Iconizer Plug-in

 

This tutorial explains how to use the Iconizer plug-in. Iconizer plug-in works together with Microsoft® Windows® Explorer, the application which is present in every installation of Windows version 95 and above. The principle of Iconizer plug-in is simple: Normally, when you run Explorer and you are not using the Iconizer plug-in, each design file is represented by universal "type" icon (Picture No. 1). Registered Iconizer plug-in will show a small icon of the design contents instead (Picture No. 2). This allows you to browse and sort your designs easily, because you can see the contents of each design file while using all the great features of Microsoft® Windows® Explorer./

Picture No.1              Picture No.2

                

Note: Iconizer plug-in supports only those embroidery formats and image formats which are supported in Embird software.


Please read the guide below to find out how to install and use the Iconizer plug-in:

1 - The installation file for Iconizer plug-in is contained in Embird setup file, so there is no special file to be downloaded. During the Embird setup process, the "Shell Integration Setup" dialog box will appear on the screen (Picture No. 3). 
2 - Choose "Unused" option and switch off the "Enable Iconizer" box. Hit "OK" button to finish the installation. 

Picture No. 3

 

 

3 - Run "Embird" and click on the "eXplorer" menu. This will launch Microsoft® Windows® Explorer.
4 - In Explorer, browse to the folder with the designs, e.g. to "C:\Program Files\EMBIRD32\FILES" folder (or into "C:\EMBIRD32\FILES" folder if you use version prior to Embird 2006). This folder contains some free DST designs, and because the setup have integrated the DST extension to shell with a link to Embird, the designs will look like those on Picture No. 4. The Iconizer plug-in is disabled now, because we have chosen this option in step 1.

Picture No. 4

5 - Close the Explorer window.
6 - In Embird, click on "Options" menu and choose the "Iconizer Settings" command. A dialog box will appear on screen (Picture No. 5). You will see that there are 2 lists of extensions in this box. The first list allows you to choose which files should be open in Embird when you double-click on them in Explorer. The second list allows you to choose which files will be handled by Iconizer. In the example on picture No. 5, the .HUS files will be shown as icons in Explorer, but the double-click on .HUS file will not open the file in Embird. If there is some other application associated with .HUS extension on your computer (e.g. Husqvarna Customizing Software), the design will be open in this application after double-click in Explorer. To enable Iconizer for all supported formats, click on "Select all (Enable Iconizer for all)" button located below the second list of extensions. Hit "OK" button to confirm the settings, this will close the dialog box.

Picture No. 5

 

7 - Click on "eXplorer" menu to launch the Explorer again.
8 - In Explorer, browse to the "C:\Program Files\EMBIRD32\FILES" folder again (or browse into "C:\EMBIRD32\FILES" folder if you use version prior to Embird 2006). Now the Iconizer plug-in is enabled and the designs will look like those on Picture No. 6.

Note: You must purchase and register the copy of Iconizer plug-in, otherwise only several icons will be showing designs contents. All the others will display the universal "type" icon (Picture No. 7). You can purchase the Iconizer plug-in at http://www.embird.com/sw/embird/register.htm. Use the "eXplorer" menu to enter the registration number into the Iconizer . This will display a dialog box allowing you to type in the registration number.

Picture No. 6

 

Picture No. 7

9 - When you move the mouse cursor to some of the designs in Explorer, and you depress the right mouse button, the popup menu will appear (Picture No. 8). There are four commands available - "Open", "Print", "Convert" and "Edit". You can choose any of them to launch Embird and perform the operation. In case you have enabled the Iconizer for this design format, you will also see the design image in the popup menu. The size of this image can be changed in "Options -> Iconizer Settings" menu in Embird (Picture No. 5). The Iconizer in popup menu can be disabled by unchecking the "Enable Images in Popup Menu" option in "Iconizer Settings" menu (see Picture No. 5 above).

Picture No. 8

 

Troubleshooting: Please see also FAQ regarding Iconizer at http://www.embird.org/faq.htm#Embird

Tips:

 1 - Use the "Icons" view mode to obtain the best results, otherwise the icons are too small. In Explorer, click on "View -> Icons" command. (Picture No. 9). Please note that you can have also larger icons: Specify the icon size in "Iconizer Settings" dialog box (Picture No. 5). The default size for large icons is 32.

Picture No. 9

2 - In Windows ME, 2000 and XP there is another view mode available in Explorer: "Thumbnails" (Picture No. 10). Choose this mode using the "View -> Thumbnails" command in Explorer (Picture No. 9). The Iconizer in "Thumbnails" view mode can be disabled by unchecking the "Enable Thumbnails" option in "Iconizer Settings" dialog box (see Picture No. 5 above).

Picture No. 10

 

3 - In Windows 2000 and XP there is another view mode available in Explorer: "Tiles" (Picture No. 11). Choose this mode using the "View -> Tiles" command in Explorer (Picture No. 9). 

Picture No. 11

 

4 - Another view mode available in Windows XP is "Details". Make sure the "Enable Columns" option is set to ON in "Iconizer Settings" dialog box (see Picture No. 5 above) and in Explorer select "View -> Choose Details" menu. (Picture No. 12). The "Choose Details" dialog box will appear on the screen, in which you can select which columns are visible in "Details" view mode. Check ON the  "Design Information" option at the end of the list (Picture No. 13) and confirm the new settings by clicking OK button. Finally, select "View -> Details" menu to switch the view mode. Note the last column showing the design properties - its size, stitch count and number of colors (Picture No. 14).

Picture No. 12

 

Picture No. 13

 

Picture No. 14

 

5 - Registered users of Iconizer plug-in can also allow displaying of design icons in "Files" box located on right panel in Embird. (Picture No. 15). Use the small check-box above "Files" box to allow this option, or the "Preview Files" command in "Right Panel" menu.

Picture No. 15

 

6 - If you have the same design stored in different embroidery formats you may need to know the file extension to be able to recognize its format (Picture No. 16). In Explorer, click on "Tools -> Folder Options" command. This will bring up a dialog box. (Picture No. 17). Choose the "View" tab and uncheck the "Hide file extensions for known file types". Sometimes it might be suitable also to uncheck the "Remember each folder's view settings" option, especially in case you use the "Thumbnails" view mode in Explorer and you are browsing through many folders.

Picture No. 16

 

Picture No. 17

7 - When you right click on design in Explorer and choose "Properties" item (Picture No. 18), a dialog box will be displayed with new tab - "Embird Iconizer". This new sheet will contain the design image (Picture No. 19). The "Embird Iconizer" tab sheet can be disabled by unchecking the "Enable Property Sheets" option in "Iconizer Settings" dialog box (see Picture No. 5 above).

Picture No. 18

 

Picture No. 19

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