Icon Packager for Dummies

Am I supposed to be able to just drag and drop an icon from my folder of icons that I've developed to the Icon Builder section of Icon Packager and then save it? Or am I supposed to replace each icon in "Icons and Cursers," and then save the pack and then zip it?

It's been a really long time since I've build an IconPack, but I think either way will work. But....using the second method, I wouldn't save, and zip, I would Save Package As...

Would you change the name of the pack each time, Koasati? What I've been doing is just "saving," since the pack's already been named, and when it asks if I want to override the previous version, I click "yes." Icon builder seems less able to be able to save the pack as is, as compared to the "icons and cursers" section. One of the main issues is, even though I've got most of the pack built and loaded and saved, if I need to add an extra icon (ie control panel icons), when I do, that's when the shuffling occurs.

As a matter of fact, the last save I made converted even the default windows icons that I didn't replace to different icons.

Hi Donna,

In my opinion, the following is the most efficient way, and has always worked for me:

1 - Create a folder with all your icons needed for the package, and then open and expand it so that it occupies 1/2 of your screen vertically. Note - I suggest viewing them in "List" view (found under the folders "View" menu) and having them named in a way that is clearly identifiable to you.

2 - Open IconPackager and then use the "View menu > Package Builder" command to open package builder. Expand the package builder so that it occupies 1/2 of your desktop screen verically.

You want the two windows (1 is package builder, and 1 is the folder containing the icons in list view) to be side-by-side vertically.

3 - Now just drag-n-drop the icons from your folder onto the text location (such as 'My Documents'), or icon image in package builder. As long as the result of each drag-n-drop is an icon with a little green '+' sign next to it, you are in business.

4 - Once you have changed all the icons you want changed in package builder, use the "Save" button in the package builder toolbar to save your package.

5 - Close IconPackager, and then reopen it to refresh the list. Your new package should now be listed.

6 - Select the package and apply it to test. You can also use the "Preview" button to verify all looks good in the preview.

Important - I have noticed that IconPackager can be tempermental if you try to load a package and then open package builder to 'edit' the package. In some cases, this results in a corrupt package where some icons get misplaced. I do not know the cause, but I suggest building a new package for any editing, and removing any previous version of the package out of the "C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\IconPackager\Themes" folder to a temporary folder in say "My Documents" to hold until you successfully create the edited package.

This last procedure is time consuming, but in the end should result in an uncorrupted package that you can upload without fear of issues for other users.

I hope this helps. If not, post any issues and I would be happy to test here.

Excellent stuff Corky.... as per usual.

However, if I go to the "Icons and Cursers" section, those two icons aren't there to replace.

Interesting,

I believe that missing icons in the "Icons and Cursors" section indicate that those icons are not currently being used by the system, and are not applied by IconPackager.

For instance,

I run Office 2003, which does not include a desktop "Outlook" icon as previous versions did, and I do not run any "offline files" functionality which would provide for a briefcase icon.

Due to these facts, when the default Windows XP theme is loaded, the "Icons and Cursors" category does not show these icons.

This holds true if I apply the "Apogee" package and look in the "Icons and Cursors" category, even though Mormegil included those icons in the package.

I may be wrong here, but this has been my observation through experience with the program.   

Hey, K.   

Corky_O, you are exactly right

Important - I have noticed that IconPackager can be tempermental if you try to load a package and then open package builder to 'edit' the package. In some cases, this results in a corrupt package where some icons get misplaced. I do not know the cause, but I suggest building a new package for any editing, and removing any previous version of the package out of the "C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\IconPackager\Themes" folder to a temporary folder in say "My Documents" to hold until you successfully create the edited package.

Thanks Paul. And Koasati! I do believe the problem lies in "editing" the pack. Usually, the first time is the charm. But many times I will see an icon once the pack is complete that I feel needs tweeking. Deleting the old pack and rebuilding may be time consuming, but at least it is a solution!

When I donwnload an Icon Package I can see the file name if I go to Icon Explorer. But when I click the Packages Icon to show the particular package so I can install it. There is nothing there. The address seems to be correct. It's the same address as the ones that installed correctly. I download...but can't figure out how to install. Shouldn't I just be able to go to the "Packages" Icon and see all my Icon Packages?

But when I click the Packages Icon to show the particular package so I can install it. There is nothing there.

By install, I'm assume you mean applying the IconPack, since it wouldn't be listed in Packages if it wasn't already installed.
Are you clicking the "Load" button? When you select a package, you can Preview it, but the icons won't show in "Icons and Cursors" until you "load" it.

Does that help?