Help - changing dock icons!

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Level 1

8 points

Help - changing dock icons!

So I want to change some of my apps' icons in the dock, and I have read the procedure over and over on multiple sites: click "get info" on icon file, click "get info" on app, copy icon in top-left and paste over the app icon.

But it doesn't work for me! All I see in the top-left corner when I open "get info" for the icon file is a placeholder icon for the file type (e.g. a thing that says 'png' or 'icns'). I don't see a small thumbnail of the actual image like I see on so many tutorial sites. So when I copy-paste the icon it just gives me a big copy of the PNG placeholder or whatever. What is going on??

imac intel, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Apr 13, 2007 5:14 PM

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Answer 1

eharper3 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 13, 2007 8:33 PM in response to eharper3

Alright let me try to clarify a little. The link about changing the mail icon is the exact procedure that WON'T work for me. And to reply to the last post, it doesn't matter whether I'm copying the icon onto an app or a folder because of the nature of the problem. Here's a screenshot:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/redmosquito214/DSC01039.jpg

Do you see the little icon in the corner? It's not a thumbnail of the image - it's just a little thing that says .ICNS. And it is THAT placeholder-type image that appears on any app/folder/file I try to copy the icon onto.

So what now? 😟

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Answer 2

Apr 13, 2007 5:19 PM in response to eharper3

I don't understand. Are you wanting to just put new icons on the dock or do you want to actually change the icons to something different? If its the latter, I have never heard of anyone doing that so I wouldn't know. As for the former, its a simple drag and drop procedure...

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Answer 3

eharper3 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 13, 2007 5:52 PM in response to eharper3

I want to change the icon for a certain program. For example, here is one of the many tutorials that shows how to do this: http://www.silvermac.com/2006/changing-icons-in-mac-os-x/

This guy uses a new png to replace the default firefox dock icon...this is what I want to do, but you can read my top post to see what my problem is.

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Answer 4

lenn5

Level 4

2,537 points

Apr 13, 2007 6:15 PM in response to eharper3

Get the free app img2icns. That will turn the image into an icon. Then do the copy and paste thing.

lenn

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Answer 5

eharper3 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 13, 2007 7:20 PM in response to eharper3

It won't matter - this problem affects .icns files too. 😟

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Answer 6

lenn5

Level 4

2,537 points

Apr 13, 2007 7:35 PM in response to eharper3

Here's the instructions i used to get a new Mail dock icon.

http://www.hawkwings.net/2005/10/17/change-apple-mails-dock-icon/

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Answer 7

Tim Yang

Level 2

425 points

Apr 13, 2007 8:12 PM in response to lenn5

Depends on what format the icon came in, and what type of file/program you are applying the new icon to, there are different procedures.

Now the icon could come in folder format, icn file, or just a png file.

In folder format you basically get a folder, with the icon already applied, you can copy it from "Get Info" window and paste to another "Get Info" window, this will work for folders and files, but not well for apps.

icn file are mostly for apps only, to apply you control or right click the app and select open package, go to Contents/Resources/ folder and replace the original icn file with the new one, after you back it up.

png file are just a raw image, you need other program to convert it into icon with all smaller sizes.

If this sounds confusing, there are tools that will accept all these formats and streamline the process. Check CandyBar ( http://www.panic.com/candybar/) it's a really easy to use shareware, trial available. And if you collect icons, check Pixadex too ( http://iconfactory.com/software/pixadex/).

one more link on ICN: http://www.iheartny.com/howto_03.html

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Answer 8

Tim Yang

Level 2

425 points

Apr 13, 2007 8:41 PM in response to eharper3

babbageleaf, check my post, and the last link I posted. That should solve your problem.

btw, to take screenshots easily in the future, press cmd shift3 or cmd shift4, it will save png files on your desktop, then you can save them to jpg, no need to bring out your digital camera for this 😉

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Answer 9

eharper3 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 13, 2007 11:12 PM in response to eharper3

Ahh, thank you so much Tim. I didn't see that last link, it works great now.

And yeah I know the camera shot makes me look like a rookie, but honestly I don't use the mac much so I didn't even realize there was no 'print screen' button on the keyboard until just now. Haha thanks again.

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Answer 10

Tim Yang

Level 2

425 points

Apr 14, 2007 10:33 AM in response to eharper3

You're welcome!

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Answer 11

Jpfresno

Level 4

3,020 points

Apr 14, 2007 12:14 PM in response to eharper3

Hi babbageleaf, Welcome to Apple's Users Help Users Forums.

Glad you got it solved.

Thanks in Apple Forums is through the Stars system. See the blue box at the top of the thread as well as the Apple emails re new posts to the thread.

With the buttons just to the left of "Reply" for the OP = Original Poster.
1 Green Solved available. 10 pts
2 Gold Helpful available. 5 pts.

Mark the buttons at the appropriate post. (Not this one. ;~) )

Joyous Computing, JP

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