Icon changing question. - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

I just flashed a new rom, and am in the process of making some custom shortcuts for the start menu, in order to implement them into my programs tab on TF2d.
How does one go about changing the icons displayed by actual WM (and in turn, TF2d)? Again, I'm not talking about about UL, IFonz, Hi-nav, SPB Pocketplus, or anything that has a icon changing function already in place. If it were that cut and dried, I wouldnt be asking. The goal here to to use some of bluemetalaxe's icons to replace the generic DOS looking icons that you get when you create your own shortcut.
Could anyone here point me in the right direction? Previous searches have only netted results for the aforemention programs, and the only place you really see customized Windows Mobile icons are in cooked roms. Surely there is a way to do this without having to cook, im not in the mood to do THAT much tweaking.
Thanks in advance,
Colin

Yes - this is a relatively hard topic to find & understand from this forum. But through a bit of patience, it can be done.
Here you can read how to change icons for folders:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=339405&highlight=icons
For icons for individual files, I sort of learned by myself (read ^ that thread first):
Select an icon from your .dll
Select a setting or program to link to
Then, simply create a .lnk file that is structured like this example [for wi-fi settings]:
1#ctlpnl cplmain.cpl,17?\Windows\custicons.dll,-186

Thanks alot man, I appreciate your help. I'm saving that info to notepad for the archives, lol.

^ yeah no problem dude.
That's what I did - all the important info is stored away

Related

Custom icons or icons from Settings??

OK so since I got such a quick answer on my "spacer" question, I thought I'd try it again .
I have made a shortcut to the today setup in the settings. Only problem is that I need an icon for it. I saw in another post where someone created an exe file just for the icon basically. Could someone explain how to do that.
An alternative would be if I could use the icon from Start - settings - personal - today. But I have Icon Viewer as well as RViewer and can't find it anywhere.
I'd rather be able to use a custom icon, not only for this app but for others, but help on either would be greatly appreciated.
You want to use an icon dll.
Easiest way - download PHM Tools, find the icon dll, download Microangelo on your PC, use librarian, rip out the icons, make your own icons in studio, drop them into the now empty dll, and use that dll as your new icon dll.
In order to use the new icons, you need to know how to specify icon resources in shortcuts. Search against my user name for the word "completeness".
V
thanks VJ, I'll check it out when I get home tonight.
I also came across this while following a link from aximsite.
The Shortcut Editor was released on this forum first AFAIK
Have a search on our forum.
But have a read through my posts on creating custom shortcuts, it's very easy and will teach you the theory behind the practise.
I think you asked specifically about use of a DLL Icon library. Perhaps not... but it's a useful technique either way.
v
yeah VJ you're right. The aximsite link pointed me here to good ol XDA
Which PHM tool do I need? Is it the shortcuts app in PHM Plus?? I'm beginning to think I'm in over my head here.
TIA

Ultimate launch question.

Trying to create a button link to "settings" in my verizon ppc for UL, any ideas?
thank you very much.
Jon
"UltimateLaunchConfig.exe" is the app. What kind of "button link" do you want? In a UL button? or a hard button?
If you mean create a button to show the settings menu, this should work for you:
Go to Windows\Start Menu
Copy Settings
Paster a shortcut (for settings) anywhere.
create a new button using the shortcut you created​
AthenaLod said:
If you mean create a button to show the settings menu, this should work for you:
Go to Windows\Start Menu
Copy Settings
Paster a shortcut (for settings) anywhere.
create a new button using the shortcut you created​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Much respect to all first and foremost. From my experience with UL, that may work for some applications located in the Windows folder, but not all. For instance, you cannot create a shortcut for the Today settings to switch up your themes, Power/Soft Reset , or even Remove Programs either. There's a slew of programs that can't be made into shortcuts within UL. It's perhaps a limitation of UL.
But there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. If one desperately wants to create /include such applications (Power, Resetting, Today, etc) with UL, one can install Mobile Shell because it create shortcuts in itself, which UL can then detect. Pocket Plus may be able do the same, but I'm uncertain.
Also, the word on the street, the next version will be 'better' and I don't have the slightest clue as to when that release will surface. I'm no expert, just a big fan like of UL. My two cents.
this answer is a little bit wrong:
1. you can make a Shortcut to ANY wm setting. example: command: ctlpnl, param: cplmain.cpl,10 (for uninstalling software) search in the other ul threads.
2. Daniel Who wrote UL made also some "smartutilities" for make calll, toggle wifi, softreset and many more, google for it. this are small .exe you can link to.
yes, i was attempting to have a button inside of UL access the settings area. I have the xv6700 which appears to have a problem with keeping UL on the today screen after a soft reset. so before I soft reset I need to change my today plugin to something else. otherwise when i reboot nothing shows up and will not load any other plug-ins. Makes it easy to have a quick link cause I'm not a stylus fan.
Thank you very much guys. would have never thought of making a short cut of it. thanks again!
-Jon
bluemetalaxe said:
this answer is a little bit wrong:
1. you can make a Shortcut to ANY wm setting. example: command: ctlpnl, param: cplmain.cpl,10 (for uninstalling software) search in the other ul threads.
2. Daniel Who wrote UL made also some "smartutilities" for make calll, toggle wifi, softreset and many more, google for it. this are small .exe you can link to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good information. This seems to be a hot topic at the moment and assume this info hasnt been highlighted before. Perhaps a brave soul will post some shortcut command params, directions/instructions in their spare time, and have them listed/located in one thread for easy like the icons. (And also some of those "smartultilities" as well).
How about game area ? my problem 's it's difficult to create all game in icons. so I would like to make a link to call all game folder as when we call it by startmenu
robosiris said:
Good information. This seems to be a hot topic at the moment and assume this info hasnt been highlighted before. Perhaps a brave soul will post some shortcut command params, directions/instructions in their spare time, and have them listed/located in one thread for easy like the icons. (And also some of those "smartultilities" as well).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm not very brave, but I knew this page existed on PPCSG.COM, so I thought I'd share it. It shows how you can create .LNK files to many of the Settings Applets. Hope it helps.
-pvs
Here is a link to majority of the settings options:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=340974
Just find the one you want, open notepad on your PC copy the line into notepad, with only that text, and save as power.lnk, for example, then have the button set to that link.
Any Idea on how to add a folder shortcut? I want to have my different photo albums
Is there a way to specify the appropriate ICON in the .lnk file? I have the "cplmain.cpl,26" working but it just shows a generic icon.
Just change the icon in the display tab.
Folder Shortcuts
muzikfreakah said:
Any Idea on how to add a folder shortcut? I want to have my different photo albums
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever get an answer on this? If so, how do you make a shortcut to a folder? I've tried using the context menu of creating a shortcut and then having UL point to the shortcut but it doesn't open it.
Thanks for any info!
would like to know this as well.
bdumch said:
Did you ever get an answer on this? If so, how do you make a shortcut to a folder? I've tried using the context menu of creating a shortcut and then having UL point to the shortcut but it doesn't open it.
Thanks for any info!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hadn't used this yet, but resco explorer has an option (you have to edit the regsitry for it) that let's you load folders according to command line arguments (then you can use UL to load the folder in resco straight using a command line).
you should check it out.

WM 6.5 Start Menu Utility Request

Maybe an app already exists that does this, but searching hasn't revealed anything, so...
It's easy enough to add new folders to to the WM 6.5 Start Menu by creating them in
\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
From there, one can copy/move individual .lnk files into a folder so that everything of a type would be there.
Is there a preferably finger friendly app that will allow us to create folders then sort .lnk files easily? Right now it can be done using Total Commander, but it seems quite laborious, especially if one is in the habit of installing new ROMs every couple of weeks.
An added bonus would be something that let us pick icons for these folders.
HComber is a WM6.5 app that does this. It allows users to change icons for different shortcuts/folders but doesn't allow the rearranging of shortcuts.
If you want to change the icon folder just place a .lnk to the icon/dll. For Example you have a icon in a dll called shine2.dll in your windows folder you would use this for icon number 18:
Code:
1#Shine2.dll,-18
Just use notepad to edit lnk files. Theres a tutorial on the forum somewhere if you want more information.
Aegishua said:
HComber is a WM6.5 app that does this. It allows users to change icons for different shortcuts/folders but doesn't allow the rearranging of shortcuts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, downloading now!

WM 6.5 Start Menu query

After loading a number of apps I have tried to tidy up and reduce the number of icons on the Start Menu by making a few more category folders. This I can do but when I switch the apps into folders the icon also remain on the same page as well as in the new folder - which rather negates the point of the exercise. Oddly moving apps out of folders works fine.
Any suggestions out there? And I not sure whether this is a particular quirk with Dutty's ROM (Holy Grail) or just WM 6.5.
RaymondScrott said:
After loading a number of apps I have tried to tidy up and reduce the number of icons on the Start Menu by making a few more category folders. This I can do but when I switch the apps into folders the icon also remain on the same page as well as in the new folder - which rather negates the point of the exercise. Oddly moving apps out of folders works fine.
Any suggestions out there? And I not sure whether this is a particular quirk with Dutty's ROM (Holy Grail) or just WM 6.5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Create your new folder in /Windows/Start Menu/Programs for example a new folder called 'Tools' would be /Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Tools. Copy or create your shortcuts into this folder. Once in this folder check you have no duplicates in /Windows/Start Menu/Programs.....if you do, delete these
Fallen Spartan. Thanks for the quick response.
I think that is what I am doing but I end up with icons in both the main Start Menu plus in the new folder. Looking in file explorers the moved apps are only in the new folder not still on the main menu. I was hoping a soft reset might clear any "ghost" icons but they are still both there. Any further suggestions? Thanks
RaymondScrott said:
Fallen Spartan. Thanks for the quick response.
I think that is what I am doing but I end up with icons in both the main Start Menu plus in the new folder. Looking in file explorers the moved apps are only in the new folder not still on the main menu. I was hoping a soft reset might clear any "ghost" icons but they are still both there. Any further suggestions? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont copy them, make your new folder then cut and paste the shorcut you want from the root of the start menu folder to the new one
Raymond try this app sk shortcut manager, you get a free 14 day trial, if you still want to use it after that time you will have to buy a licence from here
http://s-k-tools.com/
That's fine now. The originial icons are disappearing from time to time - and not coming back. Bit odd really. (have realised that the phantom icons disappar from the mainstart screen when you you try to move them up or down ewith the context menu)
Second question if I am allowed that in one thread? No I have new folders anyway of customising the look of the icon?
Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere the forum is so big it is hard to follow current posts let alone hunt for old ones.
Thanks again
RE-start is a good app to customise ur start menu icons/folders... check this thread for more info
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=481379

[APP] Control Panel Settings to Links (.lnk)

Hi guys,
I know it's a 10 seconds job to create a link for items inside the control panel (settings) such as "Usb to PC" or "Power" but I'm too lazy to do it every time I try a new rom,
also I found some of the values change from rom to rom, so I create a really simple app that goes through the registry key which holds the settings items (KLM\Security\Shell\StartInfo\Start) and creates a .lnk file for each of these entries.
Having a direct link allows me to add that option as a quick link which is handy 8)
Anyway, here is the tool in case someone wants it.
The exe must be installed in "\Program Files\CplLinks" (Device). It only takes 11.5 kb. The only reason the .exe is needed after the lnk are created is to provide an icon.
When you run it, it reads the HKEY mention above and creates .lnk for each item in the "Settings" menu. The lnks are created in "\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\CplLinks" so are directly accessible through the Programs menu.
There are no messages, it runs and creates the links, no interaction whatsoever so do not expect any nice popup window 8)
Next version will use specific icons for each item, right now, all the links use the same icon from the cpllink.exe executable.
The icons for most of the Settings are .png files rather than .ico, and WM doesn't have an easy way to convert from .png into .ico, the idea for a "future version" is to collect all the .png files,converted to icons and create a dll on the fly with the icons as resources, so they can be referenced from the .lnk files
Couple of screen shots from the emulator.
Great application! It works like a charm! Thank you for this convenient time saver
EDiT (another time saver)
After applying a Hard Reset WE have to reinstall all programs if you have previously installed them in the memory card. Often it is sufficient to recreate the shortcut in the start menu. ShortCutCreator helps you to recover the exe files and to recreate the desired shortcut.
Thanks for sharing!
I guess would be better if I manage to provide a different icon for each link, but Icon support is quite limited inside VM. Need to work in the PNG to Icon -> .dll routine 8)
I though having the app in internal memory was a better solution than in \Storage Card, so it will take less time to load the icon from the program, but I can change it and allow that option, so the icons in the links are pointing to \Storage.. rather than \Programs..
Anyway, it just a time-saver thingy 8)
Nice app. It does not seem to work on WM6.1 though.
It does create a new folder structure: CplLinks\System inside the Start Menu.
Very nice. It does seems to create a bunch of redundant or non-used links though
Yep, I saw it only works on WM6.5, on WM6.1 there are no "StartInfo\Start" in the "KLM\Security\Shell\". Not sure where it keeps that info, maybe somewhere else in the registry.
I finally managed to convert PNG to ICO, so I think next version would allow you to choose which items you want to create links for rather than just dump everything 8)
dubidu said:
Yep, I saw it only works on WM6.5, on WM6.1 there are no "StartInfo\Start" in the "KLM\Security\Shell\". Not sure where it keeps that info, maybe somewhere else in the registry.
I finally managed to convert PNG to ICO, so I think next version would allow you to choose which items you want to create links for rather than just dump everything 8)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WM6.1 control panel is "HKLM\ControlPanel" if I remember correctly. There will be numbers for the mycpl stuff and words for some other control panel items like backlight, etc.
I think this post got lost in the last database disaster 8)
I wrote a new version of this tool that now gives you the icons for the control panel settings, check it out here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=791682

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