How Do I Change The Icons In The Library?

[joelandsonja]

I guess I'll make this one simple, how do I change the icons for the Library Folders?

 

[whs]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3011-libraries-icons-change.html

 

[joelandsonja]

I'm glad you posted that, I tried doing that method before, but for some reason the icons default to a blank folder when I rename each icon. Could someone perhaps tell me exactly what I am supposed to write (The Path to icon) as it is shown in section 5:

Example Shown Below:

5. To Use a Custom Icon of Yours - A) Look for the <iconReference>"path to icon w/file extension"</iconReference> line. (See screenshots above)

NOTE: If this is a new Library that you have created, then the line will not be there and you will need to add the <iconReference>"path to icon w/file extension"</iconReference> line directly under the <isLibraryPinned>-1</isLibraryPinned> line entry.
​

B) In Notepad, substitute path to icon w/file extension in quotes to the full path of the custom icon that you want to use for the default Library icon instead.

The icons I want to use are located in my Pictures folder (my library) and they are in a second folder called 'Folder Icons' ... the Icons are named ... 'Documents.ico', 'Films.ico', 'Music.ico' and 'Pictures.ico' ... could someone please write out the exact path that I am supposed to write into the icon reference?

 

[derekimo]

You could just use this,
Replace Librarie Icons by ~bluefisch200 on deviantART

 

[Airbot]

I'm glad you posted that, I tried doing that method before, but for some reason the icons default to a blank folder when I rename each icon. Could someone perhaps tell me exactly what I am supposed to write (The Path to icon) as it is shown in section 5:

Example Shown Below:

5. To Use a Custom Icon of Yours - A) Look for the <iconReference>"path to icon w/file extension"</iconReference> line. (See screenshots above)

NOTE: If this is a new Library that you have created, then the line will not be there and you will need to add the <iconReference>"path to icon w/file extension"</iconReference> line directly under the <isLibraryPinned>-1</isLibraryPinned> line entry.
​

B) In Notepad, substitute path to icon w/file extension in quotes to the full path of the custom icon that you want to use for the default Library icon instead.

The icons I want to use are located in my Pictures folder (my library) and they are in a second folder called 'Folder Icons' ... the Icons are named ... 'Documents.ico', 'Films.ico', 'Music.ico' and 'Pictures.ico' ... could someone please write out the exact path that I am supposed to write into the icon reference?

Probably something like for example -

C:\Users\yourusernamehere\Pictures\Folder Icons\Documents.ico

so..

<iconReference>C:\Users\yourusernamehere\Pictures\Folder Icons\Documents.ico</iconReference>

 

[johngalt]

Got an easier method here - use this tool: Zorn Software Blog Archive Win7 Library Tool - Simplicity is the Essence of Good Design

 

[Arc]

You could just use this,
Replace Librarie Icons by ~bluefisch200 on deviantART

Nice Found, Derek ! It will help an icon freak like me a lot . Just one thing .... is not is possible to extend the scope of the program out of library icons .... it access the entire imageres

 

[derekimo]

You could just use this,
Replace Librarie Icons by ~bluefisch200 on deviantART

Nice Found, Derek ! It will help an icon freak like me a lot . Just one thing .... is not is possible to extend the scope of the program out of library icons .... it access the entire imageres

I'm not sure, you can try it.:huh:

I only used it to change the library icons on my last install I haven't gotten around to doing it on my current ones yet.

 

[Arc]

I'm not sure, you can try it.:huh:

I only used it to change the library icons on my last install I haven't gotten around to doing it on my current ones yet.

It does change only the library icons, Derek !

I told about the possibility of the program ... it should be enhanced by the programmer in such a way that all the system icons should be changed . If it can change the library icons from imageres, it will be able to do the same things for the icons other than library icons

 

[joelandsonja]

Problem solved, thanks for all the help folks!

 

[derekimo]

How did you solve it? In case anyone else has this problem.

 

[johngalt]

I'm not sure, you can try it.:huh:

I only used it to change the library icons on my last install I haven't gotten around to doing it on my current ones yet.

It does change only the library icons, Derek !

I told about the possibility of the program ... it should be enhanced by the programmer in such a way that all the system icons should be changed . If it can change the library icons from imageres, it will be able to do the same things for the icons other than library icons

Actually, no.

The Library 'folders' are not actual folders. They are simply XML files that contain information that is read by Windows 7, creating, in effect, a 'virtual folder'.

Therefore, changing the icons associated with these virtual folders is not the same thing as changing a system icon for other things, not at all.

If you use the tool I linked to it not only does the icon, but also allows you to create your own Library folders as well, and use folders in any location. It also allows you to save the info into another file so if you do like I do, move the location of the library folders (the real folders that they point to) to other locations, and an update reverts them to default locations, you can simply re-apply your changes in a single step.

 

[derekimo]

I'm not sure, you can try it.:huh:

I only used it to change the library icons on my last install I haven't gotten around to doing it on my current ones yet.

It does change only the library icons, Derek !

I told about the possibility of the program ... it should be enhanced by the programmer in such a way that all the system icons should be changed . If it can change the library icons from imageres, it will be able to do the same things for the icons other than library icons

Actually, no.

The Library 'folders' are not actual folders. They are simply XML files that contain information that is read by Windows 7, creating, in effect, a 'virtual folder'.

Therefore, changing the icons associated with these virtual folders is not the same thing as changing a system icon for other things, not at all.

If you use the tool I linked to it not only does the icon, but also allows you to create your own Library folders as well, and use folders in any location. It also allows you to save the info into another file so if you do like I do, move the location of the library folders (the real folders that they point to) to other locations, and an update reverts them to default locations, you can simply re-apply your changes in a single step.

Thanks John, I downloaded that tool to check it out, Thanks for the added info as well.

 

[Arc]

Actually, no.

The Library 'folders' are not actual folders. They are simply XML files that contain information that is read by Windows 7, creating, in effect, a 'virtual folder'.

Therefore, changing the icons associated with these virtual folders is not the same thing as changing a system icon for other things, not at all.

If you use the tool I linked to it not only does the icon, but also allows you to create your own Library folders as well, and use folders in any location. It also allows you to save the info into another file so if you do like I do, move the location of the library folders (the real folders that they point to) to other locations, and an update reverts them to default locations, you can simply re-apply your changes in a single step.

Thanks for the info, John ! I was not aware of that , coz the library icons are displayed in imageres as real icons alongwith them . So it is difficult to understand that they are not real. I know that the folders are virtual, but the attachment is the ground of my thinking that the icons are real

 

[johngalt]

Derekimo - no problem.

Arc - Actually, in that tool, you're looking at *real* icons in the imageres.dll file, and the tool is showing the .XML files that Win7 translates into Library folders as folders, so it is easy to make the incorrect association.

We have a number of tutorials dealing with the Library folders, see http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3011-libraries-icons-change.html and the related tutorials underneath it.

 

[Arc]

Derekimo - no problem.

Arc - Actually, in that tool, you're looking at *real* icons in the imageres.dll file, and the tool is showing the .XML files that Win7 translates into Library folders as folders, so it is easy to make the incorrect association.

We have a number of tutorials dealing with the Library folders, see http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3011-libraries-icons-change.html and the related tutorials underneath it.

Hi John ! Thanks for the clarification again !!
Yes I am aware of all these tutorials, in fact the last one underneath (the resource hacker thing ) is posted by me . So it was my assumption that the icons may be changed in a similar way (I said it was my assumption, gathered from experience. I dont claim it to be true ).

In fact I was in search of a handy tool that is capable to change system icons of windows, comes in free, and handy to operate. Seeing that program that Derek provided the link, I thought if it may be extended to other system icons I dont know programing , so I cannot have a try

If any of our members with ample knowledge of programing have some interest in this matter, I would be nice

 

[joelandsonja]

I'm sure the program works well, but it was Airbot's suggestion that fixed my problem.

Probably something like for example -

C:\Users\yourusernamehere\Pictures\Folder Icons\Documents.ico

so..

<iconReference>C:\Users\yourusernamehere\Pictures\Folder Icons\Documents.ico</iconReference>

Thanks for the help regardless!