IconPackager 4 Guided Tour

Take a look at the new IP4!

Thursday, May 15, 2008 by Island Dog | Discussion: OS Customization

IconPackager 4 is here and with this new release comes several new features, some of which will definitely please users of Windows Vista, and XP alike.  If you aren't too familiar with IconPackager, let me first start off with telling you what exactly IP does.  IconPackager is an application that allows you to change the icons in Windows.  The big advantage of using IconPackager is that it changes nearly the entire set of Windows icons at one time, so you don't have to change each icon individually.  This is done using sets of icon "pack", which there are hundreds available for download.

New User Interface

The first thing you will most likely notice is the completely new user interface.  The layout is much more clean and it's way easier to find both common and advanced settings and functions.  At the top of the configuration you have a set of tabs, that when clicked, will give you several more options for that particular section.

New user interface

In the "Look & Feel" section this is where you can browse, preview, and apply all your installed icon packages.  If you have a bunch of icon packs installed, IconPackager will let you sort through those by category type, and there are two different views for you to browse from.

Sort by category

Coloring Icons

There are so many great icon packs available, but what if you find one that just isn't the right color?  IconPackager will allow you to easily recolor the icons in a given set.  Using the various sliders in the Colors section, you can adjust the icon packs to a color more suitable for your skin or theme.

Icon coloring

If changing the color just isn't enough, then IP4 also has several filters that allow you to really change the looks of the icons.

Icon filters

Live Folders

If you use Windows Vista than you might be familiar with the Live Folders feature.  This feature in Vista gives you an icon showing the contents of the folder, not just a static icon.  IconPackager not only supports this, but will also allow users to set Live Folder icons independent of the icon package.  This can be very useful for icon packs that don't have Live Folder icon specified.

Live Folders

Shell Integration

If you are browsing through your files in Windows Explorer and stumble upon one that needs an icon change, there is no need to open the IP configuration.  Right-click the file and select the icon tab from the popup menu.  A new menu will appear and you can simply drag and drop a new icon in its place.  There are also several options available here also such as just changing the icon for the selected file only.  I use this to change the icons of individual files to make sorting and finding them even easier.

Shell integration options

Scale Pre-Vista Icons

Windows Vista has been out for a while now, but there are still many more icon packages made way before Vista was around.  IconPackager 4 introduces a feature that will scale icons to the 256x256 size of Vista icons.  This is great because you can now use those icon packs that had icons that just weren't made for Vista.  This setting can be found in the Settings tab.

IconPackager 4 settings

IconPackager is part of the Object Desktop suite of desktop enhancements, and is also available as a stand-alone application for Windows XP and Vista.  There is a free trial available and the full version is $19.95, with discounts for existing IconPackager users.  More information can be found at the IconPackager website.

Link: IconPackager

 

zakai1369
Reply #1 Thursday, May 15, 2008 6:18 PM
Skimming the page it looks like a good walk through as usual. But I'm feeling lazy today so I think I'll just wait for the Screencast
captainmoonlight
Reply #2 Thursday, May 15, 2008 11:48 PM
a very good walk through as usual. Thanks
Quicksilver007
Reply #3 Friday, May 16, 2008 6:25 PM
Good job Island Dog!
starkers
Reply #4 Saturday, May 17, 2008 1:43 AM
Thanks for the great write up, ID, it gave me a few tips on functions I was not aware of... like being able to assign 'live folder' status outside pre-defined packages and drag n' drop for files types upon right click. They're great features, but I would also like to see the drag & drop function extended to program executables/desktop shortcuts as well, particularly within Package builder and when changing icons in pre-built packages.

ladyj55
Reply #5 Saturday, May 17, 2008 1:00 PM
I always need step by step instructions.I have one of those fried egg brains   Of course mine is from years of stupid mistakes when LIFE shows up from time to time. Thank-you for taking the time  
starkers
Reply #6 Saturday, May 17, 2008 11:43 PM
I always need step by step instructions.


Me too... and in pre-school English cos most technical terms in computing/software use go right over my head.

Thank-you for taking the time


Ditto on that... and for all your other software/tech reviews, they're always informative and easy to follow.
Island Dog
Reply #7 Monday, May 19, 2008 11:53 AM
Thank you. 

Bressler
Reply #8 Monday, May 19, 2008 11:04 PM
The first thing I noticed about IP 4 is that it asked for activation everytime I ran it. Spent some time over the weekend downloading and playing with different icon packs and was opening/closing it alot.. Emailed support but by the time I received a response I had maxed out on activations and have been denied access to my own software!!
Disturbedcomputer
Reply #9 Sunday, July 25, 2010 3:04 AM

TO FIND AGAIN

Island Dog
Reply #10 Sunday, July 25, 2010 2:44 PM

Why are you bumping a two year old thread?

 

God_promices2050
Reply #11 Friday, January 14, 2011 6:08 PM

Ttgtdese

God_promices2050
Reply #12 Friday, January 14, 2011 6:09 PM

             Thank you very much for cool icon packager.........

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