Deluxe Folder Icon Creator (dFIC) is an EgoWare production. It is free to use, and may be freely distributed (as long as it is not sold or modified). However, I do ask that you please send me a postcard from your hometown. I want to hear from you, see your beautiful city, and mostly, I want you to tell me what a great guy I am for writing this program! Please, support Jim’s ego and the EgoWare concept!
Using Deluxe Folder Icon Creator
dFIC makes it simple to create attractive, custom folder icons. It does this by overlaying any file icon onto your choice of four folder icons: The standard System 7 folder, an attractive gray shaded folder, the “Copland” (System 8) style folder, or a diskette icon. To create your own Deluxe Folder Icon, simply follows these easy steps:
1. Open a file icon. There are two ways to do this. The first is to drag any file (not a folder) onto the Deluxe Folder Icon Creator application icon in the Finder. This will automatically open the icon. The other method is to launch dFIC by double clicking on it’s icon, then choosing Open… from the File menu, and then then open the file whose icon you wish to use.
2. Use the on-screen controls to choose the type of folder icon, size of file icon, placement of the file icon within the folder, and options for automatic “smoothing.” You may also position the file icon by using the four arrow buttons, or the arrow keys on your keyboard. If you’d like to know what function a particular control serves, simply move your cursor over that control, and a brief help message will appear in the window. Also note that help is available by choosing About Deluxe Folder Icon Creator… in the Apple menu.
3. Save the file icon. There are also two ways to do this. If you click on Paste to Folder, your new Deluxe Folder Icon will be automactically assigned to the “parent folder.” The parent folder is the folder that contains the file you opened in the first step. If you’d like to copy the icon to a different folder, or if the parent folder already has a custom icon, follow Steps 4-8 instead.
4. Click on Copy to Clipboard to place a copy of your Deluxe Folder Icon in the clipboard. Note that if you previously clicked on Paste to Folder, and dFIC has informed you that the folder already had a custom icon, you do not have to click Copy to Clipboard. The icon has already been copied to the clipboard when you chose Paste to Folder.
5. Return to the Finder, and select the folder or disk whose icon you would like to change.
6. Press Command-I (or choose Get Info from the File menu). This will bring up a window with information for the folder or disk you selected in Step 5.
7. Click on the icon in the upper left hand corner of this window. A box should now appear around the icon.
8. Press Command-V (or choose Paste from the Edit menu). Your Deluxe Folder Icon should now appear.
Contacting the Author
If you would like to make any comments, suggestions, or complaints concerning Deluxe Folder Icon Creator, please feel free to contact the author at the following address (note that my address has changed since dFIC v1.5 was released):
Jim Cushing
720 S.W. 34th Street Apt L-122
Gainesville FL 32607
Please send EgoWare registration postcards to the above address. If you include your e-mail address, I will add you to my “EgoWare NewsGram” mailing list, so you will be able to receive immediate notification as new version of dFIC are released.
I answer all e-mail I receive (other than junk e-mail). You may contact me at:
jcushing@grove.ufl.edu
Updates and other goodies can be found at EgoWeb—The Official Web Page of EgoWare (be sure to read my essay on Clinton’s reelection while you’re there!):
http://grove.ufl.edu/~jcushing
Changes since dFIC v1.5
New Features
Deluxe Folder Icon Creator v1.6 meets two of the most common requests I’ve received from users of dFIC v1.5. First, the program now creates small (16x16 pixel) folder icons automatically. Previously, dFIC would only create large (32x32 pixel) folder icons, relying on the Finder to scaled them down to the small size. This didn’t always result in the most attractive icons.
Second, dFIC v1.6 includes a “Smoothing” feature that you may turn on or off. Smoothing enhances the appearance of some small file icons by removing jagged edges through a process known as “anti-aliasing.” This option works well for certain icons, while it makes other appear washed-out or blurry. Experiment with the Smoothing option and see which grants you the best looking icon.
In addition, just two days before dFIC v1.6 was to be released, I received a request to include the lavendar System 7 folder icon. This is now the “Standard” folder icon. What was called the “Standard” folder in dFIC v1.5 is now called “Shaded” in dFIC v1.6. Thanks for the suggestion, B.R.M. of St. Louis.
You'll also notice a few visual differences between dFIC v1.6 and its predecessor. Some of these changes, such as the new logo and improved button appearance, are purely aesthetic. Other’s serve a deliberate function. For example, to make room for the “Smoothing” button, the Destination button (which was used to select between copying to the clipboard or pasting to the folder) was eliminated, as was the “OK” button. In place of these two buttons, you will now find two others: “Copy to Clipboard” and “Paste to Folder.” Note that Copy to Clipboard is now always available, although Paste to Folder is only active when you have opened a file.
Bug Fixes
dFIC v1.6 fixed several bugs present in dFIC v1.5. Most notably, icons now draw properly at all depths, and a memory leak that could cause dFIC to crash was eliminated.
dFIC v1.6.1 corrected some other errors still present in dFIC v1.6. Another memory leak introduced in dFIC v1.6 that could cause the application to run out of memory while opening files has been eliminated. Icons for files that contain only black and white or 16-color no longer appear garbled. Finally, dFIC now displays the proper icon for stationery files.
If you should discover any other bugs, please contact me.
The author, Jim Cushing, assumes no liability for actual or consequential damage caused by use of this product, including, but not limited to, loss of data, time, or profit. The user assumes full risk for any damage or loss that may occur through its use.
Deluxe Folder Icon Creator was developed with Metrowerks CodeWarrior 10; therefore, some portions of its object code may be copyrighted by Metrowerks, Inc.
Apple Computer, Macintosh, and Mac OS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Metrowerks and CodeWarrior are trademarks or registered trademarks of Metrowerks, Inc. Other trademarks are held by their respective companies.
