This plugin will scan your thumbnail-less posts and look for a suitable image to use as a thumbnail. 
It will look for images linked in the post content and will download and add them to the local library. 
Post scanning is performed only when <code>the_post_thumbnail</code> or <code>get_the_post_thumbnail</code> are called for 
that particular post.
So you designed your new thumbnail-based template, but you have tons of thumbnail-less posts and 
don’t want to spend too much time on scraping your old posts for a thumbnail picture. Maybe you 
think you will probably forget to set a thumbnail for your new posts. Maybe both, as was my case :).
When a thumbnail for a post is queried and nothing is found this plugin will scrape the post for 
an <code><img></code> tag and its <code>href</code> property. Once a suitabile image is found (based on the configured 
settings), it will be downloaded ad set as the post thumbnail. If no suitable image is found, 
a default one will be used.
This plugin is still in early development state. It just covers my needs (see the “To do” section 
for more details). It has been tested only with wordpress 3.0.1, but should work also with 2.9, 
since I used similar code with 2.9 (even if it was included in my template’s <code>functions.php</code>).
The plugin is not supported. This doesn’t mean that I will not look into submitted bugs. Anyway, 
don’t expect prompt answers, since this is done in my spare time.
<h3>To do</h3>
Many things should be done in future releases. Here are some:
<ul>
<li>Current version always downloads selected linked images. This works good with images hosted on external sites. 
If your posts link to images hosted in your media library, you will end up with two images.</li>
<li>A more user friendly name should be used for images added to the library (e.g. Thumbnail for post …)</li>
<li>Somewhere, a button to reset the “previously scanned” status of all posts should be provided (on current version, 
you cas set or reset it for single posts in the edit page.</li>
<li>“previously scanned” status should probably be reset (or at least you should be asked to) when publishing a 
updating an existing post</li>
</ul>
More ideas are wellcome.

Automatic Thumbnail Generator

Automated on-demand generation of posts thumbnails.

Sean Hayes

When active this plugin adds a column to the All Posts/All Pages and where supported the All Custom Post Type admin views. This column, “Thumb”, will display a thumbnail of the featured image 
 or post thumbnail so you can easily determine the content that is missing an image.
You can also make inline edits that allow you to change the thumb/image from the All Posts/All Pages/All Custom Post Type view without having to edit the post.
Now the plugin is translatable. Using tools such as Poedit along with localized / international versions of WordPress, FIAT can display user supplied translations of its text.
<h3>Updates</h3>

Featured Image Admin Thumb

Very useful. Thanks.

When bulk updating featured images, this is so much faster than having to open each post, add featured image, save, and return to posts list. Bravo!

Crazy huge time saver


This plugin did exactly what I wanted.  It showed me in my admin list which posts didn't have an image and let me click a link right there inline to add the right one.  Nailed it.  Couldn't be happier.


Worked perfectly, saved me some time


This plugin is very useful for me on many WordPress websites. Thanks for it!


Very useful !

Very helpful

Adds inline thumbnail image to admin columns on Post/post types view (where supported). Click to easily set/change the featured image.

Automatic Thumbnail Generator vs Featured Image Admin Thumb