Install Icon...
Device icons (drives/trash/printer)
Device icons: installing an icon
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Device icons: changing an icon
Device icons: removing an icon
Icons for a single file or folder
Single item: installing an icon
(it's actually possible to use the same name (file-mask) for both files and folders. The two items, even though they use the same name-definition, have nothing to do with each other and are treated as two completely separate objects).
Single item: changing an icon
(files and folders are treated as two completely separate items, so even if they have the same name (file-mask), the icon-change will only affect one or the other).
Single item: removing an icon
or...
(files and folders are treated as two completely separate items, so even if they have the same name (file-mask), the icon-change will only affect one or the other).
If the name (file-mask) doesn't match anything you've installed earlier you'll get an error message. Try again, be sure to type the name of the file (or folder) exactly as you see it.
Icons for multiple items
Multiple items: installing an icon
Name | Will match |
*.TXT | Any file ending with the ".TXT" extension
(INFO.TXT, HELP_ME.TXT 12.TXT etc.) |
*.WAV | Any file ending with the ".WAV" extension
(ALERT.WAV, ABC.WAV, BELL.WAV etc.) |
AT* | Any file starting with "AT", but has no extension
(AT, ATARI, AT_HOME, ATTACK etc.) |
READ*.* | Any file starting with "READ" and ends with any extension
(READ, README, READ.NOW, READ_IT.1ST etc.) |
SCRAP.* | Any file with the exact name of "SCRAP" and ends with any extension
(SCRAP, SCRAP.TXT, SCRAP.IMG etc.) |
SCRAP*.* | Any file starting with "SCRAP" and ends with any extension
(SCRAP, SCRAPFILE, SCRAPSTF.123, SCRAP.TXT etc.) |
????.* | Any file with any 4 characters (or less) with any ending
(READ, READ.TXT, HIYA.AIF etc.). |
RE*.?? | Any file starting with "RE" and ending with 2 characters (or less)
(RE, REA, REA.ME, READ.ME, REX.AB, READ_ME.XY etc.). |
*.* | Any file
(makes no sense using: all files (and programs) will have the same icon!) |
Multiple items: changing an icon
(it's actually possible to use the same name (file-mask) for both files and folders. The two items, even though they use the same name-definition, have nothing to do with each other and are treated as two completely separate objects).
If the name (file-mask) doesn't match exactly the same definition as you gave the files when you first
installed them you won't get the icons replaced either. Instead, the new icon will now match
the new definition you just entered.
In this case you should remove that new icon (if you can remember
the name (file-mask) you just gave it).
Alternatively you can reboot the machine and start all over again (if you haven't made too many other
changes you'd rather not loose).
A useful tip: the "NEWDESK.INF" file is a plain ASCII text file which can be read simply by double-clicking it, or opening it in a text-editor. By looking through it (carefully if you're using a text-editor as you don't want to change anything!) you'll find all the file-masks previously used. Of course, if you made a file-mask but didn't save it this doesn't help as that particular file-mask is only in memory. Save the desktop, then look through "NEWDESK.INF" or (if you haven't made many other changes and can afford to loose them) reboot the computer and start over again.
Multiple items: removing an icon
(it's actually possible to use the same name (file-mask) for both files and folders. The two items, even though they use the same name-definition, have nothing to do with each other and are treated as two completely separate objects).
If the name (file-mask) doesn't match anything you've installed earlier you'll get the following error message meaning that you've never used this file-mask before:
...you may have gotten the name slightly wrong as the exact syntax is often hard to remember.
Try again (but be sure not to affect another file-mask which you've used for entirely different
files). Actually, the following might be of more help if you're confused and don't want to mess things up...
The "NEWDESK.INF" file is a plain ASCII text file which can be read simply by double-clicking it, or opening it in a text-editor. By looking through it (carefully if you're using a text-editor as you don't want to change anything!) you'll find all the file-masks previously used. Of course, if you made a file-mask but didn't save it this doesn't help as that particular file-mask is only in memory. Save the desktop, then look through "NEWDESK.INF" or (if you haven't made many other changes and can afford to loose them) reboot the computer and start over again.
Desktop icons
Desktop icons: installing an icon
Desktop icons: changing an icon
Desktop icons: removing an icon
Desktop/window icons: a summary
Some notes about window icons
Some notes about desktop icons
Install Application...
The Installation parameters are as follows:
Install Devices
Remove Desktop Icon
Set Preferences...
Be careful with this one as it's very easy to delete things by accident!
(This includes dragging a window's icon to the trash, forgetting that you're not dealing
with a desktop icon which you can remove from the desktop. The result being that you delete
the file from your drive!.
If you have the above option turned on you will at least get a chance to change your mind).
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If confirmation is turned on for copying files,
you can choose to give the copy the same date as the original file, or the current time and date. |
If confirmation for file overwrites is turned on you will be warned if you try to copy over
an existing file with that same name,
and you can rename the copy to something else. |
With confirmation turned on for file deletes you get a chance
to press the "Cancel" button if you change your mind.
Read .INF File...
Desktop Configuration...
(read a more detailed explanation of the "default directory" and "input parameter" settings to find out exactly how they're used).
Upper/lower case lettering is insignificant. If you entered a lower-case letter (i.e. without using <Shift> together with it), scroll back to that menu item and you'll notice that it has been changed to upper case anyway).
If you press the <Backspace> key you will notice that the cursor will be seen all the way to the left, indicating that it's empty. Another way to see that it's empty is by looking up the drop-down menus. If you've used an invisible character the shortcut will still be shown as follows: [ ].
If you want to use the default settings you have to remove (or disable) "NEWDESK.INF", then
reboot (restart) the computer.
If you don't want to loose the other settings (i.e. icon assignments, program installs, window placements and
everything else stored in the "NEWDESK.INF" file) you have to manually enter the shortcuts for
each menu item. The defaults (i.e. the shortcuts Atari set up to begin with) are as follows
(note: Atari didn't create a shortcut for every single menu item):
Menu | Menu Item | Shortcut letter |
File | Open... | O |
File | Show Information... | S |
File | Search... | L |
File | Create Folder... | F |
File | Close Directory | B |
File | Close Top Window | C |
File | Bottom To Top | W |
File | Select All Items | E |
File | Set File Mask... | X |
Options | Remove Desktop Icon | R |
Options | Desktop Configuration... | M |
Options | Save Desktop | V |
Options | Print Screen | P |
...in case you want to go ahead and change the shortcuts to something more standard as what PCs and other
computers (or even the alternative desktops for the Atari ST) use,
here are some of the most common ones.
(i.e. <Control><O> meaning: press (and keep holding)
<Control> while pressing O)....
Menu | Menu Item | Standardized shortcut/explanation |
File | Open... | <Control><O> (Open file) |
File | Show Information... | <Control><I> (Information) |
File | Search... | <Control><F> (Find file) |
File | Create Folder... | <Control><N> (New item) |
File | Bottom To Top | <Control><W> (Window) |
File | Select All Items | <Control><A> (All items) |
Options | Save Desktop | <Control><S> (Save) |
Options | Print Screen | <Control><P> (Print) |
Save Desktop
(To solve the problem I removed an icon or deinstalled a program I didn't need, then tried to save again).
Print Screen
(Note: The printing options of TOS 2.06 are pretty limited, so read my tips on printing for a summary along with useful tips).
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