When there are a large number of video files such as MP4, MOV, AVI, etc. in a folder, opening them one by one to view their content is very time-consuming. This article introduces how to use the "Generate Preview Images for Videos" feature in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch generate 3×3 9-grid JPG preview images for multiple videos. The article combines before-and-after processing effects and software operation interface to explain how to import videos, set the number of vertical and horizontal images, adjust the size ratio of small cell images, and complete batch processing, suitable for material organizing, video archiving, client review, content management, and other scenarios.
If a folder contains dozens or even hundreds of MP4 videos, and you need to quickly grasp the general content of each one, the most basic approach is to double-click them one by one, open them, drag the progress bar, take a screenshot, and save it. This process is not only repetitive but also makes it easy to miss or misjudge content. For tasks like video asset management, short video delivery, project archiving, organizing teaching materials, and previewing surveillance clips, a more efficient method is to batch-generate a 9-grid preview image for each video.
A video 9-grid preview image is created by capturing multiple frames from a video and arranging them in a 3-row by 3-column grid into a single JPG image. This allows you to get a general understanding of the video's content, scene changes, and visual style just by looking at the picture, without opening the video. This article will use screenshots to introduce how to use the office software “ HeSoft Doc Batch Tool ” to batch-generate 9-grid preview images for many MP4 and other video files, helping you reduce repetitive operations and improve file organization efficiency.
Applicable Scenarios: When is it suitable to batch-generate video 9-grid preview images?
Video preview images are not just "good-looking" thumbnails; they are very practical in actual office work and file management. Especially when the number of video files is large, the names are not intuitive enough, or you need to quickly filter content, 9-grid preview images can significantly improve judgment efficiency.
Common applicable scenarios include:
- Video Asset Archiving: Photography, editing, and operations teams often save large amounts of MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and other video assets. After generating 9-grid JPGs, you can quickly browse the content of each asset in the folder.
- Short Video Delivery Check: After batch-exporting multiple final cuts, you can first generate preview images for the team or client to quickly confirm the visual content, avoiding playing back each video one by one.
- Teaching Video Organization: When there are many course recordings, training videos, and lecture videos, preview images can help administrators quickly determine the chapter or content corresponding to each file.
- Project Material Handover: By delivering videos together with their corresponding JPG preview images, the recipient can get a preliminary understanding of the material structure without opening every video.
- Surveillance or Recording Video Screening: When faced with numerous clips, you can first use the 9-grid thumbnails to determine if key information is present before deciding to open the original video for viewing.
The positioning of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool is office software, focusing on solving the problems of batch file processing and reducing repetitive work. The "Generate preview images for videos" function used in this article is exactly designed for processing multiple video files at once, rather than having users perform the same operation repeatedly.
Effect Preview: Before processing, multiple MP4 files; after processing, they become corresponding JPG preview images
Before Processing: Multiple MP4 video segments in the folder
In the screenshot before processing, you can see multiple MP4 video files in the folder, such as Video test 2.mp4, Video test 4.mp4, Video test 5.mp4, etc. Although the file names have numbers, it's hard to determine the specific content of each video from the name alone. Playing them back one by one would take a considerable amount of time.
This kind of scenario is very common: the files themselves are already organized in a single directory, but the user still lacks a way for "quick visual previewing". After batch-generating video preview images, each video will have a corresponding picture generated, making subsequent viewing and filtering more convenient.
After Processing: A 3×3 9-grid JPG is generated for each video
In the screenshot after processing, each MP4 file has generated a JPG image with the same name, for example, Video test 2.jpg, Video test 4.jpg, Video test 5.jpg, etc. Inside each image are multiple video frames, arranged in a 3-row by 3-column 9-grid effect.
As seen from the preview effect, the generated JPG files retain the original video name while displaying multiple key frames from the video. For a large volume of video assets, this method is more intuitive than a single cover image because the 9-grid can reflect changes in the video footage, not just a single frame.
Steps: Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch-generate 9-grid preview images
Following the sequence of the software interface screenshots, the main operational flow from entering the function to setting parameters is described below. The overall process uses a wizard-style approach: first select the videos to process, then set processing options, then set the save location, and finally start processing.
Step One: Select "Generate preview images for videos" in "Video Tools"
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can see categories like Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Image Tools, Video Tools, and Audio Tools in the left function classification. To batch-generate preview images for MP4 videos, you need to enter the Video Tools category on the left.
In the list of video tools, find and select "Generate preview images for videos". The description for this function in the screenshot is "Batch generate grid preview images for video files," indicating it is designed for batch processing scenarios involving multiple video files.
The purpose of this step is to enter the correct function module. Note that the same page also contains other video processing functions like "Separate video and audio," "Remove audio from video," and "Convert video to MP4". If your goal is to generate 9-grid thumbnails, you should select "Generate preview images for videos" and avoid mistakenly choosing video format conversion or audio processing functions.
Step Two: Add the MP4 video files you need to process
After entering the "Generate preview images for videos" function, operation buttons will appear at the top of the interface, including "Add Files", "Import Files from Folder", "Clear", and "More". If you only need to select some videos, you can use "Add Files"; if all videos in a folder need processing, you can use "Import Files from Folder".
The screenshot shows 9 MP4 files have been imported, and the list displays information such as sequence number, name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time. The software will list the records pending processing, making it easy for the user to confirm if the import is correct.
The purpose of this step is to establish the batch processing list. After importing, it is recommended to check the following points:
- Is the file count correct? The bottom of the screenshot shows "Record count: 9", indicating a total of 9 videos have been imported.
- Are the extensions as expected? The sample file extension is mp4, indicating the current processing target is MP4 videos.
- Are the paths correct? The path column shows the file location, e.g., D:\test\Video test 2.mp4, making it easy to confirm if the wrong folder was selected.
- Are there any files that do not need processing? There is a delete operation icon on the right side of each row; if incorrect files were imported, they can be removed from the list.
After confirming the list is correct, click "Next" at the bottom of the interface to enter the processing option settings.
Step Three: Set the number of vertical and horizontal images to 3, forming a 9-grid
After entering the "Set processing options" page, you can see several key parameters: Number of Vertical Images, Number of Horizontal Images, and Size percentage of small image in cell. In the screenshot, the number of vertical images is 3, and the number of horizontal images is also 3, which corresponds to a 3×3 9-grid preview image.
If your goal is to batch-generate 9-grid video preview images, it is recommended to keep both the vertical and horizontal numbers set to 3. This way, a preview image composed of 9 frames is generated for each video, providing richer information than a single cover image, while the file size and viewing experience remain relatively balanced.
These parameters can be understood as follows:
- Number of Vertical Images: Determines how many rows the preview image has. Setting it to 3 means arranging 3 rows of frames vertically.
- Number of Horizontal Images: Determines how many columns the preview image has. Setting it to 3 means arranging 3 columns of frames horizontally.
- Size percentage of small image in cell: Controls how much space each small frame takes up within its cell using a slider. A larger percentage means the small image fills the cell more closely; a smaller percentage may result in more space between frames.
After completing the settings, continue by clicking "Next". According to the interface workflow, it will then proceed to the "Set save location" and "Start processing" stages. The save location is used to decide where the generated JPG preview images are stored; starting the processing will cause the software to batch-generate the pictures according to the previous settings.
Step Four: Set the save location and start batch processing
Although the provided screenshots mainly show the first two steps and the parameter settings page, the progress bar at the top of the interface shows that the complete process includes: Selecting records to process, Setting processing options, Setting save location, and Start processing. Therefore, after setting the 3×3 parameters, you need to continue following the interface prompts to set the save location for the generated images and then execute the processing.
The purpose of this step is to avoid mixing the generated JPG preview images with the original videos or saving them in a location that's hard to find. It is generally recommended to choose a saving method based on your actual work habits, for example:
- If you want the preview images to correspond one-to-one with the original videos for easy cross-reference, you can save them in the folder related to the videos.
- If you want to manage the preview images separately, you can create a new dedicated output directory, such as a "Video Previews" folder.
- If delivering them for others to view, you can place the original videos and JPG preview images together in the same project directory for easy packaging and sending.
After starting the processing, the software will batch-execute based on the settings for the multiple videos in the import list, without requiring the user to open, screenshot, and collage each video individually. Once processing is complete, you can view the generated JPG files in the save location.
Why 3×3 is recommended as the parameter for video preview images
In actual office scenarios, more grids are not necessarily better, nor are fewer grids. The 3×3 9-grid is a commonly used choice, mainly for three reasons.
Appropriate amount of information to show changes in video content
A single cover image can only show one instant. If the video starts with a black screen, an intro, a transition, or an irrelevant frame, the single thumbnail might not reflect the actual content. A 9-grid can display multiple frame segments, making it easier to determine if the video is a landscape, person, building, course, product display, or other content.
Relatively friendly image size for fast browsing
If you set too many grids, such as 5×5 or more, the frames within a single JPG might become too dense and require zooming in to view; if you set too few, such as 2×2, the amount of information might be insufficient. 3×3 achieves a good balance for file previews, file explorer thumbnails, and quick browsing.
Suitable for batch generation and archiving
When you need to organize many MP4 videos uniformly, using the same 3×3 parameters makes the output results more standardized. Each video corresponds to a JPG with the same name, and the preview image structure is consistent, making subsequent manual review, project archiving, or material handover much clearer.
Common Questions and Considerations
1. What is the relationship between the generated JPG filename and the original video?
As seen from the screenshots after processing, the output JPG files maintain the same main body name as the original MP4 files. For example, Video test 2.mp4 generates Video test 2.jpg. The benefit of this is that the file correspondence is clear, eliminating the need for manual renaming.
2. Can it only process MP4 videos?
The example imported in these screenshots involves MP4 files, so this article takes the batch generation of 9-grid preview images for MP4 as an example. The function name in the software interface is "Generate preview images for videos", which is generally aimed at video file processing. In actual use, you can select the corresponding video format based on the software's support, such as common ones like MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, etc.; if you encounter an unsupported format, it is recommended to first use the video conversion function in the software to convert it to a common format before processing.
3. What if I selected the wrong files after importing?
In the pending processing list, there is a delete operation icon on the right side of each file, allowing you to remove records that don't need processing. There is also a "Clear" button at the top of the interface; if the entire list was imported incorrectly, you can clear it and re-add files. This prevents the generation of irrelevant preview images.
4. Are 9-grid preview images suitable as video covers?
9-grid preview images are more suitable for content previewing, asset indexing, and archiving notes. If you need a video cover for official publishing, you might still need to design a separate cover image. However, in internal management, batch review, and material handover scenarios, the 9-grid JPG is very practical.
5. Do I need to back up the original videos before batch processing?
The goal of this workflow is to generate preview images and typically does not require the user to manually modify the original video content. Nevertheless, when batch processing files, it's still advisable to maintain good file management habits: ensure the source of the original videos is clear, the output location is well-defined, and avoid saving the results in directories that are difficult to distinguish.
6. How should the "Size percentage of small image in cell" be set?
In the screenshot, this item is adjusted via a slider. Generally speaking, if you want each small frame to appear larger, you can increase the percentage appropriately; if you prefer space between frames, you can decrease the percentage. For most office preview purposes, keeping the default or near-default setting is sufficient, with the key focus being setting the vertical and horizontal quantities to 3.
Summary: Using a batch tool to transform video previewing from repetitive labor into a one-time process
Batch-generating 9-grid preview images for MP4 videos solves the problem of "too many videos, too slow to open and view them one by one." Through the "Generate preview images for videos" function in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can import multiple videos at once, uniformly set the 3×3 grid parameter, and then batch-output the corresponding JPG preview images.
Compared to manual playback, screenshotting, and collaging, this approach is more suitable for batch file processing in office scenarios: filenames correspond automatically, parameters are unified, and the processing workflow is clear. It is especially suited for video asset management, project archiving, short video delivery checks, and organizing course materials. If you are sorting through a batch of MP4, MOV, AVI, and other video files, it is recommended to follow the steps in this article to first generate 9-grid preview images, then proceed with filtering, categorizing, or delivery. This will significantly reduce repetitive work and improve work efficiency.