Changing icon for e.g. Excel

[Abi]

I'd like to replace the icon for e.g. Excel with one I've downloaded. I've
dragged the .exe version to my desktop, right-clicked on the icon and
selected the option 'change icon'. But I can only select from a pre-defined
list. How can I replace the standard icon with the one I downloaded? I can't
see which folder the default icons are placed in, nor can I see what the
extention is called e.g. .png?

Can someone help me, please?

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

I'd like to replace the icon for e.g. Excel with one I've downloaded. I've
dragged the .exe version to my desktop, right-clicked on the icon and
selected the option 'change icon'. But I can only select from a pre-defined
list. How can I replace the standard icon with the one I downloaded? I can't
see which folder the default icons are placed in, nor can I see what the
extention is called e.g. .png?

Can someone help me, please?

Icons are found either inside .exe files, or in files of extension .ico;
what is the extension of the file you've downloaded?

I hope what you've dragged to the desktop is actually the shortcut, not
the .exe; however, since you've found a "change icon" function, you
probably are working with a shortcut. In the window you get when you
choose change icon, as well as a gallery of icons, you should also find
a Browse button; use that, and point the system at the file you
downloaded, assuming it's a .exe or a .ico file.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

There are more bits in a 32-ton lorry driving up the motorway than the whole BT
net carries in an hour. (Duncan Hine of the Post Office, in Computing
1997-4-10)

 

[Tim Meddick]

It's not immediately clear what you mean - but I'm supposing that you mean - replace
the icon in the shortcut that points to excel?

In the shortcut's "properties", under the "shortcut" tab click on the "Change Icon"
button.

The default icon for excel IS excel.exe - programs (exe files) can contain many
icons.

To change this to a different icon, click on the "Browse" button and look for your
replacement icon.

Your file will only appear in THIS browsing box if it has one of the following
extensions :

..exe .dll .ico

Plus make sure it's in a very easy to access folder - such as the root of a drive.

You should be able to tell if your downloaded icon IS a real icon - in Windows
Explorer the file displays it's own icon unless it's damaged or not a real icon in
which case it displays the default Windows icon for an unknown filetype.

After finding your replacement icon in this browser, select it and click on [open]
then click on the [ok] button in the "Change Icon" dialog box to exit it. Finally,
click on the [ok] button in the shortcut's "properties".

If you are still in some doubt - or I got the point of your query wrong - please
don't hesitate to return post.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Abi]

The extension of the file I've downloaded is .png, which I renamed to .ico. I
should be working with a shortcut to Excel, but no matter where I place the
icon I want to use, XP won't recognize it. It says something about the file
being empty.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The extension of the file I've downloaded is .png, which I renamed to .ico.

You can't do that. The extension of a file describes its format.
Changing the extension leaves the format alone, but makes the name lie
about the format of the file. So if you change a png file to ico,
Windows expects to find the ico format in the file, but instead finds
a completely different format, which it can't use.

Do not change extensions of files.

 

[Tim Meddick]

You cannot just "rename" a file's extension (extension= the last three letters after
the period i.e. .png) to [.ico] and hope that will make it an icon file. If you
renamed the letter [.doc] to your mum to [.bmp] could you turn it into a picture?

I take the point that the file you were hoping to use WAS a picture file. However,
[.ico] files are BITMAPS (a type of picture file that doesn't use compression) but
with a special header format.

But, you will be pleased to hear that you CAN adapt your [.png] file to use as an
icon by doing the following :

Open the [.png] file in "MSPaint.exe" (make sure you re-name it back to [.png] again
from .ico).

Use the "File" > "Save As..." option from the top menus to save the file to a Bitmap
[.bmp] type using the drop-down "Save As Type" list in the "Save As" box (either
24-bit or 256 colors depth).

Then you can re-name this new file to [.ico].

It won't really be a 'proper' icon file, but you WILL see it's image displayed on the
file when you re-name it and it will appear in the "browse for new icon" box when
you want to change a shortcut's icon.

Hope this helps...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <#[email protected]>, Tim Meddick

But, you will be pleased to hear that you CAN adapt your [.png] file to
use as an icon by doing the following :

Open the [.png] file in "MSPaint.exe" (make sure you re-name it back to
[.png] again from .ico).

Use the "File" > "Save As..." option from the top menus to save the
file to a Bitmap [.bmp] type using the drop-down "Save As Type" list
in the "Save As" box (either 24-bit or 256 colors depth).

Then you can re-name this new file to [.ico].

It won't really be a 'proper' icon file, but you WILL see it's image
displayed on the file when you re-name it and it will appear in the
"browse for new icon" box when you want to change a shortcut's icon.

[]
FWIW, IrfanView can save (and load) .ico files (as well as virtually any
other image filetype).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Advertising is legalized lying. - H.G. Wells

 

[Tim Meddick]

M$ Paint was designed to open icon files and be able to save them [as bitmaps] in the
same way the OP would be able to open his [.png] file save it as [.bmp] and use it as
his icon.

I have many very good programs that can load/modify/create [real] icon files.

(Micoangelo / Icon Suite / M$ Image Edit)

I was passing [simple] info to help someone without the need for him to download
anything!!

(Talk about "advertising" in your sig?!)

You are "replying" to the wrong person...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

In message <#[email protected]>, Tim Meddick

But, you will be pleased to hear that you CAN adapt your [.png] file to use as an
icon by doing the following :

Open the [.png] file in "MSPaint.exe" (make sure you re-name it back to [.png]
again from .ico).

Use the "File" > "Save As..." option from the top menus to save the file to a
Bitmap [.bmp] type using the drop-down "Save As Type" list in the "Save As" box
(either 24-bit or 256 colors depth).

Then you can re-name this new file to [.ico].

It won't really be a 'proper' icon file, but you WILL see it's image displayed on
the file when you re-name it and it will appear in the "browse for new icon" box
when you want to change a shortcut's icon.

[]
FWIW, IrfanView can save (and load) .ico files (as well as virtually any other
image filetype).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Advertising is legalized lying. - H.G. Wells