Patch for Object Desktop 2.0 Archive Viewers
============================================
 
1. Introduction
2. How it was done
3. Prerequisites
4. Installation
5. Disclaimer/License
6. Credits
 
1. Introduction
 
The Archive Viewers of Stardock's Object Desktop 2.0 change the look of certain
archive files to that of OS/2 2.x folders. Pretty ugly, aren't they? So I decided
it was time to update them to something better. Using this package you can change
the old ones to the well-known "brown parcel icons". And yes, it includes versions
for the different sizes of 40x40, 32x32, 20x20, and 16x16, so you shouldn't
experience any distortion effects no matter which screen resolution you use. The
new icons are included as standard OS/2 pointer files for your convenience.
 
 
2. How it was done
 
To achieve this I had to replace the original icons that are contained in the
three DLLs OBJDOARC.DLL (for ZIP, ZOO, LHA, ARC), OBJDARAR.DLL (for RAR) and
OBJDATAR.DLL (for TAR/TGZ) the following way:
 
a. Install the IBM OS/2 Developers Toolkit. (Comes with e.g. eComStation or
   VisualAge C++).
 
b. Extract the original icons and their resource info using Martin Lafaix's
   Resource Manager with "rdc dllname.dll".
 
c. Replace the old files with the new ones. Note that they are in pointer
   format, but this seems to be nearly the same as the icon 1.2 format. So change
   the extension from *.ico to *.ptr, open every file in ICONEDIT.EXE, apply a
   small change and undo it, and save the file.
 
d. Apply the new icons to the DLL using the resource compiler RC.EXE that
   comes with OS/2 and eComStation: "rc dllname.rc2 dllname.dll"
   On any error messages regarding missing *.dlg files, open the corresponding
   *.res file in the OS/2 Developer Toolkit's dialog editor and save it again.
   This creates the missing *.dlg file. If the editor asks for the corresponding
   header file, simply cancel the dialog.
 
 
3. Prerequisites
 
Well, you obviously have to have Object Desktop 2.0's archive viewers installed
and working. I have fixkits 1 and 2 installed, so you'd better have applied
fixkit 1 AND 2 also. It's also a good idea to install the non-official fixkit 4
(available on Hobbes) as it removes some hardcoded fonts and makes OD look
better at higher resolutions in general.
 
 
4. Installation
 
To install this package, you have to replace the original DLLs with the patched
ones. You won't be able to simply copy them to the folder where Object Desktop
is installed as the DLLs are in use and therefor locked. There are two methods:
 
a. Re-boot to a command line or maintenance partition and copy the DLLs to the
   folder Object Desktop is installed in. Reboot to your working system and you
   are done.
 
b. Unlock the DLLs with an unlock tool like the one from the LXLite package.
   Then copy the DLLs to the folder where Object Desktop is installed. For the
   changes to take effect reboot the machine.
 
In any case you should backup the original DLLs! Just in case...
 

5. Disclaimer/License
 
The patches themselves are completely free and COME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
I am in no way responsible for any damage that may arise from the use of these
patches. If they burn your house, it's all YOUR fault!
 
To use these patches you MUST own a license for Object Desktop 2.0!
If you don't, visit one of the OS/2 software resellers and BUY one. They often
still have some copies around and at a good price.
 
 
6. Credits
 
Made by:
 
Christian Hennecke (christian.hennecke@os2voice.org)
 
Thanks to:
 
Andrew Graham, for his article on hacking OD in the VOICE Newsletter
Martin Lafaix, for his Resource Compiler
Christian Langanke, for tips regarding icons/pointer and resource file stuff
Ulrich Moeller, for creating the original parcel icons
Klaus Staedtler, for tips regarding icons/pointer stuff
 
and of course Stardock for making a very useful piece of software
