Different icons for different batch files (W98)

[Poulatien]

I'm trying to use batch files to automate my system. For example, I have a batch file that loads an email checker, firewall, and internet connection. I have another one that loads up a couple different word documents. My problem is that I can't assign these batch files different icons. It seems like windows wants pif and bat files to have the same icons, even when I enter a shortcut. If I modify one shortcut's icon, the icons for my other bat files change too. Is there a way to have different icons for each bat file?

[jmatt]

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

http://www.w3.org/Icons/

[jmatt]

Also ,
http://www.ibiblio.org/gio/iconbrowser/

[Poulatien]

It seems to me that the links you provided help with changing the icon for all bat files in the system.

What I want to do is have different customized icons for different bat files or different icons for the shorcuts to bat files. I couldn't find the information in the above links that would tell me how to do what i want to do.

[Mosaic1]

In fact, you shoule be able to just right click, cnoose propterties and Click the Program Tab and choose change icon. This should work.

However, if it doesn't try this. Put each of the batch files into its own separate folder and then try to change thier icons again.

[Poulatien]

I've tried the properties route... that just changes the icon for all bat files.

Putting each bat file in it's own directory sounds interesting, but since I want the bat files to be in the quicklaunch directory, it defeats the purpose.

I want to have icons on my quicklaunch bar that will start multiple applications or will do other cool things like reboot.

Maybe I will try making bats in their own directories and creating shortcuts to these icons and putting the shortcuts in the quicklaunch bar, but I have a feeling that will result in the same.

[Mosaic1]

You can still do that. Using the properties will create shortcuts. Drag those shortcuts to the Quick Launch toolbar.

Here's my reasoning. I sometimes have found that batch files which perform the same functions even though on different files, when inhabiting the same Folder can become confused. Seriously, I had three batches in one folder. Each batch was written to start a group of programs. But when I clicked any one of these batches, it would perform the tasks written in the other. So I gave up and separated them. They then functioned as written. This has happened repeatedly to me.
I was wondering if your icon problem was similar.

At any rate, putting each into a folder of its own and then creating a shortcut to the individual batches which you will then move to Quick Launch may resolve it. Give it a try. I'd be very interested to hear how that works out.

[Poulatien]

Tried it. Didn't work.

When I make a shortcut, the shorcut becomes a pif file. WHen I click on properties for the new shorcut/pif file, the properties say that it's using a given icon. But the icon isn't the one designated in the properties.

The properties point to a custom icon, but the actual icon is the default msdos icon for dos programs.

I give up.

[Mosaic1]

That's annoying. You have a problem. But try this. Compile the bactch files and then change the icon of the exes. I would think this would work.
Here's a link to bat2exe It is very easy to use.

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.computerhope.com/dutil.htm>http://www.computerhope.com/dutil.htm</a>

Read the info txt inluded. You may need to install the VB 4 runtime to use the program.It has a link for that too.

[Poulatien]

I tried that out.

First of all, the program outputs com files and not exe files which is strange considering the name bat2exe.

Again, the properties of the resulting com files say that the icon I specify is the icon for the file, but windows explorer displays the icon that is default for com files.

I use a program called icon packager that sets teh system icons. I don't have problems with other icons, but maybe this program is creating problems for dos-based programs?

It isn't too critical.

I just like knowing which icon means what. I wanted to create a seperate toolbar on my start bar that be specifically for bats... but my custom toolbars never survive a reboot (I posted a seperate message about that but nobody ever replied).

Oh well, thanks for the suggestions.

[jmatt]

Maybe 1 of these tools will help .

http://www.webattack.com/get/icon2bit.shtml
http://search.webattack.com/search/search.pl

[tnguy]

If you will right click on the *.bat file, and choose "Create Shortcut", you can change the icon of that shortcut, and no other shortcuts will be affected. Thus, you can have a different icon for each shortcut.

TNguy
Network Administrator
=-= N0, I am not the Computer Nazi, and NO you may not access the Control Panel =-=

[Poulatien]

As I said above, and I tried this and the shorcuts end up pointing to the wrong icons anyway. The properties of the shorcuts I create are the shortcut properties and they point to an icon that is not actually the one displayed. There's probably something wrong in general with my icon setup and it could be do to the fact I use IconPackager by stardock.

Thanks for the suggestion though

[bball]

Looks like you've tried about everything, how about copying the PIF files into the same directory as the batch files. Works for me!

Keep trying,
Bill