Icon settings for shortcuts

[Wicked Wizard]

I have searched high and low and must be missing something. I'd be grateful for
any pointers.

The path to an icon that a desktop shortcut uses must be stored somewhere. I
want to be able to change an icon remotely, but I can't find how. Say for
example that I have a file I distribute to collegues. I'd like to be able to
assign a desktop shortcut with a custom icon, so that it is easy for them to
open the file.

For the life of me I can't find how to do this. Someone please save what hair I
have left!

Win 2000 of course.

WW
HTH

Wicked Wizard

 

[Gary Smith]

The path to the icon is stored within the shortcut itself, which is
actually just a text file. Here's a real-life example. The last line
identifes the file in which the icon resides. The IconIndex parameter
specifies which icon to use when there's more than one in the file.

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
Modified=D0EE6401A781C40110
IconIndex=0
IconFile=D:\Data\Config\MickeyMouse.ico

I have searched high and low and must be missing something. I'd be grateful for
any pointers.

The path to an icon that a desktop shortcut uses must be stored somewhere. I
want to be able to change an icon remotely, but I can't find how. Say for
example that I have a file I distribute to collegues. I'd like to be able to
assign a desktop shortcut with a custom icon, so that it is easy for them to
open the file.

 

[Ollie Killingback]

Ah, I see, but still through a glass darkly. Can I check that I understand?

To distribute a shortcut with the appropriate icon I create a text file such
as myfile.doc.lnk in the format you show and distribute it with the other
material. I put the text file in the appropriate docs&settings\desktop
folder. But where does the Modified string come from? If it isn't an
Internet shortcut what goes in the place of [InternetShortcut]? How can I
open shortcuts on my desktop as text files (Notepad doesn't seem to like
it)? And is there somewhere I can look this stuff up for myself rather than
having to bother you helpful people?

Many thanks.

WW

The path to the icon is stored within the shortcut itself, which is
actually just a text file. Here's a real-life example. The last line
identifes the file in which the icon resides. The IconIndex parameter
specifies which icon to use when there's more than one in the file.

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
Modified=D0EE6401A781C40110
IconIndex=0
IconFile=D:\Data\Config\MickeyMouse.ico

I have searched high and low and must be missing something. I'd be grateful for
any pointers.

The path to an icon that a desktop shortcut uses must be stored somewhere. I
want to be able to change an icon remotely, but I can't find how. Say for
example that I have a file I distribute to collegues. I'd like to be able to
assign a desktop shortcut with a custom icon, so that it is easy for them to
open the file.

For the life of me I can't find how to do this. Someone please save what hair I
have left!

Win 2000 of course.

 

[Gary Smith]

Sorry, I answered too quickly. What I said is true of Internet shortcuts,
which have the extension .url, but the display of that extension is
usually suppressed. They are plain-text files and easily manipulated.

Shortcuts to files or folders have the entension .lnk, again usually not
displayed. They are binary files, which makes them more difficult to
manipulate. The full filename of the icon file is stored in these
shortcuts as well, but it's going to take a program that understands the
file format to modify it.

Ah, I see, but still through a glass darkly. Can I check that I understand?

To distribute a shortcut with the appropriate icon I create a text file such
as myfile.doc.lnk in the format you show and distribute it with the other
material. I put the text file in the appropriate docs&settings\desktop
folder. But where does the Modified string come from? If it isn't an
Internet shortcut what goes in the place of [InternetShortcut]? How can I
open shortcuts on my desktop as text files (Notepad doesn't seem to like
it)? And is there somewhere I can look this stuff up for myself rather than
having to bother you helpful people?

Many thanks.

WW

The path to the icon is stored within the shortcut itself, which is
actually just a text file. Here's a real-life example. The last line
identifes the file in which the icon resides. The IconIndex parameter
specifies which icon to use when there's more than one in the file.

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
Modified=D0EE6401A781C40110
IconIndex=0
IconFile=D:\Data\Config\MickeyMouse.ico

I have searched high and low and must be missing something. I'd be grateful for
any pointers.

The path to an icon that a desktop shortcut uses must be stored somewhere. I
want to be able to change an icon remotely, but I can't find how. Say for
example that I have a file I distribute to collegues. I'd like to be able to
assign a desktop shortcut with a custom icon, so that it is easy for them to
open the file.

For the life of me I can't find how to do this. Someone please save what hair I
have left!

Win 2000 of course.

 

[Wicked Wizard]

Thank you. So in short I can't easily associate a desktop icon I have
created with a file I distribute without doing some programming. The file
is an Excel file, but I suspect that I can't achieve what I want with VBA.
Can you give me any advice on how I might accomplish this? I am quite happy
to do my own digging around when I know where to look!

WW

Sorry, I answered too quickly. What I said is true of Internet shortcuts,
which have the extension .url, but the display of that extension is
usually suppressed. They are plain-text files and easily manipulated.

Shortcuts to files or folders have the entension .lnk, again usually not
displayed. They are binary files, which makes them more difficult to
manipulate. The full filename of the icon file is stored in these
shortcuts as well, but it's going to take a program that understands the
file format to modify it.

Ah, I see, but still through a glass darkly. Can I check that I

understand?

To distribute a shortcut with the appropriate icon I create a text file such
as myfile.doc.lnk in the format you show and distribute it with the other
material. I put the text file in the appropriate docs&settings\desktop
folder. But where does the Modified string come from? If it isn't an
Internet shortcut what goes in the place of [InternetShortcut]? How can I
open shortcuts on my desktop as text files (Notepad doesn't seem to like
it)? And is there somewhere I can look this stuff up for myself rather than
having to bother you helpful people?

Many thanks.

WW

The path to the icon is stored within the shortcut itself, which is
actually just a text file. Here's a real-life example. The last line
identifes the file in which the icon resides. The IconIndex parameter
specifies which icon to use when there's more than one in the file.

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
Modified=D0EE6401A781C40110
IconIndex=0
IconFile=D:\Data\Config\MickeyMouse.ico


I have searched high and low and must be missing something. I'd be grateful for
any pointers.

The path to an icon that a desktop shortcut uses must be stored somewhere. I
want to be able to change an icon remotely, but I can't find how.

Say
for

example that I have a file I distribute to collegues. I'd like to be able to
assign a desktop shortcut with a custom icon, so that it is easy for them to
open the file.

For the life of me I can't find how to do this. Someone please save what hair I
have left!

Win 2000 of course.

 

[Gary Smith]

I don't have any real experience in this area, but perhaps somethng like
this will get the job done:

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBM/tip6000/rh6035.htm

Thank you. So in short I can't easily associate a desktop icon I have
created with a file I distribute without doing some programming. The file
is an Excel file, but I suspect that I can't achieve what I want with VBA.
Can you give me any advice on how I might accomplish this? I am quite happy
to do my own digging around when I know where to look!

WW

Sorry, I answered too quickly. What I said is true of Internet shortcuts,
which have the extension .url, but the display of that extension is
usually suppressed. They are plain-text files and easily manipulated.

Shortcuts to files or folders have the entension .lnk, again usually not
displayed. They are binary files, which makes them more difficult to
manipulate. The full filename of the icon file is stored in these
shortcuts as well, but it's going to take a program that understands the
file format to modify it.

Ah, I see, but still through a glass darkly. Can I check that I

understand?

To distribute a shortcut with the appropriate icon I create a text file such
as myfile.doc.lnk in the format you show and distribute it with the other
material. I put the text file in the appropriate docs&settings\desktop
folder. But where does the Modified string come from? If it isn't an
Internet shortcut what goes in the place of [InternetShortcut]? How can I
open shortcuts on my desktop as text files (Notepad doesn't seem to like
it)? And is there somewhere I can look this stuff up for myself rather than
having to bother you helpful people?

Many thanks.

WW

The path to the icon is stored within the shortcut itself, which is
actually just a text file. Here's a real-life example. The last line
identifes the file in which the icon resides. The IconIndex parameter
specifies which icon to use when there's more than one in the file.

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
Modified=D0EE6401A781C40110
IconIndex=0
IconFile=D:\Data\Config\MickeyMouse.ico


I have searched high and low and must be missing something. I'd be
grateful for
any pointers.

The path to an icon that a desktop shortcut uses must be stored
somewhere. I
want to be able to change an icon remotely, but I can't find how. Say
for
example that I have a file I distribute to collegues. I'd like to be
able to
assign a desktop shortcut with a custom icon, so that it is easy for
them to
open the file.

For the life of me I can't find how to do this. Someone please save
what hair I
have left!

Win 2000 of course.

 

[Wicked Wizard]

I am very grateful. May the good computing spirits smile kindly on you for
ever.

I don't have any real experience in this area, but perhaps somethng like
this will get the job done:

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBM/tip6000/rh6035.htm

Thank you. So in short I can't easily associate a desktop icon I have
created with a file I distribute without doing some programming. The file
is an Excel file, but I suspect that I can't achieve what I want with VBA.
Can you give me any advice on how I might accomplish this? I am quite happy
to do my own digging around when I know where to look!

WW

Sorry, I answered too quickly. What I said is true of Internet shortcuts,
which have the extension .url, but the display of that extension is
usually suppressed. They are plain-text files and easily manipulated.

Shortcuts to files or folders have the entension .lnk, again usually not
displayed. They are binary files, which makes them more difficult to
manipulate. The full filename of the icon file is stored in these
shortcuts as well, but it's going to take a program that understands the
file format to modify it.


Ah, I see, but still through a glass darkly. Can I check that I understand?

To distribute a shortcut with the appropriate icon I create a text

file
such

as myfile.doc.lnk in the format you show and distribute it with the other
material. I put the text file in the appropriate docs&settings\desktop
folder. But where does the Modified string come from? If it isn't an
Internet shortcut what goes in the place of [InternetShortcut]? How

can
I

open shortcuts on my desktop as text files (Notepad doesn't seem to like
it)? And is there somewhere I can look this stuff up for myself

rather
than

having to bother you helpful people?

Many thanks.

WW


The path to the icon is stored within the shortcut itself, which is
actually just a text file. Here's a real-life example. The last line
identifes the file in which the icon resides. The IconIndex parameter
specifies which icon to use when there's more than one in the file.

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html
Modified=D0EE6401A781C40110
IconIndex=0
IconFile=D:\Data\Config\MickeyMouse.ico


I have searched high and low and must be missing something. I'd be
grateful for
any pointers.

The path to an icon that a desktop shortcut uses must be stored
somewhere. I
want to be able to change an icon remotely, but I can't find how. Say
for
example that I have a file I distribute to collegues. I'd like to be
able to
assign a desktop shortcut with a custom icon, so that it is easy for
them to
open the file.

For the life of me I can't find how to do this. Someone please save
what hair I
have left!

Win 2000 of course.