Icon for a Start Menu item generated by CreateDirectory

Sooz24 · 27th October 2010, 19:41

I'm sure there is a simple answer to this...

I have an install that creates the following entries in the Start Menu

MyApp
Run MyApp
Uninstall MyApp

Both Run MyApp and Uninstall MyApp correctly show their icons. The parent 'MyApp' does not.

I'm using the following definition
CreateDirectory "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder"
CreateShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder\MyApp.lnk" "$INSTDIR\System\MyApp.exe" \
" " "$INSTDIR\System\MyApp.ico" "" SW_SHOWMINIMIZED
CreateShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder\Uninstall MyApp.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Uninstall.exe" \
" " "$INSTDIR\System\MyApp.ico" ""

How do I specify the missing icon?

Afrow UK · 27th October 2010, 19:50

Since when did start menu folders have program specific icons (by default)?

Stu

Wizou · 27th October 2010, 20:51

It is possible by placing a desktop.ini file in your folder. Give the file the attributes "hidden" and "system".
Inside desktop.ini, write the following: (with your NSIS script, so you can use the $INSTDIR)

code:
[.ShellClassInfo]

IconResource=C:\YourPath\MyProgram.exe,0

(you can use an EXE, DLL or ICO file. See also http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...8VS.85%29.aspx)

Apparently, you must also set the attribute "Read-only" on your folder. (only, not on the files inside)

And please make sure your custom folder icon still looks like a folder, otherwise the user would feel strange..

Anders · 27th October 2010, 23:59

I think the attributes you need to set can vary (IIRC there is a registry setting for it) and the page you link to tells you which documented function to call (Or just set system and read-only to be on the safe side)

jiake · 28th October 2010, 12:23

Maybe he said that one of the shortcuts created in start menu folder by his installer doesn't have an icon, that likes an executable file without any icon resource. He wants to show the icon he set in script.

flizebogen · 31st October 2010, 06:14

Making Icons for folders is a nice thing especially in a corporate environment. This way users can distinguish between start menu entries provided by IT department from the rest.

I ues this construct fairly often, it even works with limited user rights:

PHP Code:


			
!define PathMakeSystemFolder "!insertmacro PATH_MAKE_SYSTEM_FOLDER"

!macro PATH_MAKE_SYSTEM_FOLDER pszPath

    System::Call    "shlwapi::PathMakeSystemFolder(t '${pszPath}') i."

!macroend



Section "Make Shortcuts"

  WriteINIStr "$SMPROGRAMS\Some Folder\Desktop.ini" ".ShellClassInfo" "IconFile" "$SYSDIR\shell32.dll"

  WriteINIStr "$SMPROGRAMS\Some Folder\Desktop.ini" ".ShellClassInfo" "IconIndex" "188"

  ${PathMakeSystemFolder} "$SMPROGRAMS\Some Folder"

SectionEnd

27th October 2010, 19:41	#1
Sooz24 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7	Icon for a Start Menu item generated by CreateDirectory I'm sure there is a simple answer to this... I have an install that creates the following entries in the Start Menu MyApp Run MyApp Uninstall MyApp Both Run MyApp and Uninstall MyApp correctly show their icons. The parent 'MyApp' does not. I'm using the following definition CreateDirectory "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder" CreateShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder\MyApp.lnk" "$INSTDIR\System\MyApp.exe" \ " " "$INSTDIR\System\MyApp.ico" "" SW_SHOWMINIMIZED CreateShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder\Uninstall MyApp.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Uninstall.exe" \ " " "$INSTDIR\System\MyApp.ico" "" How do I specify the missing icon?

27th October 2010, 20:51	#3
Wizou Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paris, France Posts: 304	It is possible by placing a desktop.ini file in your folder. Give the file the attributes "hidden" and "system". Inside desktop.ini, write the following: (with your NSIS script, so you can use the $INSTDIR) code: [.ShellClassInfo] IconResource=C:\YourPath\MyProgram.exe,0 (you can use an EXE, DLL or ICO file. See also http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...8VS.85%29.aspx) Apparently, you must also set the attribute "Read-only" on your folder. (only, not on the files inside) And please make sure your custom folder icon still looks like a folder, otherwise the user would feel strange.. My NSIS plug-ins: http://wiz0u.free.fr/prog/nsis.php Last edited by Wizou; 27th October 2010 at 21:32.

27th October 2010, 23:59	#4
Anders Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ${NSISDIR} Posts: 5,442	I think the attributes you need to set can vary (IIRC there is a registry setting for it) and the page you link to tells you which documented function to call (Or just set system and read-only to be on the safe side) IntOp $PostCount $PostCount + 1

31st October 2010, 06:14	#6
flizebogen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Berlin Posts: 172	Making Icons for folders is a nice thing especially in a corporate environment. This way users can distinguish between start menu entries provided by IT department from the rest. I ues this construct fairly often, it even works with limited user rights: PHP Code: !define PathMakeSystemFolder "!insertmacro PATH_MAKE_SYSTEM_FOLDER" !macro PATH_MAKE_SYSTEM_FOLDER pszPath System::Call "shlwapi::PathMakeSystemFolder(t '${pszPath}') i." !macroend Section "Make Shortcuts" WriteINIStr "$SMPROGRAMS\Some Folder\Desktop.ini" ".ShellClassInfo" "IconFile" "$SYSDIR\shell32.dll" WriteINIStr "$SMPROGRAMS\Some Folder\Desktop.ini" ".ShellClassInfo" "IconIndex" "188" ${PathMakeSystemFolder} "$SMPROGRAMS\Some Folder" SectionEnd

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27th October 2010, 19:50	#2
Afrow UK Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 8,434	Since when did start menu folders have program specific icons (by default)? Stu

28th October 2010, 12:23	#5
jiake Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Shanghai, China Posts: 207	Maybe he said that one of the shortcuts created in start menu folder by his installer doesn't have an icon, that likes an executable file without any icon resource. He wants to show the icon he set in script.