IDEA: Icon/Color overlay based on "last modified" date

[thefritz_j]

Idea:

I think it would be cool to have a Shell Icon Overlay that overlaid icons based on when they were last modified.  For example,  Files modifed in the last 7 days would have a "red" icon overlay, and files modified in the last 30 days would have an "orange" icon overlay. 

This would be helpful because it would point out recent docs without having to change to "details" view in explorer.  The icon files used for the overlay could use the alpha channel to look transparent, thus preserving the base icon image.  Ideally the icon overlays and "ages" of files would be configurable. 

I suspect this could be done by implementing your own handler from IShellIconOverlayIdentifier (see http://msdn.microsof...noverlayhandlers.asp)
But I'm not that advanced in my skills to do it.

Lemme know if you think this would be cool.

JF

[skywalka]

Life would be a lot easier if icons can represent more information.

If you look at Network Connections you will see that different icons are presented dependent on connection/firewall etc.

I always wanted folders' colors to be determined by their size.

[thefritz_j]

Are we two the only ones that think this would be helpful?  Do you think this idea is too big for a coding snack?   

(typo fix)

[AndyM]

I think it would be excellent.  But it does sound complicated.

[skrommel]

  Take a look at a somewhat similar program at http://xentient.com/products/labels.

Skrommel

[thefritz_j]

Thanks for pointing that one out.  I'll have to check it out... when I have 30 "optimal" days for the trial!
I'll have to see if it can determine the color automatically!

[skywalka]

That looks interesting.  I'll check it out too.

[fatjoe]

That Xentinent program colours based on file type not File last modified date. The Thumbnails program for images was cool though.

[skywalka]

Doesn't the thumbnail program do the same thing that is built into XP?

[thefritz_j]

The thumbnails tool in windows only works when you have "thumbnails" selected as the view, this tool below shows the picture for the icon in any view.

But alas, the color labeling is only for a specific file or type of file, it's not customizable by date modified.

Maybe some day I'll have time to learn how to write shell extensions!

[skrommel]

  How about sending the author a request for a date addition? I bet it would be very little work adding the option.

Skrommel

[thefritz_j]

I do want to say that I found somewhat of a workaround that kind-of answers this coding request.
(I did get a nice email from the Xentient folks and they said they'd consider the feature in the future.)

Here's how it goes:
Switch the explore view to Details and sort by Date Modified Descending.  (This is what I always used to use) and then if you use View-Arrange Icons by (Date modified should already be selected) and then Pick "Show in Groups" it works rather nicely.  It shows the files modified "today", "yesterday", "last week" etc in descending order by "details" view.  Which is rather nice! 

So in the end, I need to thank good ol' Microsoft for thinking of this!  C'mon, you have to admit they do build fairly good software sometimes!