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• Refresh folder icons

• Refresh folder icons

  Zvi Twersky > 2019-12-17 03:23

  I have a folder that contains sub-folders of clients. I have a script that colors each folder red or green, depending on if the client is in debt.
  The script works by adding desktop.ini files to the folders and setting the folder properties as needed.
  
  After the script runs, I refresh the Explorer Icon Cache with another script.
  using "C:\Windows\System32" ie4uinit.exe -show
  
  As you can see in the screenshots, Windows Explorer creates the desktop.ini files but doesn't change the colors of most of the folder, even after restarting Explorer.
  
  But as you also see, the Quick-Acces-Popup DOES refresh all the colors!
  
  So my question is, how is QAP smarter than Bill Gates? 
  
  
  
  

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  Jean Lalonde > 2019-12-17 10:17

  LOL. Let me call Bill and I'll explain.
  
  When QAP display a favorite folder, it checks for the custom ison info in the desktop.ini file. It is done each time the QAP menu is refreshed.
  
  In my experience, after creating or changing the desktop.ini file of a folder, Windows Explorer can take some time before showing the custom icon (30 secs, up to 1 minute).
  
  BTW, you will not use it in Live Folders but you may be interested in this feature related to Windows Explorer custom icons:
  Can I sync menu icons with custom Windows folder icons?

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  Zvi Twersky > 2019-12-17 11:38

  Thanks. Yes, I know all of that and use it with QAP.
  
  Here's something interesting...
  If I click any of my customer folders, choose properties, click on the Customize tab, and don't do anything there except click "ok," the folder color will change to what the ini file says.
  
  So I know my code is ok. It's just not refreshing correctly for some reason.
  
  But this isn't a QAP issue so I'm not expecting a solution here Just wanted to share.

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  Zvi Twersky > 2019-12-17 13:28

  Solved it.
  
  In ahk it's simple:
  
  RunWait, %comspec% /c attrib +r "D:\PROJECTS\00_DIGITAL_ALBUMS\ID019_YANIV_BEN_CHAKUN",, Hide
  
  But I was doing this in VBA so it's:
  
  Dim PID As Variant
  Dim FullPath As String
  FullPath = "cmd /c attrib +r " & sf
  PID = Shell(FullPath, vbHide)

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  Jean Lalonde > 2019-12-17 13:43

  This is true. I remember the folder has to be read-only before the custom icon become visible in Windows Explorer. But this is not required by QAP.

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  LaurentG > 2019-12-17 16:16

  (2019-12-17 10:17)Jean Lalonde Wrote: When QAP display a favorite folder, it checks for the custom ison info in the desktop.ini file. It is done each time the QAP menu is refreshed.

  
  Hi Jean
  
  what you write is only true for sub-folders of a Live Folder (inc top folder itself, ie. live folder itself)
  
  But on the other hand, it is not the case for favorites themselves.
  There are efficient mechanisms to synchronize "Desktop.ini" icon and favorite's icon, but only at favorite creation time. If afterwards Desktop.ini is updated, favorite's icon is not.
  
  It could be an (interesting IMHO) option to be able to define favorite's icon as "dynamic", ie based on Desktop.ini content and automatically refreshed if desktop.ini is updated, or even reset to default icon if desktop.ini is deleted or icon definition removed from it (of course, this option woud be only for favorites corresponding to a folder).
  
  And while I am on suggestions, another one : Sometimes, folders may have also a "localized" name (this is also done via Desktop.ini). But if these folders appear in QAP as sub-folder of a live folder, they appear under their real name, not their localized name.
  It would be interesting to display them with their localized name (may be an option could allow to choose between both behaviours).
  
  <PrivateMode for french speaking people>
  Heureusement que tu es francophone, car dans un Windows en Français il y a beaucoup de folders avec un nom traduit, et je suis donc sur que tu comprends de quoi je parle, alors que dans un Windows en Anglais, il n'y a sans doute que peu de différences entre nom interne et nom localisé, et tu aurais pu ne pas voir de quoi je parlais si tu avais été anglophone....
  </PrivateMode for french speaking people>
  

  ---

  (2019-12-17 13:43)Jean Lalonde Wrote: I remember the folder has to be read-only before the custom icon become visible in Windows Explorer.

  
  Actually, read-only attribute of folder is necessary to have localized name (I'm talking about in my previous answer) taken into account, but not for custom icons, which are displayed even if the folder is not read-only

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  Jean Lalonde > 2019-12-17 16:54

  Bonjour Laurent,
  
  You are correct. What I was mentioning was for Live folders only.  I like your suggestions. Added to the wishlist:
  
  https://forum.quickaccesspopup.com/showt...hp?tid=458
  https://forum.quickaccesspopup.com/showt...hp?tid=459
  
  > Actually, read-only attribute of folder is necessary to have localized name (I'm talking about in my previous answer) taken into account, but not for custom icons, which are displayed even if the folder is not read-only
  
  I've seen different infos about this before. Some sources said that the folder had to be "system", and others "read-only". When coding the command setting custom folder icon from folder's icon, I found that it worked well when folder is set "read-only" and this is what QAP is doing actually. I'm not sure if this is required. It could depend on Windows versions. Anyway, I think I'll keep it that way since you tell me this would be required for localized names.

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  LaurentG > 2019-12-18 03:10

  (2019-12-17 16:54)Jean Lalonde Wrote: > Actually, read-only attribute of folder is necessary to have localized name (I'm talking about in my previous answer) taken into account, but not for custom icons, which are displayed even if the folder is not read-only
  
  I've seen different infos about this before. Some sources said that the folder had to be "system", and others "read-only". When coding the command setting custom folder icon from folder's icon, I found that it worked well when folder is set "read-only" and this is what QAP is doing actually. I'm not sure if this is required. It could depend on Windows versions. Anyway, I think I'll keep it that way since you tell me this would be required for localized names.

  
  Hi Jean,
  
  I'm afraid we maybe misunderstand, between folder itself and its desktop.ini file.
  
  
  For sure, the Desktop.ini file is most often "System". Up to now, I even thought it was mandatory (and that otherwise, it wouldn't be taken into account), but I've tested and just discovered than even if desktop.ini in NOT "System", it works.
  And I'm sure (and was already sure before my testing) it does NOT need to be R/O
  For example, it's the case of C:\Users\Desktop.ini : Hidden System (but not RO)
  
  On the other hand, the folder itself has to be RO. Otherwise, desktop.ini is not taken into account. At least for custom icon and localized name. And I guess for other parameters as well.
  Same example : if you remove the RO attribute to C:\Users (without changing anything to C:\Users\Desktop.ini), it is then displayed as Users rather than Utilisateurs (in french version....)
  And each time you set a custom icon to a folder thanks to Windows Explorer (Right clic, "Propriétés / Personaliser"), this creates a Desktop.ini file but also set the folder itself RO. And if you "attrib -R folder" (without modifying the Desktop.ini file).... custom icon is no more displayed.
  But clearly, the folder is NOT set to "System" when you add an icon. And most of folders with Localized name are NOT "System" (eg. C:\Users)
  
  BTW, this behaviour with RO attribute is "strange". In "old MD-DOS time", to set a folder RO meant that you were no more able to modify the folder, ie. no more able to add or remove any file in it. This was actual "read only" behaviour.
  Now, the wording is still "read only".... but the behaviour is completely different : even with RO attribute, you can modify folder's content.... which means that the folder is NOT actually "read only"....

• RE: Refresh folder icons

  Jean Lalonde > 2019-12-18 10:43

  I agree the read-only wording for folder is misleading. And I confirm all what you said. In QAP, the folder is made read-only and the desktop.ini file is made hidden and system.
  
  Thanks for the precisions.
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