STYLE :::> Desktop Icons without Text / Shellobjects

Re: STYLE :::> Changing filetype icons :: VirtualPlastic.net

^L^ — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 19:43:42 GMT

VirtualPlastic.net ..surgery for Windows.
Collected tweaks & links to change the look.
http://www.virtualplastic.net/index.html

...z.B...

Changing filetype icons
http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/icn_file.html

General howto
The way to handle this manually (though there's no need to, anymore) is to open
(x:\Windows\, or x:\winnt\) regedit.exe and go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
Underneath the long list with extensions are the keys called 'drvfile', 'sysfile' etc.
Opening these you'll find a key called DefaultIcon. Clicking on these let's you see
the string value that specifies the path to the icon, on the right. Rightclick on the
string, choose Modify and enter the path to your own icon.

You might prepare a little, note which filetypes you wanna change and look for some
icons that look great together. Then create a folder somewhere, give the icons
a name you can remember. Much more easy if every time it's like "x:\icons\drv.ico".

Tools: IconPhile (free, all versions). It applies all these changes for you, lets you add
extensions and what's more, you can save all your changes as a scheme, to recover
after some installation puts the defaults back... or exchange it.
Another pro to this utility is you can apply an icon to all different extensions

Filetypes with icons inside
Some filetypes really shouldn't have an icon assigned to them,
because they have their own icon inside.
This particularly is the case with .ico, .cur and .ani files...

.ico, .cur, .ani
If you find there's assigned an icon on one of these filetypes and you can't
view them anymore, you can edit the registry to restore the default view.
Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and find the corresponding key underneath the list
of extensions (called "icofile", "curfile", "anifile").
Underneath is a key called "DefaultIcon". Modify the value on the right to say
"%1", like it should.

.bmp
These files are really just (multiple) bitmaps with another extension.
Knowing this it's not hard to imagine Windows can display the contents of a bitmap
as an icon (resized). This way you'll have an iconic preview of the bitmap,
making it easier to navigate your folders.
To achieve this find, at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, the key called "PAINT.PICTURE".
Again, to DefaultIcon and let the default value on the right say "%1".
Now you'll see your bitmaps in explorer.
You might need to edit some other key though, if your default image editor for .bmp
changed the behavior of this key and made it's own. Think creative here and search
for the name of the application somewhere in this area...

Want that happening for .jpg/.gif too?
Valery Tolkov provided a solution.
GIcons (free, Win 9x/2k) http://black.inforis.ru/tvsoft
is a shell extension that does it, and adds a preview property sheet too.

.exe, .dll, .cpl
There's also some common system files that have icons contained in them,
like .exe, .dll, .cpl. For executables you might prefer this icon to show up,
they're recognized better. Besides, you can assign an icon to those executables
that don't have an icon inside. Most iconchangers let you do so. If not, find the regkey
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\explorer\Shell Icons.
On the right, modify or create the string value called "3".
For .dll and .cpl you can't assign an icon to those files that don't carry an icon
(though .cpl files do, most of the time). You might choose to assign an icon to them,
this way creating a better view in your system folders.

For .dll, though, there is another option, to assign a custom icon, but have the ones
with icon(s) inside show that instead! grigri has a special .dll plus some simple
instructions to accomplish that.
Updated to work for .cpl and .ocx too, with seperate icons!

STYLE + LINKS :::> graFX freeware - Graphic Design Freeware

^L^ — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:35:48 GMT

graFX freeware - Graphic Design Freeware
http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/index.html

Banner & GIF Editors - http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/freebanners.html

CD Cover Printing - http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/jewelcase.html

Color Tools - http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/colortools.html

Font Tools - http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/fonttools.html

Icon Tools - http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/icontools.html

Image Compression - http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/imagecompression.html

Scrollbar Colorizers - http://www.grafxfreeware.homestead.com/scrollbarcolorizers.html

STYLE :::> Icon Phile - Ändert Icons von jedem Dateityp und Ordner

^L^ — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:30:58 GMT

IconPhile - Iphile 2.1

Icon Phile is a small utility for customizing Windows' system icons.
Using IconPhile you can change the standard Desktop Icons
(My Computer, Recycle Bin, Network Neighborhood, and so on),
drive icons, and folder icons (Open and Closed Folders, Printers, etc.).
Icon Phile will also help you change the icon for any file type on your computer.
Super-easy to use.

OS:  95/98/ME/NT/2K
Freeware by Tal Sella & Dor Naveh (c) 2000
Web site:  http://www.virtualplastic.net/scrow/
Download (290Kb):
http://www.virtualplastic.net/scrow/download.html

STYLE :::> Icon Phile - Ändert Icons von jedem Dateityp und Ordner

^L^ — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:30:58 GMT

IconPhile - Iphile 2.1

Icon Phile is a small utility for customizing Windows' system icons.
Using IconPhile you can change the standard Desktop Icons
(My Computer, Recycle Bin, Network Neighborhood, and so on),
drive icons, and folder icons (Open and Closed Folders, Printers, etc.).
Icon Phile will also help you change the icon for any file type on your computer.
Super-easy to use.

OS:  95/98/ME/NT/2K
Freeware by Tal Sella & Dor Naveh (c) 2000
Web site:  http://www.virtualplastic.net/scrow/
Download (290Kb):
http://www.virtualplastic.net/scrow/download.html

STYLE :::> Desktop Icons without Text / Shellobjects

^L^ — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:22:13 GMT

Desktop Icons without Text / Shellobjects
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=224324

In this thread http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=187826
I have explained how to create your own folders / shortcuts without text,
but these are completely different.
They are not based on Directories, it's no longer needed to hide the Protected System Files and they have Enhanced Context Menus. (See Right Screenshot)

...bla...

Install:
Each Icon has a separate reg file, import the "Add" regs from the Icons
that you want to use (double click & click on yes) and Refresh your Desktop.
Copy NirCmd.* to your Windows or System32 directory.
NirCmd is a great little free Command Line Tool (it does'nt run in the background)
and is included in the zip file.
Uninstall: Import the "Remove" regs and Refresh your Desktop.
Delete NirCmd.* from your Windows or System32 directory.

Important: When you have Multiple User Profiles on your Computer, use the
"Add Recycle Bin MUP.reg"
This Recycle Bin doesn't change his Icon when it's full & you can't drag files in it,
but you can empty and open it.
My Documents+ (Add My Documents+.reg") is a modified version of the real
My Documents Icon (Display Properties
-> Desktop Tab -> Customize Desktop -> General Tab: check the My Documents Icon),
it applies to all users!
I've added this one because it's the only way (yet) to have drag & drop support.
Don't use the regfiles that are older than the reg files in this zip file!
(Look @ the "edited" date @ the bottom from this Post)
If you have imported older versions of these files, run "Remove all.bat"
first and then import the "Add" reg files.

...bla...

If you have any questions about the reg files or about
how to create them, have a look at the Tutorial.
How to create your own nameless Desktop Icons with Enhanced Context Menus
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=224324&st=375&p=585581232&#entry585581232

With "Shell Object Editor" http://www.tropictech.de/software/shellobject
you can add Shell Objects like these to the Desktop,
My Computer, the Control Panel & the Network Neighbourhood.
You can't create context menus or nameless ones with it but it's a great tool
(and it's free).
If you want to create a nameless one, just give it an uncommon name,
search for that name in the registry and delete the value.
With this program you can also change the Icons and locations from existing
ones (right click and select Expert Mode). [Herby]

Textless desktop icons, enhanced context menu'splastic | 09 Mar. 2005
http://www.virtualplastic.net
Herby posted this on msgboard, and called it a 'tweak'. Well, it is,
and we really need to disect it, but it's one of the more radical,
innovative ideas I've seen for a long while: textless desktop icons,
with enhanced context menu's.
Comments:
http://www.virtualplastic.net/msgboard/comments.php?news=96

STYLE :::> Desktop Icons without Text / Shellobjects

^L^ — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:22:13 GMT

Desktop Icons without Text
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=224324

In this thread

Create a folder or shortcut without a name
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=187826

I have explained how to create your own folders / shortcuts without text,
but these are completely different.
They are not based on Directories, it's no longer needed to hide the Protected System Files and they have Enhanced Context Menus. (See Right Screenshot)

...bla...

Install:
Each Icon has a separate reg file, import the "Add" regs from the Icons
that you want to use (double click & click on yes) and Refresh your Desktop.
Copy NirCmd.* to your Windows or System32 directory.
NirCmd is a great little free Command Line Tool (it does'nt run in the background)
and is included in the zip file.
Uninstall: Import the "Remove" regs and Refresh your Desktop.
Delete NirCmd.* from your Windows or System32 directory.

Important:
When you have Multiple User Profiles on your Computer, use the
"Add Recycle Bin MUP.reg"
This Recycle Bin doesn't change his Icon when it's full & you can't drag files in it,
but you can empty and open it.
My Documents+ (Add My Documents+.reg") is a modified version of the real

My Documents Icon (Display Properties)
-> Desktop Tab -> Customize Desktop -> General Tab: check the My Documents Icon),
it applies to all users!

I've added this one because it's the only way (yet) to have drag & drop support.
Don't use the regfiles that are older than the reg files in this zip file!
(Look @ the "edited" date @ the bottom from this Post)
If you have imported older versions of these files,
run "Remove all.bat" first and then import the "Add" reg files.

...bla...

If you have any questions about the reg files or about
how to create them, have a look at the Tutorial.
How to create your own nameless Desktop Icons with Enhanced Context Menus
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=224324&st=375&p=585581232&#entry585581232

With "Shell Object Editor" http://www.tropictech.de/software/shellobject
you can add Shell Objects like these to the Desktop,
My Computer, the Control Panel & the Network Neighbourhood.
You can't create context menus or nameless ones with it but it's a great tool
(and it's free).

If you want to create a nameless one, just give it an uncommon name,
search for that name in the registry and delete the value.
With this program you can also change the Icons and locations from existing
ones (right click and select Expert Mode). [Herby]

Textless desktop icons, enhanced context menu's plastic | 09 Mar. 2005
http://www.virtualplastic.net
Herby posted this on msgboard, and called it a 'tweak'. Well, it is,
and we really need to disect it, but it's one of the more radical,
innovative ideas I've seen for a long while: textless desktop icons,
with enhanced context menu's.
Comments:
http://www.virtualplastic.net/msgboard/comments.php?news=96