|
|
Replace an icon with a picture in a dialog box.
This is really a fun little edit that lets you replace one of the three standard System cicn's with any PICT in select dialogs.
In the example, I used a picture of Mrs. ResExcellence. This graphic was color reduced for posting on the web. The actual screen snapshot is in thousands of colors.
What you need: at least one graphic 64x64 pixels. Leave it open in your graphics program while performing this edit.
 Let's get started by opening a copy of the System suitcase in ResEdit.
Scroll down to the PICT resource and open it with a double click. This will open a large window with all the PICT resources.
From the Resource menu, select
Create New Resource. A new, empty PICT window appears with ID#128.
From your graphics application, copy your new picture to the clipboard.
Select the empty PICT ID# 128, and paste in the picture (as I've done on the left).
You can now close the PICT resources.
In the System Suitcase, scroll down to the
DITL resource and open it with a double click.
You will see a very long list of the dialog boxes used throughout the MacOS.
 For our example, we'll use ID# -16500, the Power Off key.
Find ID# -16500 and open it with a double-click.
Our goal, is to replace the icon (item number 5) with a picture. Double click on the icon.
When you double click the icon, the additional box for item #5 opens. I find it easier to make adjustments if you arrange the windows the way I have them. This is what the windows look like after the following steps are performed.
First, select the popup menu (red circle #1) and select Picture. Enter your PICT resource ID number in the area shown by red circle #2.
Your picture will now appear, but the dimensions are wrong. I find it easy to set the Top, and Left positions to zero (red circle #3). Now you can keep increasing the bottom right numbers until you have the picture the right size. Use the arrow keys to move the PICT out of the corner.
Save your work and quit ResEdit. Replace the old system suitcase (save it for a while just incase) and restart the computer.
Now when you hit the keyboard power off key, you'll see the picture. By searching the web are a clip art collection, you could probably find photos of a Stop sign, Caution sign, and a happy face. Resize and paste the pictures into PICT resources, and modify the dialog boxes to use them. I think that would make for a beautiful system enhancement. Keep in mind, the pictures will only appear in dialog boxes you've modified.
|
|
