExt = new (std::nothrow) GcodeThumbnailProvider();
+        if (pExt)
+        {
+            hr = pExt->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pExt->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::LockServer(BOOL fLock)
+{
+    if (fLock)
+    {
+        InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/ClassFactory.h

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Unknwn.h>
+
+class ClassFactory : public IClassFactory
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IClassFactory
+    IFACEMETHODIMP CreateInstance(IUnknown* pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP LockServer(BOOL fLock);
+
+    ClassFactory();
+
+protected:
+    ~ClassFactory();
+
+private:
+    long m_cRef;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/GcodeThumbnailProvider.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "GcodeThumbnailProvider.h"
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <shellapi.h>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <wil/com.h>
+
+#include <common/utils/process_path.h>
+#include <common/interop/shared_constants.h>
+#include <common/logger/logger.h>
+#include <common/SettingsAPI/settings_helpers.h>
+#include <common/utils/process_path.h>
+
+extern HINSTANCE g_hInst;
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+GcodeThumbnailProvider::GcodeThumbnailProvider() :
+    m_cRef(1), m_pStream(NULL), m_process(NULL)
+{
+    std::filesystem::path logFilePath(PTSettingsHelper::get_local_low_folder_location());
+    logFilePath.append(LogSettings::gcodeThumbLogPath);
+    Logger::init(LogSettings::gcodeThumbLoggerName, logFilePath.wstring(), PTSettingsHelper::get_log_settings_file_location());
+
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+GcodeThumbnailProvider::~GcodeThumbnailProvider()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+#pragma region IUnknown
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodeThumbnailProvider::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(GcodeThumbnailProvider, IThumbnailProvider),
+        QITABENT(GcodeThumbnailProvider, IInitializeWithStream),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+GcodeThumbnailProvider::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+GcodeThumbnailProvider::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IInitializationWithStream
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodeThumbnailProvider::Initialize(IStream* pStream, DWORD grfMode)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (pStream)
+    {
+        // Initialize can be called more than once, so release existing valid
+        // m_pStream.
+        if (m_pStream)
+        {
+            m_pStream->Release();
+            m_pStream = NULL;
+        }
+
+        m_pStream = pStream;
+        m_pStream->AddRef();
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IThumbnailProvider
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP GcodeThumbnailProvider::GetThumbnail(UINT cx, HBITMAP* phbmp, WTS_ALPHATYPE* pdwAlpha)
+{
+    // Read stream into the buffer
+    char buffer[4096];
+    ULONG cbRead;
+
+    Logger::trace(L"Begin");
+
+    GUID guid;
+    if (CoCreateGuid(&guid) == S_OK)
+    {
+        wil::unique_cotaskmem_string guidString;
+        if (SUCCEEDED(StringFromCLSID(guid, &guidString)))
+        {
+            Logger::info(L"Read stream and save to tmp file.");
+
+            // {CLSID} -> CLSID
+            std::wstring guid = std::wstring(guidString.get()).substr(1, std::wstring(guidString.get()).size() - 2);
+            std::wstring filePath = PTSettingsHelper::get_local_low_folder_location() + L"\\GCodeThumbnail-Temp\\";
+            if (!std::filesystem::exists(filePath))
+            {
+                std::filesystem::create_directories(filePath);
+            }
+
+            std::wstring fileName = filePath + guid + L".gcode";
+            
+            // Write data to tmp file
+            std::fstream file;
+            file.open(fileName, std::ios_base::out | std::ios_base::binary);
+
+            if (!file.is_open())
+            {
+                return 0;
+            }
+
+            while (true)
+            {
+                auto result = m_pStream->Read(buffer, 4096, &cbRead);
+
+                file.write(buffer, cbRead);
+                if (result == S_FALSE)
+                {               
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            file.close();
+
+
+            try
+            {
+                Logger::info(L"Start GcodeThumbnailProvider.exe");
+
+                STARTUPINFO info = { sizeof(info) };
+                std::wstring cmdLine{ L"\"" + fileName + L"\"" };
+                cmdLine += L" ";
+                cmdLine += std::to_wstring(cx);
+
+                std::wstring appPath = get_module_folderpath(g_hInst) + L"\\PowerToys.GcodeThumbnailProvider.exe";
+
+                SHELLEXECUTEINFO sei{ sizeof(sei) };
+                sei.fMask = { SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS | SEE_MASK_FLAG_NO_UI };
+                sei.lpFile = appPath.c_str();
+                sei.lpParameters = cmdLine.c_str();
+                sei.nShow = SW_SHOWDEFAULT;
+                ShellExecuteEx(&sei);
+                m_process = sei.hProcess;
+                WaitForSingleObject(m_process, INFINITE);
+                std::filesystem::remove(fileName);
+
+                std::wstring fileNameBmp = filePath + guid + L".bmp";
+                *phbmp = (HBITMAP)LoadImage(NULL, fileNameBmp.c_str(), IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, LR_LOADFROMFILE);
+                *pdwAlpha = WTS_ALPHATYPE::WTSAT_ARGB;
+                
+                std::filesystem::remove(fileNameBmp);
+            }
+            catch (std::exception& e)
+            {
+                std::wstring errorMessage = std::wstring{ winrt::to_hstring(e.what()) };
+                Logger::error(L"Failed to start GcodeThumbnailProvider.exe. Error: {}", errorMessage);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region Helper Functions
+
+#pragma endregion

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/GcodeThumbnailProvider.h

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+#include <ShlObj.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <thumbcache.h>
+
+class GcodeThumbnailProvider :
+    public IInitializeWithStream,
+    public IThumbnailProvider
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IInitializeWithStream
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Initialize(IStream* pstream, DWORD grfMode);
+
+    // IPreviewHandler
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetThumbnail(UINT cx, HBITMAP* phbmp, WTS_ALPHATYPE* pdwAlpha);
+
+    GcodeThumbnailProvider();
+protected:
+    ~GcodeThumbnailProvider();
+
+private:
+    // Reference count of component.
+    long m_cRef;
+
+    // Provided during initialization.
+    IStream* m_pStream;
+
+    HANDLE m_process;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp.rc

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#include <windows.h>
+#include "resource.h"
+#include "../../../common/version/version.h"
+
+#define APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+#include "winres.h"
+#undef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+
+1 VERSIONINFO
+FILEVERSION FILE_VERSION
+PRODUCTVERSION PRODUCT_VERSION
+FILEFLAGSMASK VS_FFI_FILEFLAGSMASK
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+FILEFLAGS VS_FF_DEBUG
+#else
+FILEFLAGS 0x0L
+#endif
+FILEOS VOS_NT_WINDOWS32
+FILETYPE VFT_DLL
+FILESUBTYPE VFT2_UNKNOWN
+BEGIN
+    BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        BLOCK "040904b0" // US English (0x0409), Unicode (0x04B0) charset
+        BEGIN
+            VALUE "CompanyName", COMPANY_NAME
+            VALUE "FileDescription", FILE_DESCRIPTION
+            VALUE "FileVersion", FILE_VERSION_STRING
+            VALUE "InternalName", INTERNAL_NAME
+            VALUE "LegalCopyright", COPYRIGHT_NOTE
+            VALUE "OriginalFilename", ORIGINAL_FILENAME
+            VALUE "ProductName", PRODUCT_NAME
+            VALUE "ProductVersion", PRODUCT_VERSION_STRING
+        END
+    END
+    BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        VALUE "Translation", 0x409, 1200 // US English (0x0409), Unicode (1200) charset
+    END
+END

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp.vcxproj

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
+  <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
+    <VCProjectVersion>16.0</VCProjectVersion>
+    <Keyword>Win32Proj</Keyword>
+    <ProjectGuid>{56cc2f10-6e41-453d-be16-c593a5e58482}</ProjectGuid>
+    <RootNamespace>GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp</RootNamespace>
+    <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="Shared">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview\</OutDir>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetName>PowerToys.$(ProjectName)</TargetName>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
+      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
+      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="GcodeThumbnailProvider.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="GcodeThumbnailProvider.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Create</PrecompiledHeader>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def" />
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\logger\logger.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{d9b8fc84-322a-4f9f-bbb9-20915c47ddfd}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\SettingsAPI\SettingsAPI.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{6955446d-23f7-4023-9bb3-8657f904af99}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp.rc" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\deps\spdlog.props" />
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
+    <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
+    <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.1.0.220914.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.1.0.220914.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.targets')" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
+    <PropertyGroup>
+      <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
+    </PropertyGroup>
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props'))" />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets'))" />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.1.0.220914.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.1.0.220914.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary.targets'))" />
+  </Target>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp.vcxproj.filters

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Filter Include="Source Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{4FC737F1-C7A5-4376-A066-2A32D752A2FF}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>cpp;c;cc;cxx;c++;cppm;ixx;def;odl;idl;hpj;bat;asm;asmx</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Header Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{93995380-89BD-4b04-88EB-625FBE52EBFB}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>h;hh;hpp;hxx;h++;hm;inl;inc;ipp;xsd</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Resource Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{67DA6AB6-F800-4c08-8B7A-83BB121AAD01}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>rc;ico;cur;bmp;dlg;rc2;rct;bin;rgs;gif;jpg;jpeg;jpe;resx;tiff;tif;png;wav;mfcribbon-ms</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="GcodeThumbnailProvider.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="GcodeThumbnailProvider.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </None>
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Natvis Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)..\..\natvis\wil.natvis" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp.rc">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ResourceCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/GlobalExportFunctions.def

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+EXPORTS
+    DllGetClassObject   PRIVATE
+    DllCanUnloadNow     PRIVATE

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/dllmain.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+// dllmain.cpp : Defines the entry point for the DLL application.
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+
+HINSTANCE g_hInst = NULL;
+long g_cDllRef = 0;
+
+// {F2847CBE-CD03-4C83-A359-1A8052C1B9D5}
+static const GUID CLSID_GcodeThumbnailProvider = { 0xf2847cbe, 0xcd03, 0x4c83, { 0xa3, 0x59, 0x1a, 0x80, 0x52, 0xc1, 0xb9, 0xd5 } };
+
+BOOL APIENTRY DllMain(HMODULE hModule,
+                      DWORD ul_reason_for_call,
+                      LPVOID lpReserved)
+{
+    switch (ul_reason_for_call)
+    {
+    case DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH:
+        g_hInst = hModule;
+        DisableThreadLibraryCalls(hModule);
+        break;
+    case DLL_THREAD_ATTACH:
+    case DLL_THREAD_DETACH:
+    case DLL_PROCESS_DETACH:
+        break;
+    }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllGetClassObject
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Create the class factory and query to the specific interface.
+//
+//   PARAMETERS:
+//   * rclsid - The CLSID that will associate the correct data and code.
+//   * riid - A reference to the identifier of the interface that the caller
+//     is to use to communicate with the class object.
+//   * ppv - The address of a pointer variable that receives the interface
+//     pointer requested in riid. Upon successful return, *ppv contains the
+//     requested interface pointer. If an error occurs, the interface pointer
+//     is NULL.
+//
+STDAPI DllGetClassObject(REFCLSID rclsid, REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_CLASSNOTAVAILABLE;
+
+    if (IsEqualCLSID(CLSID_GcodeThumbnailProvider, rclsid))
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        ClassFactory* pClassFactory = new ClassFactory();
+        if (pClassFactory)
+        {
+            hr = pClassFactory->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pClassFactory->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllCanUnloadNow
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Check if we can unload the component from the memory.
+//
+//   NOTE: The component can be unloaded from the memory when its reference
+//   count is zero (i.e. nobody is still using the component).
+//
+STDAPI DllCanUnloadNow(void)
+{
+    return g_cDllRef > 0 ? S_FALSE : S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/packages.config

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<packages>
+  <package id="Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT" version="2.0.220929.3" targetFramework="native" />
+  <package id="Microsoft.Windows.ImplementationLibrary" version="1.0.220914.1" targetFramework="native" />
+</packages>

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/pch.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// pch.cpp: source file corresponding to the pre-compiled header
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+// When you are using pre-compiled headers, this source file is necessary for compilation to succeed.

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/pch.h

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// pch.h: This is a precompiled header file.
+// Files listed below are compiled only once, improving build performance for future builds.
+// This also affects IntelliSense performance, including code completion and many code browsing features.
+// However, files listed here are ALL re-compiled if any one of them is updated between builds.
+// Do not add files here that you will be updating frequently as this negates the performance advantage.
+
+#ifndef PCH_H
+#define PCH_H
+
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN // Exclude rarely-used stuff from Windows headers
+// Windows Header Files
+#include <windows.h>
+#include <winrt/base.h>
+
+#endif //PCH_H

src/modules/previewpane/GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp/resource.h

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+//{{NO_DEPENDENCIES}}
+// Microsoft Visual C++ generated include file.
+// Used by AlwaysOnTopModuleInterface.rc
+
+//////////////////////////////
+// Non-localizable
+
+#define FILE_DESCRIPTION "PowerToys Gcode Thumbnail Provider Module"
+#define INTERNAL_NAME "PowerToys.GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp"
+#define ORIGINAL_FILENAME "PowerToys.GcodeThumbnailProviderCpp.dll"
+
+// Non-localizable
+//////////////////////////////

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandler/MarkdownPreviewHandler.cs

@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
-// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
-// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
-
-using System;
-using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-using Common;
-using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
-
-namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Markdown
-{
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Implementation of preview handler for markdown files.
-    /// </summary>
-    [Guid("45769bcc-e8fd-42d0-947e-02beef77a1f5")]
-    [ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.None)]
-    [ComVisible(true)]
-    public class MarkdownPreviewHandler : FileBasedPreviewHandler, IDisposable
-    {
-        private MarkdownPreviewHandlerControl _markdownPreviewHandlerControl;
-        private bool disposedValue;
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="MarkdownPreviewHandler"/> class.
-        /// </summary>
-        public MarkdownPreviewHandler()
-        {
-            Initialize();
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        public override void DoPreview()
-        {
-            _markdownPreviewHandlerControl.DoPreview(FilePath);
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        protected override IPreviewHandlerControl CreatePreviewHandlerControl()
-        {
-            PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new Telemetry.Events.MarkdownFileHandlerLoaded());
-            _markdownPreviewHandlerControl = new MarkdownPreviewHandlerControl();
-
-            return _markdownPreviewHandlerControl;
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Disposes objects
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="disposing">Is Disposing</param>
-        protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
-        {
-            if (!disposedValue)
-            {
-                if (disposing)
-                {
-                    _markdownPreviewHandlerControl.Dispose();
-                }
-
-                disposedValue = true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        public void Dispose()
-        {
-            // Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in 'Dispose(bool disposing)' method
-            Dispose(disposing: true);
-            GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
-        }
-    }
-}

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandler/MarkdownPreviewHandler.csproj

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <AssemblyTitle>PowerToys.MarkdownPreviewHandler</AssemblyTitle>
     <AssemblyDescription>PowerToys MarkdownPreviewHandler</AssemblyDescription>
@@ -12,12 +13,20 @@
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
     <RuntimeIdentifiers>win10-x64;win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifiers>
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ProjectGuid>{6A71162E-FC4C-4A2C-B90F-3CF94F59A9BB}</ProjectGuid>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Markdown</RootNamespace>
-    <EnableComHosting>true</EnableComHosting>
     <AssemblyName>PowerToys.MarkdownPreviewHandler</AssemblyName>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
@@ -46,6 +55,7 @@
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- Disable missing comment warning. WinRT/C++ libraries added won't have comments on their reflections. -->
     <NoWarn>$(NoWarn);1591</NoWarn>
+    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
@@ -58,6 +68,7 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\GPOWrapper\GPOWrapper.vcxproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\Common.UI\Common.UI.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\interop\PowerToys.Interop.vcxproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\ManagedTelemetry\Telemetry\ManagedTelemetry.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\common\PreviewHandlerCommon.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandler/MarkdownPreviewHandlerControl.cs

@@ -133,14 +133,11 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Markdown
             if (global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GPOWrapper.GetConfiguredMarkdownPreviewEnabledValue() == global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled)
             {
                 // GPO is disabling this utility. Show an error message instead.
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    _infoBarDisplayed = true;
-                    _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.GpoDisabledErrorText);
-                    Resize += FormResized;
-                    Controls.Add(_infoBar);
-                    base.DoPreview(dataSource);
-                });
+                _infoBarDisplayed = true;
+                _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.GpoDisabledErrorText);
+                Resize += FormResized;
+                Controls.Add(_infoBar);
+                base.DoPreview(dataSource);
 
                 return;
             }
@@ -153,7 +150,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Markdown
             {
                 if (!(dataSource is string filePath))
                 {
-                    throw new ArgumentException($"{nameof(dataSource)} for {nameof(MarkdownPreviewHandler)} must be a string but was a '{typeof(T)}'");
+                    throw new ArgumentException($"{nameof(dataSource)} for {nameof(MarkdownPreviewHandlerControl)} must be a string but was a '{typeof(T)}'");
                 }
 
                 string fileText = File.ReadAllText(filePath);
@@ -174,80 +171,74 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Markdown
                     Dock = DockStyle.Fill,
                 };
 
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    var webView2Options = new CoreWebView2EnvironmentOptions("--block-new-web-contents");
-                    ConfiguredTaskAwaitable<CoreWebView2Environment>.ConfiguredTaskAwaiter
+                var webView2Options = new CoreWebView2EnvironmentOptions("--block-new-web-contents");
+                ConfiguredTaskAwaitable<CoreWebView2Environment>.ConfiguredTaskAwaiter
                         webView2EnvironmentAwaiter = CoreWebView2Environment
                             .CreateAsync(userDataFolder: _webView2UserDataFolder, options: webView2Options)
                             .ConfigureAwait(true).GetAwaiter();
-                    webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.OnCompleted(() =>
+                webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.OnCompleted(async () =>
+                {
+                    try
                     {
-                        InvokeOnControlThread(async () =>
+                        _webView2Environment = webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.GetResult();
+                        await _browser.EnsureCoreWebView2Async(_webView2Environment).ConfigureAwait(true);
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.SetVirtualHostNameToFolderMapping(VirtualHostName, AssemblyDirectory, CoreWebView2HostResourceAccessKind.Deny);
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreDefaultScriptDialogsEnabled = false;
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreDefaultContextMenusEnabled = false;
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreDevToolsEnabled = false;
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreHostObjectsAllowed = false;
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsGeneralAutofillEnabled = false;
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsPasswordAutosaveEnabled = false;
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsScriptEnabled = false;
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsWebMessageEnabled = false;
+
+                        // Don't load any resources.
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.AddWebResourceRequestedFilter("*", CoreWebView2WebResourceContext.All);
+                        _browser.CoreWebView2.WebResourceRequested += (object sender, CoreWebView2WebResourceRequestedEventArgs e) =>
                         {
-                            try
+                            // Show local file we've saved with the markdown contents. Block all else.
+                            if (new Uri(e.Request.Uri) != _localFileURI)
                             {
-                                _webView2Environment = webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.GetResult();
-                                await _browser.EnsureCoreWebView2Async(_webView2Environment).ConfigureAwait(true);
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.SetVirtualHostNameToFolderMapping(VirtualHostName, AssemblyDirectory, CoreWebView2HostResourceAccessKind.Deny);
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreDefaultScriptDialogsEnabled = false;
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreDefaultContextMenusEnabled = false;
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreDevToolsEnabled = false;
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.AreHostObjectsAllowed = false;
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsGeneralAutofillEnabled = false;
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsPasswordAutosaveEnabled = false;
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsScriptEnabled = false;
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.Settings.IsWebMessageEnabled = false;
-
-                                // Don't load any resources.
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.AddWebResourceRequestedFilter("*", CoreWebView2WebResourceContext.All);
-                                _browser.CoreWebView2.WebResourceRequested += (object sender, CoreWebView2WebResourceRequestedEventArgs e) =>
-                                {
-                                    // Show local file we've saved with the markdown contents. Block all else.
-                                    if (new Uri(e.Request.Uri) != _localFileURI)
-                                    {
-                                        e.Response = _browser.CoreWebView2.Environment.CreateWebResourceResponse(null, 403, "Forbidden", null);
-                                    }
-                                };
-
-                                // WebView2.NavigateToString() limitation
-                                // See https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/microsoft.web.webview2.core.corewebview2.navigatetostring?view=webview2-dotnet-1.0.864.35#remarks
-                                // While testing the limit, it turned out it is ~1.5MB, so to be on a safe side we go for 1.5m bytes
-                                if (markdownHTML.Length > 1_500_000)
-                                {
-                                    string filename = _webView2UserDataFolder + "\\" + Guid.NewGuid().ToString() + ".html";
-                                    File.WriteAllText(filename, markdownHTML);
-                                    _localFileURI = new Uri(filename);
-                                    _browser.Source = _localFileURI;
-                                }
-                                else
-                                {
-                                    _browser.NavigateToString(markdownHTML);
-                                }
-
-                                Controls.Add(_browser);
-
-                                _browser.NavigationStarting += async (object sender, CoreWebView2NavigationStartingEventArgs args) =>
-                                {
-                                    if (args.Uri != null && args.Uri != _localFileURI?.ToString() && args.IsUserInitiated)
-                                    {
-                                        args.Cancel = true;
-                                        await Launcher.LaunchUriAsync(new Uri(args.Uri));
-                                    }
-                                };
-
-                                if (_infoBarDisplayed)
-                                {
-                                    _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.BlockedImageInfoText);
-                                    Resize += FormResized;
-                                    Controls.Add(_infoBar);
-                                }
+                                e.Response = _browser.CoreWebView2.Environment.CreateWebResourceResponse(null, 403, "Forbidden", null);
                             }
-                            catch (NullReferenceException)
+                        };
+
+                        // WebView2.NavigateToString() limitation
+                        // See https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/microsoft.web.webview2.core.corewebview2.navigatetostring?view=webview2-dotnet-1.0.864.35#remarks
+                        // While testing the limit, it turned out it is ~1.5MB, so to be on a safe side we go for 1.5m bytes
+                        if (markdownHTML.Length > 1_500_000)
+                        {
+                            string filename = _webView2UserDataFolder + "\\" + Guid.NewGuid().ToString() + ".html";
+                            File.WriteAllText(filename, markdownHTML);
+                            _localFileURI = new Uri(filename);
+                            _browser.Source = _localFileURI;
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            _browser.NavigateToString(markdownHTML);
+                        }
+
+                        Controls.Add(_browser);
+
+                        _browser.NavigationStarting += async (object sender, CoreWebView2NavigationStartingEventArgs args) =>
+                        {
+                            if (args.Uri != null && args.Uri != _localFileURI?.ToString() && args.IsUserInitiated)
                             {
+                                args.Cancel = true;
+                                await Launcher.LaunchUriAsync(new Uri(args.Uri));
                             }
-                        });
-                    });
+                        };
+
+                        if (_infoBarDisplayed)
+                        {
+                            _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.BlockedImageInfoText);
+                            Resize += FormResized;
+                            Controls.Add(_infoBar);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    catch (NullReferenceException)
+                    {
+                    }
                 });
 
                 PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new MarkdownFilePreviewed());
@@ -256,14 +247,11 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Markdown
             {
                 PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new MarkdownFilePreviewError { Message = ex.Message });
 
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    Controls.Clear();
-                    _infoBarDisplayed = true;
-                    _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.MarkdownNotPreviewedError);
-                    Resize += FormResized;
-                    Controls.Add(_infoBar);
-                });
+                Controls.Clear();
+                _infoBarDisplayed = true;
+                _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.MarkdownNotPreviewedError);
+                Resize += FormResized;
+                Controls.Add(_infoBar);
             }
             finally
             {

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandler/Program.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Markdown
+{
+    using System.Globalization;
+    using System.Windows.Threading;
+    using Common.UI;
+    using interop;
+
+    internal static class Program
+    {
+        private static CancellationTokenSource _tokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
+
+        private static MarkdownPreviewHandlerControl _previewHandlerControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///  The main entry point for the application.
+        /// </summary>
+        [STAThread]
+        public static void Main(string[] args)
+        {
+            ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
+            if (args != null)
+            {
+                if (args.Length == 6)
+                {
+                    string filePath = args[0];
+                    int hwnd = Convert.ToInt32(args[1], 16);
+
+                    Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                    int left = Convert.ToInt32(args[2], 10);
+                    int right = Convert.ToInt32(args[3], 10);
+                    int top = Convert.ToInt32(args[4], 10);
+                    int bottom = Convert.ToInt32(args[5], 10);
+
+                    _previewHandlerControl = new MarkdownPreviewHandlerControl();
+                    _previewHandlerControl.SetWindow((IntPtr)hwnd, s);
+                    _previewHandlerControl.DoPreview(filePath);
+
+                    NativeEventWaiter.WaitForEventLoop(
+                        Constants.MarkdownPreviewResizeEvent(),
+                        () =>
+                        {
+                            Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                            _previewHandlerControl.SetRect(s);
+                        },
+                        Dispatcher.CurrentDispatcher,
+                        _tokenSource.Token);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    MessageBox.Show("Wrong number of args: " + args.Length.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+                }
+            }
+
+            // To customize application configuration such as set high DPI settings or default font,
+            // see https://aka.ms/applicationconfiguration.
+            Application.Run();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandler/Properties/PublishProfiles/InstallationPublishProfile.pubxml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=208121.
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
     <PublishDir>$(PowerToysRoot)\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview</PublishDir>
     <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-$(Platform)</RuntimeIdentifier>
-    <SelfContained>false</SelfContained>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
     <PublishSingleFile>False</PublishSingleFile>
     <PublishReadyToRun>False</PublishReadyToRun>
     <ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>false</ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+#include "MarkdownPreviewHandler.h"
+
+#include <new>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+ClassFactory::ClassFactory() :
+    m_cRef(1)
+{
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+ClassFactory::~ClassFactory()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+//
+// IUnknown
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(ClassFactory, IClassFactory),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+//
+// IClassFactory
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::CreateInstance(IUnknown *pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_NOAGGREGATION;
+
+    if (pUnkOuter == NULL)
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        MarkdownPreviewHandler* pExt = new (std::nothrow) MarkdownPreviewHandler();
+        if (pExt)
+        {
+            hr = pExt->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pExt->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::LockServer(BOOL fLock)
+{
+    if (fLock)
+    {
+        InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.h

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Unknwn.h>
+
+class ClassFactory : public IClassFactory
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IClassFactory
+    IFACEMETHODIMP CreateInstance(IUnknown* pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP LockServer(BOOL fLock);
+
+    ClassFactory();
+
+protected:
+    ~ClassFactory();
+
+private:
+    long m_cRef;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/GlobalExportFunctions.def

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+EXPORTS
+    DllGetClassObject   PRIVATE
+    DllCanUnloadNow     PRIVATE

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/MarkdownPreviewHandler.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "MarkdownPreviewHandler.h"
+#include "Generated Files/resource.h"
+
+#include <shellapi.h>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <common/interop/shared_constants.h>
+#include <common/logger/logger.h>
+#include <common/SettingsAPI/settings_helpers.h>
+#include <common/utils/process_path.h>
+
+extern HINSTANCE g_hInst;
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+MarkdownPreviewHandler::MarkdownPreviewHandler() :
+    m_cRef(1), m_hwndParent(NULL), m_rcParent(), m_punkSite(NULL), m_process(NULL)
+{
+    m_resizeEvent = CreateEvent(nullptr, false, false, CommonSharedConstants::MARKDOWN_PREVIEW_RESIZE_EVENT);
+
+    std::filesystem::path logFilePath(PTSettingsHelper::get_local_low_folder_location());
+    logFilePath.append(LogSettings::mdPrevLogPath);
+    Logger::init(LogSettings::mdPrevLoggerName, logFilePath.wstring(), PTSettingsHelper::get_log_settings_file_location());
+
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+MarkdownPreviewHandler::~MarkdownPreviewHandler()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+#pragma region IUnknown
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(MarkdownPreviewHandler, IPreviewHandler),
+        QITABENT(MarkdownPreviewHandler, IInitializeWithFile),
+        QITABENT(MarkdownPreviewHandler, IPreviewHandlerVisuals),
+        QITABENT(MarkdownPreviewHandler, IOleWindow),
+        QITABENT(MarkdownPreviewHandler, IObjectWithSite),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+MarkdownPreviewHandler::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+MarkdownPreviewHandler::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IInitializationWithFile
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode)
+{
+    m_filePath = pszFilePath;
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandler
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc)
+{
+    if (hwnd && prc)
+    {
+        m_hwndParent = hwnd;
+        m_rcParent = *prc;
+    }
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::SetFocus()
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = ::GetFocus();
+        if (*phwnd)
+        {
+            hr = S_OK;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            hr = HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(GetLastError());
+        }
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = S_FALSE;
+    IPreviewHandlerFrame* pFrame = NULL;
+    if (m_punkSite && SUCCEEDED(m_punkSite->QueryInterface(&pFrame)))
+    {
+        hr = pFrame->TranslateAccelerator(pmsg);
+
+        pFrame->Release();
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::SetRect(const RECT* prc)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (prc != NULL)
+    {
+        if (!m_resizeEvent)
+        {
+            Logger::error(L"Failed to create resize event for MDPreviewHandler");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (m_rcParent.right != prc->right || m_rcParent.left != prc->left || m_rcParent.top != prc->top || m_rcParent.bottom != prc->bottom)
+            {
+                if (!SetEvent(m_resizeEvent))
+                {
+                    Logger::error(L"Failed to signal resize event for MDPreviewHandler");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        m_rcParent = *prc;
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::DoPreview()
+{
+    try
+    {
+        Logger::info(L"Starting MarkdownPreviewHandler.exe");
+
+        STARTUPINFO info = { sizeof(info) };
+        std::wstring cmdLine{ L"\"" + m_filePath + L"\"" };
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        std::wostringstream ss;
+        ss << std::hex << m_hwndParent;
+
+        cmdLine += ss.str();
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.left);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.right);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.top);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.bottom);
+        std::wstring appPath = get_module_folderpath(g_hInst) + L"\\PowerToys.MarkdownPreviewHandler.exe";
+
+        SHELLEXECUTEINFO sei{ sizeof(sei) };
+        sei.fMask = { SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS | SEE_MASK_FLAG_NO_UI };
+        sei.lpFile = appPath.c_str();
+        sei.lpParameters = cmdLine.c_str();
+        sei.nShow = SW_SHOWDEFAULT;
+        ShellExecuteEx(&sei);
+        m_process = sei.hProcess;
+    }
+    catch (std::exception& e)
+    {
+        std::wstring errorMessage = std::wstring{ winrt::to_hstring(e.what()) };
+        Logger::error(L"Failed to start MarkdownPreviewHandler.exe. Error: {}", errorMessage);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::Unload()
+
+{
+    Logger::info(L"Unload and terminate .exe");
+
+    TerminateProcess(m_process, 0);
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::SetTextColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IOleWindow
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::GetWindow(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = m_hwndParent;
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode)
+{
+    return E_NOTIMPL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IObjectWithSite
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite)
+{
+    if (m_punkSite)
+    {
+        m_punkSite->Release();
+        m_punkSite = NULL;
+    }
+    return punkSite ? punkSite->QueryInterface(&m_punkSite) : S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MarkdownPreviewHandler::GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    *ppv = NULL;
+    return m_punkSite ? m_punkSite->QueryInterface(riid, ppv) : E_FAIL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region Helper Functions
+
+#pragma endregion

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/MarkdownPreviewHandler.h

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <ShlObj.h>
+#include <string>
+
+class MarkdownPreviewHandler :
+    public IInitializeWithFile,
+    public IPreviewHandler,
+    public IPreviewHandlerVisuals,
+    public IOleWindow,
+    public IObjectWithSite
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IInitializeWithFile
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode);
+
+    // IPreviewHandler
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFocus();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetRect(const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP DoPreview();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Unload();
+
+    // IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetTextColor(COLORREF color);
+
+    // IOleWindow
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetWindow(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode);
+
+    // IObjectWithSite
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+
+    MarkdownPreviewHandler();
+protected:
+    ~MarkdownPreviewHandler();
+
+private:
+    // Reference count of component.
+    long m_cRef;
+
+    // Provided during initialization.
+    std::wstring m_filePath;
+    
+    // Parent window that hosts the previewer window.
+    // Note: do NOT DestroyWindow this.
+    HWND m_hwndParent;
+    // Bounding rect of the parent window.
+    RECT m_rcParent;
+
+    // Site pointer from host, used to get IPreviewHandlerFrame.
+    IUnknown* m_punkSite;
+
+    HANDLE m_process;
+    HANDLE m_resizeEvent;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
+  <Target Name="GenerateResourceFiles" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
+    <Exec Command="powershell -NonInteractive -executionpolicy Unrestricted $(SolutionDir)tools\build\convert-resx-to-rc.ps1 $(MSBuildThisFileDirectory) resource.base.h resource.h markdownpreviewhandler.base.rc markdownpreviewhandler.rc" />
+  </Target>
+  <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
+    <VCProjectVersion>16.0</VCProjectVersion>
+    <Keyword>Win32Proj</Keyword>
+    <ProjectGuid>{ed9a1ac6-aeb0-4569-a6e9-e1696182b545}</ProjectGuid>
+    <RootNamespace>MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp</RootNamespace>
+    <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0.19041.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="Shared">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview\</OutDir>
+    <CopyCppRuntimeToOutputDir>true</CopyCppRuntimeToOutputDir>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetName>PowerToys.$(ProjectName)</TargetName>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
+      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
+      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="MarkdownPreviewHandler.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.base.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="MarkdownPreviewHandler.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Create</PrecompiledHeader>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def" />
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="Generated Files/markdownpreviewhandler.rc" />
+    <None Include="markdownpreviewhandler.base.rc" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\logger\logger.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{d9b8fc84-322a-4f9f-bbb9-20915c47ddfd}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\SettingsAPI\SettingsAPI.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{6955446d-23f7-4023-9bb3-8657f904af99}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="Resources.resx" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\deps\spdlog.props" />
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
+    <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
+    <PropertyGroup>
+      <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
+    </PropertyGroup>
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props'))" />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets'))" />
+  </Target>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj.filters

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Filter Include="Source Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{4FC737F1-C7A5-4376-A066-2A32D752A2FF}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>cpp;c;cc;cxx;c++;cppm;ixx;def;odl;idl;hpj;bat;asm;asmx</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Header Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{93995380-89BD-4b04-88EB-625FBE52EBFB}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>h;hh;hpp;hxx;h++;hm;inl;inc;ipp;xsd</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Resource Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{67DA6AB6-F800-4c08-8B7A-83BB121AAD01}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>rc;ico;cur;bmp;dlg;rc2;rct;bin;rgs;gif;jpg;jpeg;jpe;resx;tiff;tif;png;wav;mfcribbon-ms</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="MarkdownPreviewHandler.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.base.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="MarkdownPreviewHandler.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </None>
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+    <None Include="markdownpreviewhandler.base.rc">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </None>
+    <None Include="Resources.resx">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </None>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="Generated Files/markdownpreviewhandler.rc">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ResourceCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/Resources.resx

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<root>
+  <!-- 
+    Microsoft ResX Schema 
+    
+    Version 2.0
+    
+    The primary goals of this format is to allow a simple XML format 
+    that is mostly human readable. The generation and parsing of the 
+    various data types are done through the TypeConverter classes 
+    associated with the data types.
+    
+    Example:
+    
+    ... ado.net/XML headers & schema ...
+    <resheader name="resmimetype">text/microsoft-resx</resheader>
+    <resheader name="version">2.0</resheader>
+    <resheader name="reader">System.Resources.ResXResourceReader, System.Windows.Forms, ...</resheader>
+    <resheader name="writer">System.Resources.ResXResourceWriter, System.Windows.Forms, ...</resheader>
+    <data name="Name1">this is my long string</data>
+    <data name="Color1" type="System.Drawing.Color, System.Drawing">Blue</data>
+    <data name="Bitmap1" mimetype="application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64">
+        [base64 mime encoded serialized CLR Framework object]
+    </data>
+    <data name="Icon1" type="System.Drawing.Icon, System.Drawing" mimetype="application/x-microsoft.net.object.bytearray.base64">
+        [base64 mime encoded string representing a byte array form of the CLR Framework object]
+    </data>
+                
+    There are any number of "resheader" rows that contain simple 
+    name/value pairs.
+    
+    Each data row contains a name, and value. The row also contains a 
+    type or mimetype. Type corresponds to a CLR class that support 
+    text/value conversion through the TypeConverter architecture. 
+    Classes that don't support this are serialized and stored with the 
+    mimetype set.
+    
+    The mimetype is used for serialized objects, and tells the 
+    ResXResourceReader how to depersist the object. This is currently not 
+    extensible. For a given mimetype the value must be set accordingly:
+    
+    Note - application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64 is the format 
+    that the ResXResourceWriter will generate, however the reader can 
+    read any of the formats listed below.
+    
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized with 
+            : System.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+    
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.soap.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized with 
+            : System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap.SoapFormatter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.bytearray.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized into a byte array 
+            : using a System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+    -->
+  <xsd:schema id="root" xmlns="" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:msdata="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-msdata">
+    <xsd:element name="root" msdata:IsDataSet="true">
+      <xsd:complexType>
+        <xsd:choice maxOccurs="unbounded">
+          <xsd:element name="metadata">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="type" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="mimetype" type="xsd:string" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="data">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+                <xsd:element name="comment" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="2" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="type" type="xsd:string" msdata:Ordinal="3" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="mimetype" type="xsd:string" msdata:Ordinal="4" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="resheader">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" use="required" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+        </xsd:choice>
+      </xsd:complexType>
+    </xsd:element>
+  </xsd:schema>
+  <resheader name="resmimetype">
+    <value>text/microsoft-resx</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="version">
+    <value>2.0</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="reader">
+    <value>System.Resources.ResXResourceReader, System.Windows.Forms, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="writer">
+    <value>System.Resources.ResXResourceWriter, System.Windows.Forms, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <data name="GpoDisabledErrorText" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Tried to start with a GPO policy setting the utility to always be disabled. Please contact your systems administrator.</value>
+  </data>
+</root>

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/dllmain.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+// dllmain.cpp : Defines the entry point for the DLL application.
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+
+HINSTANCE   g_hInst     = NULL;
+long        g_cDllRef   = 0;
+
+// {60789D87-9C3C-44AF-B18C-3DE2C2820ED3}
+static const GUID CLSID_MarkdownPreviewHandler = { 0x60789d87, 0x9c3c, 0x44af, { 0xb1, 0x8c, 0x3d, 0xe2, 0xc2, 0x82, 0xe, 0xd3 } };
+
+BOOL APIENTRY DllMain( HMODULE hModule,
+                       DWORD  ul_reason_for_call,
+                       LPVOID lpReserved
+                     )
+{
+    switch (ul_reason_for_call)
+    {
+    case DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH:
+        g_hInst = hModule;
+        DisableThreadLibraryCalls(hModule);
+        break;
+    case DLL_THREAD_ATTACH:
+    case DLL_THREAD_DETACH:
+    case DLL_PROCESS_DETACH:
+        break;
+    }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllGetClassObject
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Create the class factory and query to the specific interface.
+//
+//   PARAMETERS:
+//   * rclsid - The CLSID that will associate the correct data and code.
+//   * riid - A reference to the identifier of the interface that the caller
+//     is to use to communicate with the class object.
+//   * ppv - The address of a pointer variable that receives the interface
+//     pointer requested in riid. Upon successful return, *ppv contains the
+//     requested interface pointer. If an error occurs, the interface pointer
+//     is NULL.
+//
+STDAPI DllGetClassObject(REFCLSID rclsid, REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_CLASSNOTAVAILABLE;
+
+    if (IsEqualCLSID(CLSID_MarkdownPreviewHandler, rclsid))
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        ClassFactory* pClassFactory = new ClassFactory();
+        if (pClassFactory)
+        {
+            hr = pClassFactory->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pClassFactory->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllCanUnloadNow
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Check if we can unload the component from the memory.
+//
+//   NOTE: The component can be unloaded from the memory when its reference
+//   count is zero (i.e. nobody is still using the component).
+//
+STDAPI DllCanUnloadNow(void)
+{
+    return g_cDllRef > 0 ? S_FALSE : S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/markdownpreviewhandler.base.rc

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#include <windows.h>
+#include "resource.h"
+#include "../../../../common/version/version.h"
+
+#define APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//
+// Generated from the TEXTINCLUDE 2 resource.
+//
+#include "winres.h"
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+#undef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+
+1 VERSIONINFO
+FILEVERSION FILE_VERSION
+PRODUCTVERSION PRODUCT_VERSION
+FILEFLAGSMASK VS_FFI_FILEFLAGSMASK
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+FILEFLAGS VS_FF_DEBUG
+#else
+FILEFLAGS 0x0L
+#endif
+FILEOS VOS_NT_WINDOWS32
+FILETYPE VFT_DLL
+FILESUBTYPE VFT2_UNKNOWN 
+BEGIN
+    BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        BLOCK "040904b0" // US English (0x0409), Unicode (0x04B0) charset
+        BEGIN
+            VALUE "CompanyName", COMPANY_NAME
+            VALUE "FileDescription", FILE_DESCRIPTION
+            VALUE "FileVersion", FILE_VERSION_STRING
+            VALUE "InternalName", INTERNAL_NAME
+            VALUE "LegalCopyright", COPYRIGHT_NOTE
+            VALUE "OriginalFilename", ORIGINAL_FILENAME
+            VALUE "ProductName", PRODUCT_NAME
+            VALUE "ProductVersion", PRODUCT_VERSION_STRING
+        END
+    END
+    BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        VALUE "Translation", 0x409, 1200 // US English (0x0409), Unicode (1200) charset
+    END
+END

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/packages.config

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<packages>
+  <package id="Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT" version="2.0.220929.3" targetFramework="native" />
+</packages>

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/pch.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// pch.cpp: source file corresponding to the pre-compiled header
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+// When you are using pre-compiled headers, this source file is necessary for compilation to succeed.

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/pch.h

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// pch.h: This is a precompiled header file.
+// Files listed below are compiled only once, improving build performance for future builds.
+// This also affects IntelliSense performance, including code completion and many code browsing features.
+// However, files listed here are ALL re-compiled if any one of them is updated between builds.
+// Do not add files here that you will be updating frequently as this negates the performance advantage.
+
+#ifndef PCH_H
+#define PCH_H
+
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN // Exclude rarely-used stuff from Windows headers
+// Windows Header Files
+#include <windows.h>
+
+#endif //PCH_H

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/resource.base.h

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+//{{NO_DEPENDENCIES}}
+// Microsoft Visual C++ generated include file.
+// Used by powerpreview.rc
+
+//////////////////////////////
+// Non-localizable
+
+#define FILE_DESCRIPTION "PowerToys Markdown Preview Handler"
+#define INTERNAL_NAME "PowerToys.MarkdownPreviewHandler"
+#define ORIGINAL_FILENAME "PowerToys.MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp.dll"
+
+// Non-localizable
+//////////////////////////////

src/modules/previewpane/MarkdownPreviewHandlerCpp/resource.h

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+//{{NO_DEPENDENCIES}}
+// Microsoft Visual C++ generated include file.
+// Used by markdownpreviewhandler.base.rc
+
+// Next default values for new objects
+// 
+#ifdef APSTUDIO_INVOKED
+#ifndef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+#define _APS_NEXT_RESOURCE_VALUE        101
+#define _APS_NEXT_COMMAND_VALUE         40001
+#define _APS_NEXT_CONTROL_VALUE         1001
+#define _APS_NEXT_SYMED_VALUE           101
+#endif
+#endif

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandler/MonacoPreviewHandler.cs

@@ -1,72 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
-// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
-// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
-
-namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco
-{
-    using System;
-    using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-    using Common;
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Implementation of preview handler for files with source code.
-    /// </summary>
-    [Guid("afbd5a44-2520-4ae0-9224-6cfce8fe4400")]
-    [ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.None)]
-    [ComVisible(true)]
-    public class MonacoPreviewHandler : FileBasedPreviewHandler, IDisposable
-    {
-        private MonacoPreviewHandlerControl _monacoPreviewHandlerControl;
-        private bool _disposedValue;
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="MonacoPreviewHandler"/> class.
-        /// </summary>
-        public MonacoPreviewHandler()
-        {
-            this.Initialize();
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        [STAThread]
-        public override void DoPreview()
-        {
-            _monacoPreviewHandlerControl.DoPreview(FilePath);
-        }
-
-        protected override IPreviewHandlerControl CreatePreviewHandlerControl()
-        {
-            _monacoPreviewHandlerControl = new MonacoPreviewHandlerControl();
-
-            return _monacoPreviewHandlerControl;
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Disposes objects
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="disposing">Is Disposing</param>
-        [STAThread]
-        protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
-        {
-            if (!_disposedValue)
-            {
-                if (disposing)
-                {
-                    _monacoPreviewHandlerControl.Dispose();
-                }
-
-                _disposedValue = true;
-                this.Unload();
-            }
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        [STAThread]
-        public void Dispose()
-        {
-            // Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in 'Dispose(bool disposing)' method
-            Dispose(disposing: true);
-            GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
-        }
-    }
-}

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandler/MonacoPreviewHandler.csproj

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <AssemblyTitle>PowerToys.MonacoPreviewHandler</AssemblyTitle>
     <AssemblyDescription>PowerToys MonacoPreviewHandler</AssemblyDescription>
     <Description>PowerToys MonacoPreviewHandler</Description>
@@ -9,14 +11,22 @@
     <CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>true</CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
     <RuntimeIdentifiers>win10-x64;win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifiers>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
   </PropertyGroup>
-  
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
   <Import Project="..\..\..\Version.props" />
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco</RootNamespace>
 	  <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
-    <EnableComHosting>true</EnableComHosting>
     <AssemblyName>PowerToys.MonacoPreviewHandler</AssemblyName>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
@@ -35,6 +45,7 @@
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- Disable missing comment warning. WinRT/C++ libraries added won't have comments on their reflections. -->
     <NoWarn>$(NoWarn);1591</NoWarn>
+    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandler/MonacoPreviewHandlerControl.cs

@@ -107,13 +107,10 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco
             if (global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GPOWrapper.GetConfiguredMonacoPreviewEnabledValue() == global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled)
             {
                 // GPO is disabling this utility. Show an error message instead.
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    _infoBarAdded = true;
-                    AddTextBoxControl(Properties.Resources.GpoDisabledErrorText);
-                    Resize += FormResized;
-                    base.DoPreview(dataSource);
-                });
+                _infoBarAdded = true;
+                AddTextBoxControl(Properties.Resources.GpoDisabledErrorText);
+                Resize += FormResized;
+                base.DoPreview(dataSource);
 
                 return;
             }
@@ -132,7 +129,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco
             // Checks if dataSource is a string
             if (!(dataSource is string filePath))
             {
-                throw new ArgumentException($"{nameof(dataSource)} for {nameof(MonacoPreviewHandler)} must be a string but was a '{typeof(T)}'");
+                throw new ArgumentException($"{nameof(dataSource)} for {nameof(MonacoPreviewHandlerControl)} must be a string but was a '{typeof(T)}'");
             }
 
             // Check if the file is too big.
@@ -145,103 +142,94 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco
 
                 try
                 {
-                    InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
+                    Logger.LogInfo("Create WebView2 environment");
+                    ConfiguredTaskAwaitable<CoreWebView2Environment>.ConfiguredTaskAwaiter
+                        webView2EnvironmentAwaiter = CoreWebView2Environment
+                            .CreateAsync(userDataFolder: System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("USERPROFILE") +
+                                                            "\\AppData\\LocalLow\\Microsoft\\PowerToys\\MonacoPreview-Temp")
+                            .ConfigureAwait(true).GetAwaiter();
+                    webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.OnCompleted(async () =>
                     {
-                        Logger.LogInfo("Create WebView2 environment");
-                        ConfiguredTaskAwaitable<CoreWebView2Environment>.ConfiguredTaskAwaiter
-                            webView2EnvironmentAwaiter = CoreWebView2Environment
-                                .CreateAsync(userDataFolder: System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("USERPROFILE") +
-                                                             "\\AppData\\LocalLow\\Microsoft\\PowerToys\\MonacoPreview-Temp")
-                                .ConfigureAwait(true).GetAwaiter();
-                        webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.OnCompleted(() =>
+                        _loadingBar.Value = 60;
+                        this.Update();
+                        try
                         {
-                            _loadingBar.Value = 60;
-                            this.Update();
-                            InvokeOnControlThread(async () =>
+                            if (CoreWebView2Environment.GetAvailableBrowserVersionString() == null)
                             {
-                                try
-                                {
-                                    if (CoreWebView2Environment.GetAvailableBrowserVersionString() == null)
-                                    {
-                                        throw new WebView2RuntimeNotFoundException();
-                                    }
+                                throw new WebView2RuntimeNotFoundException();
+                            }
 
-                                    _webView2Environment = webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.GetResult();
+                            _webView2Environment = webView2EnvironmentAwaiter.GetResult();
 
-                                    _loadingBar.Value = 70;
-                                    this.Update();
+                            _loadingBar.Value = 70;
+                            this.Update();
 
-                                    // Initialize WebView
-                                    try
-                                    {
-                                        await _webView.EnsureCoreWebView2Async(_webView2Environment).ConfigureAwait(true);
+                            // Initialize WebView
+                            try
+                            {
+                                await _webView.EnsureCoreWebView2Async(_webView2Environment).ConfigureAwait(true);
 
-                                        // Wait until html is loaded
-                                        initializeIndexFileAndSelectedFileTask.Wait();
+                                // Wait until html is loaded
+                                initializeIndexFileAndSelectedFileTask.Wait();
 
-                                        _webView.CoreWebView2.SetVirtualHostNameToFolderMapping(VirtualHostName, Settings.AssemblyDirectory, CoreWebView2HostResourceAccessKind.Allow);
+                                _webView.CoreWebView2.SetVirtualHostNameToFolderMapping(VirtualHostName, Settings.AssemblyDirectory, CoreWebView2HostResourceAccessKind.Allow);
 
-                                        Logger.LogInfo("Navigates to string of HTML file");
+                                Logger.LogInfo("Navigates to string of HTML file");
 
-                                        _webView.NavigateToString(_html);
-                                        _webView.NavigationCompleted += WebView2Init;
-                                        _webView.Height = this.Height;
-                                        _webView.Width = this.Width;
-                                        Controls.Add(_webView);
-                                        _webView.SendToBack();
-                                        _loadingBar.Value = 100;
-                                        this.Update();
-                                    }
-                                    catch (NullReferenceException e)
-                                    {
-                                        Logger.LogError("NullReferenceException catched. Skipping exception.", e);
-                                    }
-                                }
-                                catch (WebView2RuntimeNotFoundException e)
-                                {
-                                    Logger.LogWarning("WebView2 was not found:");
-                                    Logger.LogWarning(e.Message);
-                                    Controls.Remove(_loading);
-                                    Controls.Remove(_loadingBar);
-                                    Controls.Remove(_loadingBackground);
+                                _webView.NavigateToString(_html);
+                                _webView.NavigationCompleted += WebView2Init;
+                                _webView.Height = this.Height;
+                                _webView.Width = this.Width;
+                                Controls.Add(_webView);
+                                _webView.SendToBack();
+                                _loadingBar.Value = 100;
+                                this.Update();
+                            }
+                            catch (NullReferenceException e)
+                            {
+                                Logger.LogError("NullReferenceException catched. Skipping exception.", e);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        catch (WebView2RuntimeNotFoundException e)
+                        {
+                            Logger.LogWarning("WebView2 was not found:");
+                            Logger.LogWarning(e.Message);
+                            Controls.Remove(_loading);
+                            Controls.Remove(_loadingBar);
+                            Controls.Remove(_loadingBackground);
 
-                                    // WebView2 not installed message
-                                    Label errorMessage = new Label();
-                                    errorMessage.Text = Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message;
-                                    errorMessage.Width = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message, errorMessage.Font).Width + 10;
-                                    errorMessage.Height = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message, errorMessage.Font).Height;
-                                    Controls.Add(errorMessage);
+                            // WebView2 not installed message
+                            Label errorMessage = new Label();
+                            errorMessage.Text = Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message;
+                            errorMessage.Width = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message, errorMessage.Font).Width + 10;
+                            errorMessage.Height = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message, errorMessage.Font).Height;
+                            Controls.Add(errorMessage);
 
-                                    // Download Link
-                                    Label downloadLink = new LinkLabel();
-                                    downloadLink.Text = Resources.Download_WebView2;
-                                    downloadLink.Click += DownloadLink_Click;
-                                    downloadLink.Top = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message, errorMessage.Font).Height + 10;
-                                    downloadLink.Width = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.Download_WebView2, errorMessage.Font).Width + 10;
-                                    downloadLink.Height = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.Download_WebView2, errorMessage.Font).Height;
-                                    Controls.Add(downloadLink);
-                                }
-                            });
-                        });
+                            // Download Link
+                            Label downloadLink = new LinkLabel();
+                            downloadLink.Text = Resources.Download_WebView2;
+                            downloadLink.Click += DownloadLink_Click;
+                            downloadLink.Top = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.WebView2_Not_Installed_Message, errorMessage.Font).Height + 10;
+                            downloadLink.Width = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.Download_WebView2, errorMessage.Font).Width + 10;
+                            downloadLink.Height = TextRenderer.MeasureText(Resources.Download_WebView2, errorMessage.Font).Height;
+                            Controls.Add(downloadLink);
+                        }
                     });
                 }
                 catch (Exception e)
                 {
-                    InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                    {
-                        Controls.Remove(_loading);
-                        Controls.Remove(_loadingBar);
-                        Controls.Remove(_loadingBackground);
-                        Label text = new Label();
-                        text.Text = Resources.Exception_Occurred;
-                        text.Text += e.Message;
-                        text.Text += "\n" + e.Source;
-                        text.Text += "\n" + e.StackTrace;
-                        text.Width = 500;
-                        text.Height = 10000;
-                        Controls.Add(text);
-                        Logger.LogError(e.Message);
-                    });
+                    Controls.Remove(_loading);
+                    Controls.Remove(_loadingBar);
+                    Controls.Remove(_loadingBackground);
+                    Label text = new Label();
+                    text.Text = Resources.Exception_Occurred;
+                    text.Text += e.Message;
+                    text.Text += "\n" + e.Source;
+                    text.Text += "\n" + e.StackTrace;
+                    text.Width = 500;
+                    text.Height = 10000;
+                    Controls.Add(text);
+                    Logger.LogError(e.Message);
                 }
 
                 this.Resize += FormResize;
@@ -249,18 +237,16 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco
             else
             {
                 Logger.LogInfo("File is too big to display. Showing error message");
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    Controls.Remove(_loading);
-                    _loadingBar.Dispose();
-                    Controls.Remove(_loadingBar);
-                    Controls.Remove(_loadingBackground);
-                    Label errorMessage = new Label();
-                    errorMessage.Text = Resources.Max_File_Size_Error.Replace("%1", (_settings.MaxFileSize / 1000).ToString(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture), StringComparison.InvariantCulture);
-                    errorMessage.Width = 500;
-                    errorMessage.Height = 50;
-                    Controls.Add(errorMessage);
-                });
+
+                Controls.Remove(_loading);
+                _loadingBar.Dispose();
+                Controls.Remove(_loadingBar);
+                Controls.Remove(_loadingBackground);
+                Label errorMessage = new Label();
+                errorMessage.Text = Resources.Max_File_Size_Error.Replace("%1", (_settings.MaxFileSize / 1000).ToString(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture), StringComparison.InvariantCulture);
+                errorMessage.Width = 500;
+                errorMessage.Height = 50;
+                Controls.Add(errorMessage);
             }
         }
 
@@ -350,46 +336,41 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco
         private void SetBackground()
         {
             Logger.LogTrace();
-            InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-            {
-                this.BackColor = Settings.BackgroundColor;
-            });
+            this.BackColor = Settings.BackgroundColor;
         }
 
         private void InitializeLoadingScreen()
         {
             Logger.LogTrace();
-            InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-            {
-                _loadingBackground = new Label();
-                _loadingBackground.BackColor = Settings.BackgroundColor;
-                _loadingBackground.Width = this.Width;
-                _loadingBackground.Height = this.Height;
-                Controls.Add(_loadingBackground);
-                _loadingBackground.BringToFront();
+            _loadingBackground = new Label();
+            _loadingBackground.BackColor = Settings.BackgroundColor;
+            _loadingBackground.Width = this.Width;
+            _loadingBackground.Height = this.Height;
+            Controls.Add(_loadingBackground);
+            _loadingBackground.BringToFront();
 
-                _loadingBar = new ProgressBar();
-                _loadingBar.Width = this.Width - 10;
-                _loadingBar.Location = new Point(5, this.Height / 2);
-                _loadingBar.Maximum = 100;
-                _loadingBar.Value = 10;
-                Controls.Add(_loadingBar);
+            _loadingBar = new ProgressBar();
+            _loadingBar.Width = this.Width - 10;
+            _loadingBar.Location = new Point(5, this.Height / 2);
+            _loadingBar.Maximum = 100;
+            _loadingBar.Value = 10;
+            Controls.Add(_loadingBar);
 
-                _loading = new Label();
-                _loading.Text = Resources.Loading_Screen_Message;
-                _loading.Width = this.Width;
-                _loading.Height = 45;
-                _loading.Location = new Point(0, _loadingBar.Location.Y - _loading.Height);
-                _loading.TextAlign = ContentAlignment.TopCenter;
-                _loading.Font = new Font("MS Sans Serif", 16, FontStyle.Bold);
-                _loading.ForeColor = Settings.TextColor;
-                Controls.Add(_loading);
+            _loading = new Label();
+            _loading.Text = Resources.Loading_Screen_Message;
+            _loading.Width = this.Width;
+            _loading.Height = 45;
+            _loading.Location = new Point(0, _loadingBar.Location.Y - _loading.Height);
+            _loading.TextAlign = ContentAlignment.TopCenter;
+            _loading.Font = new Font("MS Sans Serif", 16, FontStyle.Bold);
+            _loading.ForeColor = Settings.TextColor;
+            Controls.Add(_loading);
 
-                _loading.BringToFront();
-                _loadingBar.BringToFront();
+            _loading.BringToFront();
+            _loadingBar.BringToFront();
+
+            this.Update();
 
-                this.Update();
-            });
             Logger.LogInfo("Loading screen initialized");
         }
 

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandler/Program.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Monaco
+{
+    using System.Globalization;
+    using System.Windows.Threading;
+    using Common.UI;
+    using interop;
+
+    internal static class Program
+    {
+        private static CancellationTokenSource _tokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
+
+        private static MonacoPreviewHandlerControl _previewHandlerControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///  The main entry point for the application.
+        /// </summary>
+        [STAThread]
+        public static void Main(string[] args)
+        {
+            ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
+            if (args != null)
+            {
+                if (args.Length == 6)
+                {
+                    string filePath = args[0];
+                    int hwnd = Convert.ToInt32(args[1], 16);
+
+                    Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                    int left = Convert.ToInt32(args[2], 10);
+                    int right = Convert.ToInt32(args[3], 10);
+                    int top = Convert.ToInt32(args[4], 10);
+                    int bottom = Convert.ToInt32(args[5], 10);
+
+                    _previewHandlerControl = new MonacoPreviewHandlerControl();
+                    _previewHandlerControl.SetWindow((IntPtr)hwnd, s);
+                    _previewHandlerControl.DoPreview(filePath);
+
+                    NativeEventWaiter.WaitForEventLoop(
+                        Constants.DevFilesPreviewResizeEvent(),
+                        () =>
+                        {
+                            Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                            _previewHandlerControl.SetRect(s);
+                        },
+                        Dispatcher.CurrentDispatcher,
+                        _tokenSource.Token);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    MessageBox.Show("Wrong number of args: " + args.Length.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+                }
+            }
+
+            // To customize application configuration such as set high DPI settings or default font,
+            // see https://aka.ms/applicationconfiguration.
+            Application.Run();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandler/Properties/PublishProfiles/InstallationPublishProfile.pubxml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=208121.
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
     <PublishDir>$(PowerToysRoot)\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview</PublishDir>
     <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-$(Platform)</RuntimeIdentifier>
-    <SelfContained>false</SelfContained>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
     <PublishSingleFile>False</PublishSingleFile>
     <PublishReadyToRun>False</PublishReadyToRun>
     <ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>false</ErrorOnDuplicatePublishOutputFiles>

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+#include "MonacoPreviewHandler.h"
+
+#include <new>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+ClassFactory::ClassFactory() :
+    m_cRef(1)
+{
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+ClassFactory::~ClassFactory()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+//
+// IUnknown
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(ClassFactory, IClassFactory),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+//
+// IClassFactory
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::CreateInstance(IUnknown *pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_NOAGGREGATION;
+
+    if (pUnkOuter == NULL)
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        MonacoPreviewHandler* pExt = new (std::nothrow) MonacoPreviewHandler();
+        if (pExt)
+        {
+            hr = pExt->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pExt->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::LockServer(BOOL fLock)
+{
+    if (fLock)
+    {
+        InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.h

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Unknwn.h>
+
+class ClassFactory : public IClassFactory
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IClassFactory
+    IFACEMETHODIMP CreateInstance(IUnknown* pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP LockServer(BOOL fLock);
+
+    ClassFactory();
+
+protected:
+    ~ClassFactory();
+
+private:
+    long m_cRef;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/GlobalExportFunctions.def

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+EXPORTS
+    DllGetClassObject   PRIVATE
+    DllCanUnloadNow     PRIVATE

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/MonacoPreviewHandler.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "MonacoPreviewHandler.h"
+
+#include <shellapi.h>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <common/interop/shared_constants.h>
+#include <common/logger/logger.h>
+#include <common/SettingsAPI/settings_helpers.h>
+#include <common/utils/process_path.h>
+
+extern HINSTANCE g_hInst;
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+MonacoPreviewHandler::MonacoPreviewHandler() :
+    m_cRef(1), m_hwndParent(NULL), m_rcParent(), m_punkSite(NULL), m_process(NULL)
+{
+    m_resizeEvent = CreateEvent(nullptr, false, false, CommonSharedConstants::DEV_FILES_PREVIEW_RESIZE_EVENT);
+
+    std::filesystem::path logFilePath(PTSettingsHelper::get_local_low_folder_location());
+    logFilePath.append(LogSettings::monacoPrevLogPath);
+    Logger::init(LogSettings::monacoPrevLoggerName, logFilePath.wstring(), PTSettingsHelper::get_log_settings_file_location());
+
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+MonacoPreviewHandler::~MonacoPreviewHandler()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+#pragma region IUnknown
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(MonacoPreviewHandler, IPreviewHandler),
+        QITABENT(MonacoPreviewHandler, IInitializeWithFile),
+        QITABENT(MonacoPreviewHandler, IPreviewHandlerVisuals),
+        QITABENT(MonacoPreviewHandler, IOleWindow),
+        QITABENT(MonacoPreviewHandler, IObjectWithSite),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+MonacoPreviewHandler::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+MonacoPreviewHandler::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IInitializationWithFile
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode)
+{
+    m_filePath = pszFilePath;
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandler
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc)
+{
+    if (hwnd && prc)
+    {
+        m_hwndParent = hwnd;
+        m_rcParent = *prc;
+    }
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::SetFocus()
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = ::GetFocus();
+        if (*phwnd)
+        {
+            hr = S_OK;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            hr = HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(GetLastError());
+        }
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = S_FALSE;
+    IPreviewHandlerFrame* pFrame = NULL;
+    if (m_punkSite && SUCCEEDED(m_punkSite->QueryInterface(&pFrame)))
+    {
+        hr = pFrame->TranslateAccelerator(pmsg);
+
+        pFrame->Release();
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::SetRect(const RECT* prc)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (prc != NULL)
+    {
+        if (!m_resizeEvent)
+        {
+            Logger::error(L"Failed to create resize event for MonacoPreviewHandler");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (m_rcParent.right != prc->right || m_rcParent.left != prc->left || m_rcParent.top != prc->top || m_rcParent.bottom != prc->bottom)
+            {
+                if (!SetEvent(m_resizeEvent))
+                {
+                    Logger::error(L"Failed to signal resize event for MonacoPreviewHandler");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        m_rcParent = *prc;
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::DoPreview()
+{
+    try
+    {
+        Logger::info(L"Starting MonacoPreviewHandler.exe");
+
+        STARTUPINFO info = { sizeof(info) };
+        std::wstring cmdLine{ L"\"" + m_filePath + L"\"" };
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        std::wostringstream ss;
+        ss << std::hex << m_hwndParent;
+
+        cmdLine += ss.str();
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.left);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.right);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.top);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.bottom);
+        std::wstring appPath = get_module_folderpath(g_hInst) + L"\\PowerToys.MonacoPreviewHandler.exe";
+
+        SHELLEXECUTEINFO sei{ sizeof(sei) };
+        sei.fMask = { SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS | SEE_MASK_FLAG_NO_UI };
+        sei.lpFile = appPath.c_str();
+        sei.lpParameters = cmdLine.c_str();
+        sei.nShow = SW_SHOWDEFAULT;
+        ShellExecuteEx(&sei);
+        m_process = sei.hProcess;
+    }
+    catch (std::exception& e)
+    {
+        std::wstring errorMessage = std::wstring{ winrt::to_hstring(e.what()) };
+        Logger::error(L"Failed to start MonacoPreviewHandler.exe. Error: {}", errorMessage);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::Unload()
+{
+    Logger::info(L"Unload and terminate .exe");
+
+    m_hwndParent = NULL;
+    TerminateProcess(m_process, 0);
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::SetTextColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IOleWindow
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::GetWindow(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = m_hwndParent;
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode)
+{
+    return E_NOTIMPL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IObjectWithSite
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite)
+{
+    if (m_punkSite)
+    {
+        m_punkSite->Release();
+        m_punkSite = NULL;
+    }
+    return punkSite ? punkSite->QueryInterface(&m_punkSite) : S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP MonacoPreviewHandler::GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    *ppv = NULL;
+    return m_punkSite ? m_punkSite->QueryInterface(riid, ppv) : E_FAIL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region Helper Functions
+
+#pragma endregion

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/MonacoPreviewHandler.h

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <ShlObj.h>
+#include <string>
+
+class MonacoPreviewHandler :
+    public IInitializeWithFile,
+    public IPreviewHandler,
+    public IPreviewHandlerVisuals,
+    public IOleWindow,
+    public IObjectWithSite
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IInitializeWithFile
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode);
+
+    // IPreviewHandler
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFocus();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetRect(const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP DoPreview();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Unload();
+
+    // IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetTextColor(COLORREF color);
+
+    // IOleWindow
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetWindow(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode);
+
+    // IObjectWithSite
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+
+    MonacoPreviewHandler();
+protected:
+    ~MonacoPreviewHandler();
+
+private:
+    // Reference count of component.
+    long m_cRef;
+
+    // Provided during initialization.
+    std::wstring m_filePath;
+    
+    // Parent window that hosts the previewer window.
+    // Note: do NOT DestroyWindow this.
+    HWND m_hwndParent;
+    // Bounding rect of the parent window.
+    RECT m_rcParent;
+
+    // Site pointer from host, used to get IPreviewHandlerFrame.
+    IUnknown* m_punkSite;
+
+    HANDLE m_process;
+
+    HANDLE m_resizeEvent;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp.rc

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#include <windows.h>
+#include "resource.h"
+#include "../../../common/version/version.h"
+
+#define APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+#include "winres.h"
+#undef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+
+1 VERSIONINFO
+FILEVERSION FILE_VERSION
+PRODUCTVERSION PRODUCT_VERSION
+FILEFLAGSMASK VS_FFI_FILEFLAGSMASK
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+FILEFLAGS VS_FF_DEBUG
+#else
+FILEFLAGS 0x0L
+#endif
+FILEOS VOS_NT_WINDOWS32
+FILETYPE VFT_DLL
+FILESUBTYPE VFT2_UNKNOWN
+BEGIN
+    BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        BLOCK "040904b0" // US English (0x0409), Unicode (0x04B0) charset
+        BEGIN
+            VALUE "CompanyName", COMPANY_NAME
+            VALUE "FileDescription", FILE_DESCRIPTION
+            VALUE "FileVersion", FILE_VERSION_STRING
+            VALUE "InternalName", INTERNAL_NAME
+            VALUE "LegalCopyright", COPYRIGHT_NOTE
+            VALUE "OriginalFilename", ORIGINAL_FILENAME
+            VALUE "ProductName", PRODUCT_NAME
+            VALUE "ProductVersion", PRODUCT_VERSION_STRING
+        END
+    END
+    BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        VALUE "Translation", 0x409, 1200 // US English (0x0409), Unicode (1200) charset
+    END
+END

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
+  <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
+    <VCProjectVersion>16.0</VCProjectVersion>
+    <Keyword>Win32Proj</Keyword>
+    <ProjectGuid>{b3e869c4-8210-4ebd-a621-ff4c4afcbfa9}</ProjectGuid>
+    <RootNamespace>MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp</RootNamespace>
+    <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="Shared">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview\</OutDir>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetName>PowerToys.$(ProjectName)</TargetName>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
+      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
+      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="MonacoPreviewHandler.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="MonacoPreviewHandler.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Create</PrecompiledHeader>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def" />
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp.rc" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\logger\logger.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{d9b8fc84-322a-4f9f-bbb9-20915c47ddfd}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\SettingsAPI\SettingsAPI.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{6955446d-23f7-4023-9bb3-8657f904af99}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\deps\spdlog.props" />
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
+    <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
+    <PropertyGroup>
+      <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
+    </PropertyGroup>
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props'))" />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets'))" />
+  </Target>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj.filters

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Filter Include="Source Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{4FC737F1-C7A5-4376-A066-2A32D752A2FF}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>cpp;c;cc;cxx;c++;cppm;ixx;def;odl;idl;hpj;bat;asm;asmx</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Header Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{93995380-89BD-4b04-88EB-625FBE52EBFB}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>h;hh;hpp;hxx;h++;hm;inl;inc;ipp;xsd</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Resource Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{67DA6AB6-F800-4c08-8B7A-83BB121AAD01}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>rc;ico;cur;bmp;dlg;rc2;rct;bin;rgs;gif;jpg;jpeg;jpe;resx;tiff;tif;png;wav;mfcribbon-ms</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="MonacoPreviewHandler.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="MonacoPreviewHandler.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </None>
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp.rc">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ResourceCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/dllmain.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+// dllmain.cpp : Defines the entry point for the DLL application.
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+
+HINSTANCE g_hInst = NULL;
+long g_cDllRef = 0;
+
+// {D8034CFA-F34B-41FE-AD45-62FCBB52A6DA}
+static const GUID CLSID_MonacoPreviewHandler = { 0xd8034cfa, 0xf34b, 0x41fe, { 0xad, 0x45, 0x62, 0xfc, 0xbb, 0x52, 0xa6, 0xda } };
+
+BOOL APIENTRY DllMain(HMODULE hModule,
+                      DWORD ul_reason_for_call,
+                      LPVOID lpReserved)
+{
+    switch (ul_reason_for_call)
+    {
+    case DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH:
+        g_hInst = hModule;
+        DisableThreadLibraryCalls(hModule);
+        break;
+    case DLL_THREAD_ATTACH:
+    case DLL_THREAD_DETACH:
+    case DLL_PROCESS_DETACH:
+        break;
+    }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllGetClassObject
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Create the class factory and query to the specific interface.
+//
+//   PARAMETERS:
+//   * rclsid - The CLSID that will associate the correct data and code.
+//   * riid - A reference to the identifier of the interface that the caller
+//     is to use to communicate with the class object.
+//   * ppv - The address of a pointer variable that receives the interface
+//     pointer requested in riid. Upon successful return, *ppv contains the
+//     requested interface pointer. If an error occurs, the interface pointer
+//     is NULL.
+//
+STDAPI DllGetClassObject(REFCLSID rclsid, REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_CLASSNOTAVAILABLE;
+
+    if (IsEqualCLSID(CLSID_MonacoPreviewHandler, rclsid))
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        ClassFactory* pClassFactory = new ClassFactory();
+        if (pClassFactory)
+        {
+            hr = pClassFactory->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pClassFactory->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllCanUnloadNow
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Check if we can unload the component from the memory.
+//
+//   NOTE: The component can be unloaded from the memory when its reference
+//   count is zero (i.e. nobody is still using the component).
+//
+STDAPI DllCanUnloadNow(void)
+{
+    return g_cDllRef > 0 ? S_FALSE : S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/packages.config

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<packages>
+  <package id="Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT" version="2.0.220929.3" targetFramework="native" />
+</packages>

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/pch.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// pch.cpp: source file corresponding to the pre-compiled header
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+// When you are using pre-compiled headers, this source file is necessary for compilation to succeed.

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/pch.h

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// pch.h: This is a precompiled header file.
+// Files listed below are compiled only once, improving build performance for future builds.
+// This also affects IntelliSense performance, including code completion and many code browsing features.
+// However, files listed here are ALL re-compiled if any one of them is updated between builds.
+// Do not add files here that you will be updating frequently as this negates the performance advantage.
+
+#ifndef PCH_H
+#define PCH_H
+
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN // Exclude rarely-used stuff from Windows headers
+// Windows Header Files
+#include <windows.h>
+
+#endif //PCH_H

src/modules/previewpane/MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp/resource.h

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+//{{NO_DEPENDENCIES}}
+// Microsoft Visual C++ generated include file.
+// Used by AlwaysOnTopModuleInterface.rc
+
+//////////////////////////////
+// Non-localizable
+
+#define FILE_DESCRIPTION "PowerToys Dev Files Preview Handler Module"
+#define INTERNAL_NAME "PowerToys.MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp"
+#define ORIGINAL_FILENAME "PowerToys.MonacoPreviewHandlerCpp.dll"
+
+// Non-localizable
+//////////////////////////////

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandler/PdfPreviewHandler.cs

@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
-// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
-// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
-
-using System;
-using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-using Common;
-using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
-
-namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Pdf
-{
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Implementation of preview handler for pdf files.
-    /// </summary>
-    [Guid("07665729-6243-4746-95b7-79579308d1b2")]
-    [ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.None)]
-    [ComVisible(true)]
-    public class PdfPreviewHandler : StreamBasedPreviewHandler, IDisposable
-    {
-        private PdfPreviewHandlerControl _pdfPreviewHandlerControl;
-        private bool _disposedValue;
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PdfPreviewHandler"/> class.
-        /// </summary>
-        public PdfPreviewHandler()
-        {
-            Initialize();
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        public override void DoPreview()
-        {
-            _pdfPreviewHandlerControl.DoPreview(Stream);
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        protected override IPreviewHandlerControl CreatePreviewHandlerControl()
-        {
-            PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new Telemetry.Events.PdfFileHandlerLoaded());
-            _pdfPreviewHandlerControl = new PdfPreviewHandlerControl();
-
-            return _pdfPreviewHandlerControl;
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Disposes objects
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="disposing">Is Disposing</param>
-        protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
-        {
-            if (!_disposedValue)
-            {
-                if (disposing)
-                {
-                    _pdfPreviewHandlerControl.Dispose();
-                }
-
-                _disposedValue = true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        public void Dispose()
-        {
-            // Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in 'Dispose(bool disposing)' method
-            Dispose(disposing: true);
-            GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
-        }
-    }
-}

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandler/PdfPreviewHandler.csproj

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
     <AssemblyTitle>PowerToys.PdfPreviewHandler</AssemblyTitle>
     <AssemblyDescription>PowerToys PdfPreviewHandler</AssemblyDescription>
@@ -10,13 +12,21 @@
     <AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>false</AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>
     <CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>true</CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>
     <GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>true</GenerateSatelliteAssembliesForCore>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- SelfContained=true requires RuntimeIdentifier to be set -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='x64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='ARM64'">
+    <RuntimeIdentifier>win10-arm64</RuntimeIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ProjectGuid>{69E1EE8D-143A-4060-9129-4658ACF14AAF}</ProjectGuid>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Pdf</RootNamespace>
     <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
-    <EnableComHosting>true</EnableComHosting>
     <AssemblyName>PowerToys.PdfPreviewHandler</AssemblyName>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
@@ -40,6 +50,7 @@
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- Disable missing comment warning. WinRT/C++ libraries added won't have comments on their reflections. -->
     <NoWarn>$(NoWarn);1591</NoWarn>
+    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
@@ -48,7 +59,9 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\Common.UI\Common.UI.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\GPOWrapper\GPOWrapper.vcxproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\interop\PowerToys.Interop.vcxproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\ManagedTelemetry\Telemetry\ManagedTelemetry.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\common\PreviewHandlerCommon.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandler/PdfPreviewHandlerControl.cs

@@ -55,12 +55,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Pdf
             if (global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GPOWrapper.GetConfiguredPdfPreviewEnabledValue() == global::PowerToys.GPOWrapper.GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled)
             {
                 // GPO is disabling this utility. Show an error message instead.
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.GpoDisabledErrorText);
-                    Controls.Add(_infoBar);
-                    base.DoPreview(dataSource);
-                });
+                _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.GpoDisabledErrorText);
+                Controls.Add(_infoBar);
+                base.DoPreview(dataSource);
 
                 return;
             }
@@ -69,7 +66,12 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Pdf
 
             try
             {
-                using (var dataStream = new ReadonlyStream(dataSource as IStream))
+                if (!(dataSource is string filePath))
+                {
+                    throw new ArgumentException($"{nameof(dataSource)} for {nameof(PdfPreviewHandlerControl)} must be a string but was a '{typeof(T)}'");
+                }
+
+                using (var dataStream = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read))
                 {
                     var memStream = new MemoryStream();
                     dataStream.CopyTo(memStream);
@@ -82,77 +84,71 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Pdf
 
                         if (pdf.PageCount > 0)
                         {
-                            InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
+                            _flowLayoutPanel = new FlowLayoutPanel
                             {
-                                _flowLayoutPanel = new FlowLayoutPanel
-                                {
-                                    AutoScroll = true,
-                                    AutoSize = true,
-                                    Dock = DockStyle.Fill,
-                                    FlowDirection = FlowDirection.TopDown,
-                                    WrapContents = false,
-                                };
-                                _flowLayoutPanel.Resize += FlowLayoutPanel_Resize;
+                                AutoScroll = true,
+                                AutoSize = true,
+                                Dock = DockStyle.Fill,
+                                FlowDirection = FlowDirection.TopDown,
+                                WrapContents = false,
+                            };
+                            _flowLayoutPanel.Resize += FlowLayoutPanel_Resize;
 
-                                // Only show first 10 pages.
-                                for (uint i = 0; i < pdf.PageCount && i < 10; i++)
+                            // Only show first 10 pages.
+                            for (uint i = 0; i < pdf.PageCount && i < 10; i++)
+                            {
+                                using (var page = pdf.GetPage(i))
                                 {
-                                    using (var page = pdf.GetPage(i))
+                                    var image = PageToImage(page);
+
+                                    var picturePanel = new Panel()
                                     {
-                                        var image = PageToImage(page);
-
-                                        var picturePanel = new Panel()
-                                        {
-                                            Name = "picturePanel",
-                                            Margin = new Padding(6, 6, 6, 0),
-                                            Size = CalculateSize(image),
-                                            BorderStyle = BorderStyle.FixedSingle,
-                                        };
-
-                                        var picture = new PictureBox
-                                        {
-                                            Dock = DockStyle.Fill,
-                                            Image = image,
-                                            SizeMode = PictureBoxSizeMode.Zoom,
-                                        };
-
-                                        picturePanel.Controls.Add(picture);
-                                        _flowLayoutPanel.Controls.Add(picturePanel);
-                                    }
-                                }
-
-                                if (pdf.PageCount > 10)
-                                {
-                                    var messageBox = new RichTextBox
-                                    {
-                                        Name = "messageBox",
-                                        Text = Resources.PdfMorePagesMessage,
-                                        BackColor = Color.LightYellow,
-                                        Dock = DockStyle.Fill,
-                                        Multiline = true,
-                                        ReadOnly = true,
-                                        ScrollBars = RichTextBoxScrollBars.None,
-                                        BorderStyle = BorderStyle.None,
+                                        Name = "picturePanel",
+                                        Margin = new Padding(6, 6, 6, 0),
+                                        Size = CalculateSize(image),
+                                        BorderStyle = BorderStyle.FixedSingle,
                                     };
-                                    messageBox.ContentsResized += RTBContentsResized;
 
-                                    _flowLayoutPanel.Controls.Add(messageBox);
+                                    var picture = new PictureBox
+                                    {
+                                        Dock = DockStyle.Fill,
+                                        Image = image,
+                                        SizeMode = PictureBoxSizeMode.Zoom,
+                                    };
+
+                                    picturePanel.Controls.Add(picture);
+                                    _flowLayoutPanel.Controls.Add(picturePanel);
                                 }
+                            }
 
-                                Controls.Add(_flowLayoutPanel);
-                            });
+                            if (pdf.PageCount > 10)
+                            {
+                                var messageBox = new RichTextBox
+                                {
+                                    Name = "messageBox",
+                                    Text = Resources.PdfMorePagesMessage,
+                                    BackColor = Color.LightYellow,
+                                    Dock = DockStyle.Fill,
+                                    Multiline = true,
+                                    ReadOnly = true,
+                                    ScrollBars = RichTextBoxScrollBars.None,
+                                    BorderStyle = BorderStyle.None,
+                                };
+                                messageBox.ContentsResized += RTBContentsResized;
+
+                                _flowLayoutPanel.Controls.Add(messageBox);
+                            }
+
+                            Controls.Add(_flowLayoutPanel);
                         }
                     }
                     catch (Exception ex)
                     {
                         if (ex.Message.Contains("Unable to update the password. The value provided as the current password is incorrect.", StringComparison.Ordinal))
                         {
-                            InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                            {
-                                Controls.Clear();
-                                _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.PdfPasswordProtectedError);
-                                Controls.Add(_infoBar);
-                            });
+                            Controls.Clear();
+                            _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.PdfPasswordProtectedError);
+                            Controls.Add(_infoBar);
                         }
                         else
                         {
@@ -171,12 +167,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Pdf
             {
                 PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new PdfFilePreviewError { Message = ex.Message });
 
-                InvokeOnControlThread(() =>
-                {
-                    Controls.Clear();
-                    _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.PdfNotPreviewedError);
-                    Controls.Add(_infoBar);
-                });
+                Controls.Clear();
+                _infoBar = GetTextBoxControl(Resources.PdfNotPreviewedError);
+                Controls.Add(_infoBar);
             }
             finally
             {

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandler/Program.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.PreviewHandler.Pdf
+{
+    using System.Globalization;
+    using System.Windows.Threading;
+    using Common.UI;
+    using interop;
+
+    internal static class Program
+    {
+        private static CancellationTokenSource _tokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
+
+        private static PdfPreviewHandlerControl _previewHandlerControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///  The main entry point for the application.
+        /// </summary>
+        [STAThread]
+        public static void Main(string[] args)
+        {
+            ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
+            if (args != null)
+            {
+                if (args.Length == 6)
+                {
+                    string filePath = args[0];
+                    int hwnd = Convert.ToInt32(args[1], 16);
+
+                    Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                    int left = Convert.ToInt32(args[2], 10);
+                    int right = Convert.ToInt32(args[3], 10);
+                    int top = Convert.ToInt32(args[4], 10);
+                    int bottom = Convert.ToInt32(args[5], 10);
+
+                    _previewHandlerControl = new PdfPreviewHandlerControl();
+                    _previewHandlerControl.SetWindow((IntPtr)hwnd, s);
+                    _previewHandlerControl.DoPreview(filePath);
+
+                    NativeEventWaiter.WaitForEventLoop(
+                        Constants.PdfPreviewResizeEvent(),
+                        () =>
+                        {
+                            Rectangle s = default(Rectangle);
+                            _previewHandlerControl.SetRect(s);
+                        },
+                        Dispatcher.CurrentDispatcher,
+                        _tokenSource.Token);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    MessageBox.Show("Wrong number of args: " + args.Length.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+                }
+            }
+
+            // To customize application configuration such as set high DPI settings or default font,
+            // see https://aka.ms/applicationconfiguration.
+            Application.Run();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+#include "PdfPreviewHandler.h"
+
+#include <new>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+ClassFactory::ClassFactory() :
+    m_cRef(1)
+{
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+ClassFactory::~ClassFactory()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+//
+// IUnknown
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(ClassFactory, IClassFactory),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) ClassFactory::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+//
+// IClassFactory
+//
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::CreateInstance(IUnknown *pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void **ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_NOAGGREGATION;
+
+    if (pUnkOuter == NULL)
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        PdfPreviewHandler* pExt = new (std::nothrow) PdfPreviewHandler();
+        if (pExt)
+        {
+            hr = pExt->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pExt->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP ClassFactory::LockServer(BOOL fLock)
+{
+    if (fLock)
+    {
+        InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/ClassFactory.h

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Unknwn.h>
+
+class ClassFactory : public IClassFactory
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IClassFactory
+    IFACEMETHODIMP CreateInstance(IUnknown* pUnkOuter, REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP LockServer(BOOL fLock);
+
+    ClassFactory();
+
+protected:
+    ~ClassFactory();
+
+private:
+    long m_cRef;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/GlobalExportFunctions.def

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+EXPORTS
+    DllGetClassObject   PRIVATE
+    DllCanUnloadNow     PRIVATE

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/PdfPreviewHandler.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,261 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "PdfPreviewHandler.h"
+
+#include <shellapi.h>
+#include <Shlwapi.h>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <common/interop/shared_constants.h>
+#include <common/logger/logger.h>
+#include <common/SettingsAPI/settings_helpers.h>
+#include <common/utils/process_path.h>
+
+extern HINSTANCE g_hInst;
+extern long g_cDllRef;
+
+PdfPreviewHandler::PdfPreviewHandler() :
+    m_cRef(1), m_hwndParent(NULL), m_rcParent(), m_punkSite(NULL), m_process(NULL)
+{
+    m_resizeEvent = CreateEvent(nullptr, false, false, CommonSharedConstants::PDF_PREVIEW_RESIZE_EVENT);
+
+    std::filesystem::path logFilePath(PTSettingsHelper::get_local_low_folder_location());
+    logFilePath.append(LogSettings::pdfPrevLogPath);
+    Logger::init(LogSettings::pdfPrevLoggerName, logFilePath.wstring(), PTSettingsHelper::get_log_settings_file_location());
+
+    InterlockedIncrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+PdfPreviewHandler::~PdfPreviewHandler()
+{
+    InterlockedDecrement(&g_cDllRef);
+}
+
+#pragma region IUnknown
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    static const QITAB qit[] = {
+        QITABENT(PdfPreviewHandler, IPreviewHandler),
+        QITABENT(PdfPreviewHandler, IInitializeWithFile),
+        QITABENT(PdfPreviewHandler, IPreviewHandlerVisuals),
+        QITABENT(PdfPreviewHandler, IOleWindow),
+        QITABENT(PdfPreviewHandler, IObjectWithSite),
+        { 0 },
+    };
+    return QISearch(this, qit, riid, ppv);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+PdfPreviewHandler::AddRef()
+{
+    return InterlockedIncrement(&m_cRef);
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG)
+PdfPreviewHandler::Release()
+{
+    ULONG cRef = InterlockedDecrement(&m_cRef);
+    if (0 == cRef)
+    {
+        delete this;
+    }
+    return cRef;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IInitializationWithFile
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode)
+{
+    m_filePath = pszFilePath;
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandler
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc)
+{
+    if (hwnd && prc)
+    {
+        m_hwndParent = hwnd;
+        m_rcParent = *prc;
+    }
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::SetFocus()
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = ::GetFocus();
+        if (*phwnd)
+        {
+            hr = S_OK;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            hr = HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(GetLastError());
+        }
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = S_FALSE;
+    IPreviewHandlerFrame* pFrame = NULL;
+    if (m_punkSite && SUCCEEDED(m_punkSite->QueryInterface(&pFrame)))
+    {
+        hr = pFrame->TranslateAccelerator(pmsg);
+
+        pFrame->Release();
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::SetRect(const RECT* prc)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (prc != NULL)
+    {
+        if (!m_resizeEvent)
+        {
+            Logger::error(L"Failed to create resize event for PdfPreviewHandler");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (m_rcParent.right != prc->right || m_rcParent.left != prc->left || m_rcParent.top != prc->top || m_rcParent.bottom != prc->bottom)
+            {
+                if (!SetEvent(m_resizeEvent))
+                {
+                    Logger::error(L"Failed to signal resize event for PdfPreviewHandler");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::DoPreview()
+{
+    try
+    {
+        Logger::info(L"Starting PdfPreviewHandler.exe");
+
+        STARTUPINFO info = { sizeof(info) };
+        std::wstring cmdLine{ L"\"" + m_filePath + L"\"" };
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        std::wostringstream ss;
+        ss << std::hex << m_hwndParent;
+
+        cmdLine += ss.str();
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.left);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.right);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.top);
+        cmdLine += L" ";
+        cmdLine += std::to_wstring(m_rcParent.bottom);
+        std::wstring appPath = get_module_folderpath(g_hInst) + L"\\PowerToys.PdfPreviewHandler.exe";
+
+        SHELLEXECUTEINFO sei{ sizeof(sei) };
+        sei.fMask = { SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS | SEE_MASK_FLAG_NO_UI };
+        sei.lpFile = appPath.c_str();
+        sei.lpParameters = cmdLine.c_str();
+        sei.nShow = SW_SHOWDEFAULT;
+        ShellExecuteEx(&sei);
+        m_process = sei.hProcess;
+    }
+    catch (std::exception& e)
+    {
+        std::wstring errorMessage = std::wstring{ winrt::to_hstring(e.what()) };
+        Logger::error(L"Failed to start PdfPreviewHandler.exe. Error: {}", errorMessage);
+    }
+
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::Unload()
+{
+    Logger::info(L"Unload and terminate .exe");
+
+    m_hwndParent = NULL;
+    TerminateProcess(m_process, 0);
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::SetTextColor(COLORREF color)
+{
+    return S_OK;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IOleWindow
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::GetWindow(HWND* phwnd)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = E_INVALIDARG;
+    if (phwnd)
+    {
+        *phwnd = m_hwndParent;
+        hr = S_OK;
+    }
+    return hr;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode)
+{
+    return E_NOTIMPL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region IObjectWithSite
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite)
+{
+    if (m_punkSite)
+    {
+        m_punkSite->Release();
+        m_punkSite = NULL;
+    }
+    return punkSite ? punkSite->QueryInterface(&m_punkSite) : S_OK;
+}
+
+IFACEMETHODIMP PdfPreviewHandler::GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    *ppv = NULL;
+    return m_punkSite ? m_punkSite->QueryInterface(riid, ppv) : E_FAIL;
+}
+
+#pragma endregion
+
+#pragma region Helper Functions
+
+#pragma endregion

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/PdfPreviewHandler.h

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <ShlObj.h>
+#include <string>
+
+class PdfPreviewHandler :
+    public IInitializeWithFile,
+    public IPreviewHandler,
+    public IPreviewHandlerVisuals,
+    public IOleWindow,
+    public IObjectWithSite
+{
+public:
+    // IUnknown
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) AddRef();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP_(ULONG) Release();
+
+    // IInitializeWithFile
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Initialize(LPCWSTR pszFilePath, DWORD grfMode);
+
+    // IPreviewHandler
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetWindow(HWND hwnd, const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFocus();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP QueryFocus(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP TranslateAccelerator(MSG* pmsg);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetRect(const RECT* prc);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP DoPreview();
+    IFACEMETHODIMP Unload();
+
+    // IPreviewHandlerVisuals
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetBackgroundColor(COLORREF color);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetFont(const LOGFONTW* plf);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetTextColor(COLORREF color);
+
+    // IOleWindow
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetWindow(HWND* phwnd);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP ContextSensitiveHelp(BOOL fEnterMode);
+
+    // IObjectWithSite
+    IFACEMETHODIMP SetSite(IUnknown* punkSite);
+    IFACEMETHODIMP GetSite(REFIID riid, void** ppv);
+
+    PdfPreviewHandler();
+protected:
+    ~PdfPreviewHandler();
+
+private:
+    // Reference count of component.
+    long m_cRef;
+
+    // Provided during initialization.
+    std::wstring m_filePath;
+    
+    // Parent window that hosts the previewer window.
+    // Note: do NOT DestroyWindow this.
+    HWND m_hwndParent;
+    // Bounding rect of the parent window.
+    RECT m_rcParent;
+
+    // Site pointer from host, used to get IPreviewHandlerFrame.
+    IUnknown* m_punkSite;
+
+    HANDLE m_process;
+    HANDLE m_resizeEvent;
+};

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp.rc

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#include <windows.h>
+#include "resource.h"
+#include "../../../common/version/version.h"
+
+#define APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+#include "winres.h"
+#undef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+
+1 VERSIONINFO
+FILEVERSION FILE_VERSION
+PRODUCTVERSION PRODUCT_VERSION
+FILEFLAGSMASK VS_FFI_FILEFLAGSMASK
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+FILEFLAGS VS_FF_DEBUG
+#else
+FILEFLAGS 0x0L
+#endif
+FILEOS VOS_NT_WINDOWS32
+FILETYPE VFT_DLL
+FILESUBTYPE VFT2_UNKNOWN
+BEGIN
+    BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        BLOCK "040904b0" // US English (0x0409), Unicode (0x04B0) charset
+        BEGIN
+            VALUE "CompanyName", COMPANY_NAME
+            VALUE "FileDescription", FILE_DESCRIPTION
+            VALUE "FileVersion", FILE_VERSION_STRING
+            VALUE "InternalName", INTERNAL_NAME
+            VALUE "LegalCopyright", COPYRIGHT_NOTE
+            VALUE "OriginalFilename", ORIGINAL_FILENAME
+            VALUE "ProductName", PRODUCT_NAME
+            VALUE "ProductVersion", PRODUCT_VERSION_STRING
+        END
+    END
+    BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        VALUE "Translation", 0x409, 1200 // US English (0x0409), Unicode (1200) charset
+    END
+END

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
+  <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
+    <VCProjectVersion>16.0</VCProjectVersion>
+    <Keyword>Win32Proj</Keyword>
+    <ProjectGuid>{54f7c616-fd41-4e62-bff9-015686914f4d}</ProjectGuid>
+    <RootNamespace>PdfPreviewHandlerCpp</RootNamespace>
+    <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <PlatformToolset>v143</PlatformToolset>
+    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
+    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="Shared">
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\modules\FileExplorerPreview\</OutDir>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetName>PowerToys.$(ProjectName)</TargetName>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
+      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <SDLCheck>true</SDLCheck>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;MARKDOWNPREVIEWHANDLERCPP_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>../../..</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
+      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableUAC>false</EnableUAC>
+      <ModuleDefinitionFile>GlobalExportFunctions.def</ModuleDefinitionFile>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>Shlwapi.lib;$(CoreLibraryDependencies);%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="PdfPreviewHandler.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <PrecompiledHeader>Create</PrecompiledHeader>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="PdfPreviewHandler.cpp" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def" />
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="PdfPreviewHandlerCpp.rc" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\logger\logger.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{d9b8fc84-322a-4f9f-bbb9-20915c47ddfd}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\SettingsAPI\SettingsAPI.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{6955446d-23f7-4023-9bb3-8657f904af99}</Project>
+    </ProjectReference>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\deps\spdlog.props" />
+  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
+  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
+    <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
+  </ImportGroup>
+  <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
+    <PropertyGroup>
+      <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
+    </PropertyGroup>
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props'))" />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.220929.3\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets'))" />
+  </Target>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp.vcxproj.filters

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Filter Include="Source Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{4FC737F1-C7A5-4376-A066-2A32D752A2FF}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>cpp;c;cc;cxx;c++;cppm;ixx;def;odl;idl;hpj;bat;asm;asmx</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Header Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{93995380-89BD-4b04-88EB-625FBE52EBFB}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>h;hh;hpp;hxx;h++;hm;inl;inc;ipp;xsd</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+    <Filter Include="Resource Files">
+      <UniqueIdentifier>{67DA6AB6-F800-4c08-8B7A-83BB121AAD01}</UniqueIdentifier>
+      <Extensions>rc;ico;cur;bmp;dlg;rc2;rct;bin;rgs;gif;jpg;jpeg;jpe;resx;tiff;tif;png;wav;mfcribbon-ms</Extensions>
+    </Filter>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClInclude Include="pch.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="ClassFactory.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="PdfPreviewHandler.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="resource.h">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ClCompile Include="dllmain.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="pch.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="ClassFactory.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="PdfPreviewHandler.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="GlobalExportFunctions.def">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </None>
+    <None Include="packages.config" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ResourceCompile Include="PdfPreviewHandlerCpp.rc">
+      <Filter>Resource Files</Filter>
+    </ResourceCompile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/dllmain.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+// dllmain.cpp : Defines the entry point for the DLL application.
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "ClassFactory.h"
+
+HINSTANCE g_hInst = NULL;
+long g_cDllRef = 0;
+
+// {A5A41CC7-02CB-41D4-8C9B-9087040D6098}
+static const GUID CLSID_PdfPreviewHandler = { 0xa5a41cc7, 0x2cb, 0x41d4, { 0x8c, 0x9b, 0x90, 0x87, 0x4, 0xd, 0x60, 0x98 } };
+
+BOOL APIENTRY DllMain(HMODULE hModule,
+                      DWORD ul_reason_for_call,
+                      LPVOID lpReserved)
+{
+    switch (ul_reason_for_call)
+    {
+    case DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH:
+        g_hInst = hModule;
+        DisableThreadLibraryCalls(hModule);
+        break;
+    case DLL_THREAD_ATTACH:
+    case DLL_THREAD_DETACH:
+    case DLL_PROCESS_DETACH:
+        break;
+    }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllGetClassObject
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Create the class factory and query to the specific interface.
+//
+//   PARAMETERS:
+//   * rclsid - The CLSID that will associate the correct data and code.
+//   * riid - A reference to the identifier of the interface that the caller
+//     is to use to communicate with the class object.
+//   * ppv - The address of a pointer variable that receives the interface
+//     pointer requested in riid. Upon successful return, *ppv contains the
+//     requested interface pointer. If an error occurs, the interface pointer
+//     is NULL.
+//
+STDAPI DllGetClassObject(REFCLSID rclsid, REFIID riid, void** ppv)
+{
+    HRESULT hr = CLASS_E_CLASSNOTAVAILABLE;
+
+    if (IsEqualCLSID(CLSID_PdfPreviewHandler, rclsid))
+    {
+        hr = E_OUTOFMEMORY;
+
+        ClassFactory* pClassFactory = new ClassFactory();
+        if (pClassFactory)
+        {
+            hr = pClassFactory->QueryInterface(riid, ppv);
+            pClassFactory->Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return hr;
+}
+
+//
+//   FUNCTION: DllCanUnloadNow
+//
+//   PURPOSE: Check if we can unload the component from the memory.
+//
+//   NOTE: The component can be unloaded from the memory when its reference
+//   count is zero (i.e. nobody is still using the component).
+//
+STDAPI DllCanUnloadNow(void)
+{
+    return g_cDllRef > 0 ? S_FALSE : S_OK;
+}

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/packages.config

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<packages>
+  <package id="Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT" version="2.0.220929.3" targetFramework="native" />
+</packages>

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/pch.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// pch.cpp: source file corresponding to the pre-compiled header
+
+#include "pch.h"
+
+// When you are using pre-compiled headers, this source file is necessary for compilation to succeed.

src/modules/previewpane/PdfPreviewHandlerCpp/pch.h

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// pch.h: This is a precompiled header file.
+// Files listed below are compiled only once, improving build performance for future builds.
+// This also affects IntelliSense performance, including code completion and many code browsing features.
+// However, files listed here are ALL re-compiled if any one of them is updated between builds.
+// Do not add files here that you will be updating frequently as this negates the performance advantage.
+
+#ifndef PCH_H
+#define PCH_H
+
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN // Exclude rarely-used stuff from Windows headers
+// Windows Header Files
+#include <windows.h>
+
+#endif //PCH_H