|
|
Appearance Extension
 |
One of the more exciting new pieces of MacOS 8 is the Appearance Extension. With it, Apple has consolidated many of the different types of icons that were spread among the Finder, System suitcase, various other extensions, and even the Apple ROM.
This week, I'll show you some of these icons, and their locations in the Appearance Extension.
One word of caution before we get started. The Finder expects the Appearance Extension to be in either the Extensions Folder or the Extensions Folder (disabled). Your computer can crash immediately upon moving the extension out of its' folder. I recommend using the duplicate command on the extension, and leaving the copy in the Extensions folder until you are finished with your modifications. Then remove the original, rename the copy, and restart your computer.
 Open your copy of the Appearance Extension with ResEdit, find the cicn resource and open it with a double click.
 The cicn resource contains the icons that appear in your common dialog boxes.
These icons that I'm currently using were downloaded from the internet. I can't remember where, but I'm sure they're freeware, so if you'd like a copy, let me know.
 Double clicking on an icon opens the editing box.
Notice that cicn icons don't have small or 4 bit versions. Other than that, you can use the tools to modify the icons any way you wish.
 After you're finished viewing the cicn's, find the icl8 resource window, and open it with a double click.
 This is where the most dramatic changes are apparent. You now have access to desktop icons that previously resided only in ROM.
For example, look at icon -3998, the floppy disk. In the past, you had to custom paste an icon into every disk if you didn't like Apple's plain old black and white icon, but now you can change any icon to be your default floppy icon (or CD ROM, or RAM disk!).
When I first opened the Appearance Extension, I discovered the beautiful number -3997, a blue folder with some pages showing. I adapted the folder as my default folder theme, replacing all the traditional "Copland" style of 3-D folder.
By recoloring the standard BeBox trash icon, and using some 3-D document icons I found at info-mac in a collection called "Copland Document Anthology", I've customized my default icons to give my desktop a unique style.
As you hunt around the Appearance Extension, be sure to look at all the smaller icons in the ics8 resources. If you have a Powerbook, you can customize the battery icon that's displayed with Date and Time.
While it provides you many powerful options , it's difficult to do any serious damage if you stick to editing icon resources.
 This is what the folder icons look on my computer.
Most of these custom folders were created with a hacked copy of "Deluxe Folder Icon Maker".
If you have a favorite folder style, or if you use a Kaleidoscope scheme with custom icons, and you want to create application folders that match, stop by next week and I'll show you the "Deluxe Folder Icon Maker" hack.
|
|
