I have dragged a couple of my favorite web pages to the dock, so I can access them quickly. Both icons look the same --- the gray @ on top of a spring. Is there a way to change these so I can tell them apart more easily? With only two, I can remember which is which, but as I add more, it will be more confusing. Thanks.
You can try this... Instead of dragging it directly to the Dock, first drag it to the desktop or some other folder. Now it will look like a document icon with the "@" sign. If you like that icon, drag it to the Dock.
If you want to use a special icon, you'll have to find an icon you want to use. The open Get Info windows for the URL link file and the special icon file. Click on the special icon at the top of the Get Info window. Copy it using Edit -> Copy or cmd-c on the keyboard. Click on the URL link icon at the top of the other Get Info window. Do a Paste using Edit -> Paste or cmd-v on the keyboard. The URL link file should now look like that special icon. Now, drag it to the Dock.
You can try this... Instead of dragging it directly to the Dock, first drag it to the desktop or some other folder. Now it will look like a document icon with the "@" sign. If you like that icon, drag it to the Dock.
If you want to use a special icon, you'll have to find an icon you want to use. The open Get Info windows for the URL link file and the special icon file. Click on the special icon at the top of the Get Info window. Copy it using Edit -> Copy or cmd-c on the keyboard. Click on the URL link icon at the top of the other Get Info window. Do a Paste using Edit -> Paste or cmd-v on the keyboard. The URL link file should now look like that special icon. Now, drag it to the Dock.
Thanks for the suggestions. I tried the first option, but I still don't care for the @.
I would like to try your second suggestion, but I am lost at the start. I don't know how to open Get Info for the URL link. Can you please explain that part? I think I follow the rest of it.
Joey C 2 wrote:
I would like to try your second suggestion, but I am lost at the start. I don't know how to open Get Info for the URL link. Can you please explain that part? I think I follow the rest of it.
Click the URL shortcut in finder, and click File>Get Info.
Sorry about that... You click on the icon on the desktop or Finder window. Then you can go to the File menu and select Get Info. You can also hit cmd-i on the keyboard. Or you can right (control) click on the icon and select Get Info from the contextual menu that pops up. Any one of those three methods will give you the Info window for the file.
OK, folks, thanks for the help, but I still can't get it. So, please bear with me one more time.
Joshz, you say to "Click the URL shortcut in finder..." I don't know exactly what you mean when you say "in finder". I am taking the URL from the Safari window, or my Bookmarks. What kind of finder window would display the URL? Also, please read the following comment.
Kenichi, I was able to do what you suggested, but by moving the URL first to the desktop, I get the @, and when I then go to Get Info, that is what shows at the top, instead of the CNN logo (for example). So, it may not have the spring under it, but is still the @, without a specific identifying mark to separate it from other icons.
As you can tell, I am somewhat new to Mac, so sometimes things that would seem obvious to you are not so to me at this point. Thanks again.
OK, folks, thanks for the help, but I still can't get it. So, please bear with me one more time.
Joshz, you say to "Click the URL shortcut in finder..." I don't know exactly what you mean when you say "in finder". I am taking the URL from the Safari window, or my Bookmarks. What kind of finder window would display the URL? Also, please read the following comment.
Kenichi, I was able to do what you suggested, but by moving the URL first to the desktop, I get the @, and when I then go to Get Info, that is what shows at the top, instead of the CNN logo (for example). So, it may not have the spring under it, but is still the @, without a specific identifying mark to separate it from other icons.
As you can tell, I am somewhat new to Mac, so sometimes things that would seem obvious to you are not so to me at this point. Thanks again.
Right, so it looks like you opened the Info window for the generic URL link icon.
Unfortunately, you can't simply make it the CNN (or whatever web site) icon. You have to find another distinguishing icon. There are web sites where you can download Mac icons. You have to find an icon you like that, for you, will represent that web site link you want to put in your Dock.
When you find that icon, do a Get Info on that icon file like you did earlier for the URL link file. Put the two Info windows side by side. On the Info window with the icon you like, click on the icon at the top of the window so that it has a thin blue line around it. Copy it, using File -> Copy or cmd-c on the keyboard. Now click on the icon you don't want in the other Into window so that it has a thin blue line around it. Paste it, using File -> Paste or cmd-v on the keyboard. The icon should change to the one you want. If you then drag it (the file with new icon) to the Dock, it will appear as the icon you liked and selected.
You could also download whatever image you want, copy it (open it, then click ⌘C), then click the "Spring icon" on your desktop, click File>Get Info, click the "spring icon" in the top left, and paste in the picture (⌘V).
That's unreal. I could never get that to work before. Always made the mistake of copying the image in the finder and ending up with the generic icon instead. Thanks.
It's a shame I can't give you the credit for this one as it's not my thread.
gumsie wrote:
That's unreal. I could never get that to work before. Always made the mistake of copying the image in the finder and ending up with the generic icon instead. Thanks.
It's a shame I can't give you the credit for this one as it's not my thread.
You're welcome! And thanks for the imaginary star! 😉
OK, I was out for a few hours and just got your reply. I tried what you said, and it worked, but only to a point. I downloaded some icons from one of the sites you recommended, and went thru the Copy phase and it worked just fine. I put the new icon onto the dock, and everything was good until I then trashed the icon that had been on the desktop, before I dragged it to the dock. As soon as I put that into the trash, the new icon on the dock would no longer open the website anymore. After the .com in the name, it also says webloc. I tried this a few times, but get the same result. Is there some small thing I am missing? Thanks so much
Joey C 2 wrote:
Is there some small thing I am missing? Thanks so much
Apparently so. First, move the link to some folder to keep it, then drag it to the dock. The new dock item will only be a pointer to the link file (that you dragged from your address bar to your desktop earlier). If that file that you dragged to the desktop is deleted, the link will stop working.
Thanks, Josh! That did it. I created a new folder in Finder, saved the URL to it, then went thru the copy and paste exercise. When I dragged it to the dock and closed up everything else, I still went right to the website I wanted. Now I have a much better looking, more definitive icon on the dock. Thanks again for all your help!
Joey
