BIGICON THEMES FOR ARCAOS 5.0 AND LATER
Dated:12/12/2023


DESCRIPTION:
This is an automated way to change folder icons and program icons In the ArcaOS WPShell. Once set up properly, it is just a simple matter of changing two lines in the config.sys file and rebooting to initialize the changes.

Each theme directory contains approximately 590 png icons.  Their use is controlled by the BigIcons.txt file contained in each theme directory.  The BigIcon.txt file is broken down into catagories WPS class, file type, object ID, etc.

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TO BEGIN:

Unzip the theme(s) into your <drive>:\SYS\ICONS directory, or unzip and Move or copy the theme folders to your <drive>:\SYS\ICONS  directory

Edit your config.sys file located on the root drive.

REM out the original BigIcons Set statement:

REM SET BIGICONS= <DRIVE>:\SYS\ICONS\BIGICONS

Now add SET statements for each theme set you plan on using.

rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS
rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_BLACK
rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_RED
rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_YELLOW
rem BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_FileCabinets
rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_FileCabinets2
rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_LookingGlass
rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_LookingGlass2
rem SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_RearWindow

Un-rem the one you want to use such as

SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\sys\icons\BIGICONS_YELLOW

Save and reboot.

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ENABLING CUSTOM ICONS:

To get customed icons enabled, go to your Desktop > System Setup > Worplace Shell, select it and select the Icon Size tab at the upper far right (the very last tab).

Check "Use custom icons"  on the right side of the page.  On the same page, select "Dynamic" to make the Dynamic PNGs the default icons and take advantage of the BigIcons theme.  Here, you also select the default size to be used when using the theme(s).

For the changes to take effect, restart the desktop and you should see the your new BigIcons theme.

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SWITCHING BIGICON THEMES:

It is so simple to change between themes.

Just two entries changes in the config.sys file are required to change the themes. 

REM out the theme you are presently using.  Then un-REM the set you plan on using. If the BigIcons_Yellow is being used and you want to switch to the BigIcons_Black, see example below.

REM SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\SYS\ICONS\BIGICONS_YELLOW
REM SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\SYS\ICONS\BIGICONS_RED
SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\SYS\ICONS\BIGICONS_BLACK

Only one theme can be used at a time.  You just REM out the statements for the sets that are not being used.  After switching PATH statements,  save the config.sys, and reboot.  The new theme set comes up after your reboot.  

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TROUBLE SHOOTING:

1.  Some or all the icons did not change.  Make sure your config.sys entries for the BigIcons is correct,

2.  If you had manually changed the PNGs for folders and/or icons, you will have to manually reset each icon (for folders,there are two) for the new changes to take affect.  This is a defect in ArcaOS.

3.  If you boot up and there are no icons showing, just restart the desktop.  This does not happen often.

4.  Be aware that there is a size limit to the BigIcons.txt file.  If you plan on adding entries to add more icons, at a certain point the desktop will become unstable.  To recover from this, either boot to your maintenace desktop and REM out all your BigIcons PATH statements in the config.sys, save, and reboot

or

after booting to your desktop, go into the System Setup > Workplace Shell > Size tab.  Uncheck "Dynamic", close and restart the desktop. Now fix the BigIcons.txt file by removing some of what you added.

5.  The BigIcons PATH statement in the config.sys is incorrect.

SET BIGICONS=E:\SYS\ICONS\BIGICONS

It should be

SET BIGICONSPATH=E:\SYS\ICONS\BIGICONS

All themes should have the SET BIGICONSPATH=

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Supported programs:

40S2
AVXCAT
EMP
FM2
PMAIL
DFSEE
DOOBLE
DOXBOX
DVD TOOLS AND TOYS
FIREFOX
GOTCHA
HARWARE EXPLORER
ISOFS
LCSS
LUCIDE
LINKS
NETDRIVE
OPENCHAT
OPEN OFFICE
PMBACKUPS
PMCALC PLUS
PMVIEW
PMVNC
THUNDERBIRD
VYPERHELP
XWP
ZIPPY
and a few others