Author Topic: Change Folder Icon Color from context menu (Read 16,205 times)

David.P · « **on:** May 09, 2012, 09:53 AM »

Hi forum,

I have been searching my ass off looking for a simple replacement for iColorfolder (because it doesn't work in Windows 7).

But I could not find ANY alternative that was free and actually did work!

I have tried all tools suggested here:
http://alternativeto.net/software/folder-marker/

Either they were not free, did not work at all (crashed), or would not allow to simply have like seven colors or so to choose from in the context menu (like below with the "Folder Colorizer" tool that would be great if it actually worked reliably which it however doesn't):

Thanks already for any other software hints
Cheers David.P

kunkel321 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2012, 07:28 PM »

See if this is useful
http://netez.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=8816

David.P · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2012, 08:02 PM »

Thanks -- but hmmm, doesn't seem to work, only gives me a "wrong parameter" error when choosing some color from the context menu.

This (seemingly) bl**dy simple colored folder stuff seems totally bewitched to me......

Nothing that really works here...

David.P · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2012, 09:27 AM »

OK seems I found one that works really well: FolderHighlight. The folder colours also become permanent and "portable" (i.e. independent of the folder location and/or presence of the program).

Yeah, it's not free, but $9.95 for a lifetime license seems bearable -- when everything else just doesn't seem to work, or costs like $35 (Folder Marker).

Curt · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2012, 10:00 PM »

another payware option is the £20 CFi Shell Toys
right-click>Shell Toys>Folder Color

[attachimg=#]

Shell Toys are 53 shell extensions and 25 shell tools
- including Folder Color with approx 360 colors!
I use it on 64-bit Win 7.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2012, 06:16 PM »

Just saw this on dottech http://dottech.org/windows/windows-software-of-the-day/31247/windows-software-of-the-day-may-12-2012/#3
(different, but related)

c.gingerich · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2012, 08:21 PM »

I wrote an app to do that. Has 9 folder colors, I haven't tried it on Win XP, but it works on Windows 7. It sometimes take a little for the icon to change, so I included a way to kill all explorer windows. The icon is changed then. I'll post it a little later.

David.P · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2012, 08:45 PM »

All Icon changers seem to have that delay at times. Open the folder and then "go back" usually helps

c.gingerich · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2012, 09:50 PM »

Posted the app here http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=30983.msg288305#msg288305

David.P · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2012, 07:58 AM »

Looks good to me, thank you!

David.P · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2012, 11:49 AM »

OK, two more important requirements from my side:

a) Customization. Rather than having a green icon with the text "green"

or a red icon with the text "red" $:-\$ besides it, I would need colored icons with custom text -- which in my case is, for example, "bill paid" (green icon) and "bill due" (red icon). Customization via *.ini file would be no problem in my view.

b) Minimize clicks. One right click plus hovering the Folder Color Tool's context menu entry should display the list of colors directly, without further click(s).

I'm prepared to donate because this would just make a Folder Color Tool perfect for me.

c.gingerich · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2012, 12:12 PM »

Hmm, well I completely changed the interface. It is no longer a menu. It is a dialog that list the default folder colors available if that folder has no custom icon already, if there is a custom icon set it shows the icon or icon resource the icon is in and allows you to choose your own custom icon file (I was thinking about making it shareware since I put a lot more time into this and selecting a custom icon would be in the registered version, but not sure yet). So, I should be able to allow custom text under the icon on the dialog. Right now I use a number that corresponds to the icon number in the icon resource file.

I am not sure I completely understand your second request. Maybe since it is now on a dialog, that would not apply? See the screen shot attached for the new look as it stands now.

David.P · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2012, 12:45 PM »

ad a) Custom text: great!

ad b) I mean I'd simply like a list of colors (with custom labels) in the second level of the context menu, like so:

(left side: Explorer context menu 1st level, right side: Explorer context menu 2nd level)

Thus, only 1 click to see the colors (well and of course 1 more to actually choose the color)

c.gingerich · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2012, 01:26 PM »

That is a limitation of the language I use, I can add items, but not in a sub menu. Sorry. Wish I could, I would have done that with all my other apps as well.

David.P · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2012, 01:29 PM »

I see. What about showing the color/label list (or dialog) after the first click in the Explorer context menu (not after the second click, like with the present public version)?

c.gingerich · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2012, 06:47 PM »

That is what I do now, RC on folder, select Color My Folder, then dialog opens and double click to set icon (w/ and option to single click to set)

David.P · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2012, 07:03 PM »

c.gingerich · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2012, 03:51 AM »

New version available. http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=30983.msg288643#msg288643

nogojoe · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2012, 07:04 AM »

Quote from: c.gingerich on May 18, 2012, 03:51 AM

New version available. http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=30983.msg288643#msg288643

Is this suitable for WinXP3 ?

c.gingerich · « **Reply #19 on:** May 18, 2012, 11:41 AM »

It should work on XP and higher... I have not been able test it though. Please let me know. There was a file missing from this setup, I fixed the problem and you can re-download.