Introduction to IconPackager

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On your Start Menu, click on All Programs, then Stardock, then Object Desktop and you will see two applications: IconExplorer and IconPackager.  IconExplorer is a Windows Explorer like program that makes it easier for you to manage/create your libraries of icon packages.  IconPackager is the main application, so click on that icon.

You will see the IconPackager window open, which consists of: a menu along the top (beginning with Look & Feel), a sub-menu underneath that (Icon Packages), a sidebar menu down the left side, a preview area to the right of that and a selection of icon packages along the bottom.  The preview area displays what icon package your desktop has applied (installed), currently it's set to Windows Default Icons.  The preview shows what the currently selected icon package (or Windows default) will look like if applied to your desktop with: sample desktop icons, and a sample window (seen with icons inside).  Either double-clicking an icon package or selecting a package & clicking "Apply Icon Package" will change your computer icons.  You can also click the button in the upper, right corner, but you must first select a different package, before the button will appear.

 

The menu running along the top of the window allows you to navigate between: Look & Feel, Icons & Cursors, Settings and an About screen.  Most of the menu items have a sub-menu, which will be covered in-depth later in this guide. What is an Icon Package? An Icon Package contains icons that when applied to your computer will replace your current icons.  Some packages include icons of different sizes & number of colors so they can be used on more than one version of Windows and in different places (i.e. desktop, Windows Explorer, Start Menu).  Different versions of Windows support multiple sizes of icons.  IconPackager supports icon packages that also include cursors.  Additional icon packages can be downloaded from http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?libid=2, including hundreds of free packages.  You can also create your own icon packages with Stardock's IconDeveloper.

Icon sizes seen in difference places.

Types of Icons Windows icons are broken down by type (category) by IconPackager.  The following table gives some examples of each type:

 

Icon Type	Where it is
Desktop	These icons appear on your desktop and typically include: Vista: Computer, Internet Explorer, Network, and Recycle Bin. XP: My Computer, Internet Explorer, My Network Places, and Recycle Bin.
Start	These icons appear on your Start Menu, including: Internet, E-mail, Help and Support.
Folders	These are icons for folders in Windows Explorer, such as: Vista: Documents, Pictures, Music, Open Folder, Closed Folder, etc.. XP: My Pictures, My Music, Open Folder, Closed Folder, etc..
Drives	These are icons for folders in Windows Explorer, such as: Local Disk (Hard Drive), DVD Drive, Removable Drive.
Others	These are assorted icons used in different places and include: Shortcut Overlay (adds the shortcut arrow to a normal icon), Desktop, Audio CD.
Files	These icons are seen in Windows Explorer type windows when browsing files.  Each file type (i.e. Bitmap Image) is associated with a file extension (i.e. .BMP), but not every file type in the Windows registry (registered) has it's own unique icon.  However, you can change this on the Icons & Cursors: tab.
Launch	Quick Launch icons are located on the Task Bar, next to the Start Menu.  These are shortcuts to often used programs and may include: Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer and others. (If you don't see any icons, that toolbar has been disabled in Windows.)
Control Panel	These icons are in the Control Panel, examples: Vista breaks icons down between "Control Panel Home" (i.e. Security, Hardware and Sound) and "Classic View" (i.e. Add Hardware, System). XP: Internet Options, Add Hardware, Sounds and Audio Devices.
Cursors	These are the skins (graphics) that make your cursor look like it does.  For each state (i.e. action, in-action), the cursor may look different.  For each state (i.e. Normal Select, Busy, Text Select, Move) there is a skin that can replace it, just like replacing the icons on your computer.

Terminology Used in IconPackager Default - (as used in this documentation) is the way an option was set (i.e. checked box, unchecked box) when IconPackager was first installed.  This is handy, in case you ever want to return a setting to its default. Icon Package or Package or Theme - all refer to the same thing.  A group of one or more icons and cursors packaged together. Differences Between Windows Vista, XP & 2000 The main difference between these operating systems, is that Vista includes an additional tab for under .  Beyond that there are minor differences, and they will be noted in this documentation.