WTD: Change a file icon

M

ms

W98SE

I changed my zip file association from IZarc to Power Archiever using Winfile and
also used Explorer/View/folder options\file types. In Edit, I browsed to a icon I
had used previously. Closed out, rebooted, PA is now my default zip utility.
But I have icon problems. The icon I changed to does not show up, I see a generic
transparent icon for a zip file. This happens frequently with the zip association.

What utility will reliably change a file icon?

TIA

Mike Sa
 
D

dadiOH

ms said:
W98SE

I changed my zip file association from IZarc to Power Archiever using
Winfile and also used Explorer/View/folder options\file types. In
Edit, I browsed to a icon I had used previously. Closed out,
rebooted, PA is now my default zip utility.
But I have icon problems. The icon I changed to does not show up, I
see a generic transparent icon for a zip file. This happens
frequently with the zip association.

What utility will reliably change a file icon?

Same as always, Windows. You know...

Explorer
View
Folder options
File types
Power Archiver Zip File
Edit
Change icon


Two BTWs...
1. Winfile does exactly the same thing as above. It (Winfile) is a
holdover from Win3.1 days, no advantage/reason to using it - especially
since it shows you DOS names.

2. Power Archiver's default icon (what you'll get if you don't
browse when changing the icon) is sort of a washed out wood clamp. Is
that the one you got? Isn't transparent though...you couldn't see it if
it was.


--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
 
J

jmatt

G'Day Mike , here are some links that may help .

Icons Randomly Change to Different Icons
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q132668

http://www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/icon.html

Icon Programs
http://www.webattack.com/freeware/gmm/fwicontools.shtml

System Icon Cleaner
http://www.dansmc.com/freestuff/nobucks/system.htm
System Icon Cleaner is a simple, easy to use application that is
designed to remove redundant icons from the System's Image List or
SIL.
Removing icons from the SIL does not remove them from your system, so
you never have to worry about losing any of your favorite icons.
It's just one of those small performance issues that can make your
computer run faster and more efficient.

Snidesoft IconEdit
http://www.jhoodsoft.org/05_media.html
http://www.snidesoft.com/
http://www.snidesoft.com/snico2.html
http://www.snidesoft.com/products.html

Iconoid
http://www.sillysot.com/

IconPhile
http://www.virtualplastic.net/scrow/iphile.html
Icon Phile's main feature is document icon customization. Using
iconphile you can change the icon for any File Type on your
computer.

Icons have changed:
http://www.rselby.net/icons.htm#2
http://www.rselby.net/icons.htm#6

* Posted via http://www.sixfiles.com/forum
 
M

ms

dadiOH said:
Same as always, Windows. You know...

Explorer
View
Folder options
File types
Power Archiver Zip File
Edit
Change icon
Yes, as I mentioned, that's just what I did. With zip icons, this is not the first
time it's now worked as it should.
Two BTWs...
1. Winfile does exactly the same thing as above. It (Winfile) is a
holdover from Win3.1 days, no advantage/reason to using it - especially
since it shows you DOS names.

2. Power Archiver's default icon (what you'll get if you don't
browse when changing the icon) is sort of a washed out wood clamp. Is
that the one you got? Isn't transparent though...you couldn't see it if
it was.
Actually the one I like is the old Winzip "wood clamp" icon. But I didn't see what
you mentioned, just some plain generic icon.

Mike Sa
 
M

ms

jmatt said:
G'Day Mike , here are some links that may help .

Icons Randomly Change to Different Icons
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q132668

http://www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/icon.html

Icon Programs
http://www.webattack.com/freeware/gmm/fwicontools.shtml

System Icon Cleaner
http://www.dansmc.com/freestuff/nobucks/system.htm
System Icon Cleaner is a simple, easy to use application that is
designed to remove redundant icons from the System's Image List or
SIL.
Removing icons from the SIL does not remove them from your system, so
you never have to worry about losing any of your favorite icons.
It's just one of those small performance issues that can make your
computer run faster and more efficient.

Snidesoft IconEdit
http://www.jhoodsoft.org/05_media.html
http://www.snidesoft.com/
http://www.snidesoft.com/snico2.html
http://www.snidesoft.com/products.html

Iconoid
http://www.sillysot.com/

IconPhile
http://www.virtualplastic.net/scrow/iphile.html
Icon Phile's main feature is document icon customization. Using
iconphile you can change the icon for any File Type on your
computer.

Icons have changed:
http://www.rselby.net/icons.htm#2
http://www.rselby.net/icons.htm#6

* Posted via http://www.sixfiles.com/forum
Thanks, John.

I don't need to find, modify or create an icon. So, the only link that seems to
fit is Icon Phile and another, Resource Hacker. I will take a look at both of them.

Mike Sa
 
M

ms

ms said:
Yes, as I mentioned, that's just what I did. With zip icons, this is not
the first time it's now worked as it should.

dadiOH:

An update:
Using IconPhile and a cold boot finally permanently changed the file icon. It
seems to work like Explorer... Edit, but from past experience with the Explorer
method, that was not a fix even after a cold boot.

There is a difference to me between using Explorer/View/Folder options/File
types/X extension/Edit and the Winfile/Associate/extension method.

In Explorer, to change a file association, or if a program not only hijacks the
association, but removes the extension, it has to be recreated. And you have to
recreate the exact command line in the Context type (MIME) slot. Maybe easy for
you, but not for me.

In Winfile, when I browse to the new program, it registers the new association and
it takes effect. I've had very good luck with it so far.

Comment?

Mike Sa
 
S

Slarty


My method to change the Iconcache size at will, apart from a Log Off/Log
On, is simpler, no skills required.

With any text editor, open a new file and past the following script within
it:-


Option Explicit

Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Dim WSHShell, n, p, itemtype, mybox

p = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Max Cached
Icons"
itemtype = "REG_SZ"
n = "xxxxx"
WSHShell.RegWrite p, n, itemtype

MyBox = MsgBox("You must Log Off/Log On for the changes to take effect.",
48,"Done")


The figure for n = shown as xxxxx is a number of your own choice. I seem to
use a fair number of icons, so I usually put 15000 there.

Save the file with the extension .vbs - I just call mine iconcache.vbs - in
a convenient place where you can keep it and find it when required, and
then run the file and follow the instruction. Job done.

Cheers,

Roy
 
D

dadiOH

ms said:
dadiOH:

An update:
Using IconPhile and a cold boot finally permanently changed the file
icon. It seems to work like Explorer... Edit, but from past
experience with the Explorer method, that was not a fix even after a
cold boot.

If that is your experience I can only surmise that you aren't doing
something properly, no idea what. All that happens when you change an
icon for a filetype is that the registry pointer of the path to the old
one is replaced with the path to the new one. Perhaps your shellicon
cache is too small/not being refreshed but it seems to me that if it was
sufficient for Windows to display the old one it is also sufficient for
Windows to display the new one. Normally, the change is instantaneous,
no boot necessary.
_______________________
There is a difference to me between using Explorer/View/Folder
options/File types/X extension/Edit and the
Winfile/Associate/extension method.

In Explorer, to change a file association, or if a program not only
hijacks the association, but removes the extension, it has to be
recreated. And you have to recreate the exact command line in the
Context type (MIME) slot. Maybe easy for you, but not for me.

It's easy because there is no command line there. In fact, most file
extensions have *nothing* there. The only "command line" is for an
action...and that is entered automatically for you when you edit (or
create) the action and browse to the program you want to perform the
action.

If a file extension has been removed and you want it back it has to be
recreated regardless of whether you use Folder Options>Filetypes,
Winfile or any other app.
___________________
In Winfile, when I browse to the new program, it registers the new
association and it takes effect. I've had very good luck with it so
far.

The exact same thing happens when using Folder Options>Filetypes.
Browsing to the program with which you want to open a file type creates
the command line, no need to do it yourself.
____________________

You are certainly free to use whatever you wish but to me using Winfile
is beating one's self over the head. I mean, all it is is the
Windows3.1 version of Explorer and you have to navigate through DOS
names to find a file of the extension you want to modify instead of
having it right in front of you. Additionally, I see no way to change
associated icons nor a method to add or modify actions. There may be
methodology but it isn't apparent if there is.

Given the preceding, why not just use the Win9X method? Both it and
Winfile - and any 3rd person app - will be doing the same
thing...making/modifying a registry entry.

You have been having problems with icons and file associations for quite
a while now. IIRC, someone posted some informative links in one of your
previous threads; don't recall if this was among them but perhaps it
would be useful to you. Note that it is talking about using a
particular app (WAssociate) but the underlying principals are the same
using anything.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~wstudios/Associate/Associations.html


--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
 
M

ms

dadiOH said:
You are certainly free to use whatever you wish but to me using Winfile
is beating one's self over the head. I mean, all it is is the
Windows3.1 version of Explorer and you have to navigate through DOS
names to find a file of the extension you want to modify instead of
having it right in front of you. Additionally, I see no way to change
associated icons nor a method to add or modify actions. There may be
methodology but it isn't apparent if there is.

Given the preceding, why not just use the Win9X method? Both it and
Winfile - and any 3rd person app - will be doing the same
thing...making/modifying a registry entry.

You have been having problems with icons and file associations for quite
a while now. IIRC, someone posted some informative links in one of your
previous threads; don't recall if this was among them but perhaps it
would be useful to you. Note that it is talking about using a
particular app (WAssociate) but the underlying principals are the same
using anything.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~wstudios/Associate/Associations.html

Thanks for the info. I guess we have to find what works best for us. My icon
issues have been when using other archievers while still wanting to keep the old
Winzip icon.

Mike Sa
 
D

dadiOH

ms said:
Thanks for the info. I guess we have to find what works best for us.
My icon issues have been when using other archievers while still
wanting to keep the old Winzip icon.

That's what I do. Actually, I use Power Archiver's intrinsic icon for
all compressed files *except* zip.


--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
 

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