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Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

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    Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

    The shortcut works, in that it opens the correct Alpha Five database, but it doesn't work in that:

    1. The icon is missing from the desktop (even though the shortcut's name is correctly displayed)
    2. The custom splash screen does not display either its title or graphic

    Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

    I have created a short cut from the path Tools>Shortcut.

    I have entered the following values on the respective tabs:

    General tab:
    Code:
    Shortcut name: My application shortcut genie 
    Desktop shortcut: (X) On Desktop
    Start menu from: (X) None
    Owner (X) current user
    Appearance tab:
    Code:
    (X) Use custom title: My custom title
    Splash screen (X) Custom bitmap: 
    C:\Documents and Settings\Robert McGaffic\My Documents\My projects\Alpha Five development\My Application\XAAB7617.bmp
    Icon (X) Customer icon: 
    :\Documents and Settings\Robert McGaffic\My Documents\My projects\Alpha Five development\Icons\bullet_ball_blue.ico
    Window tab:
    Code:
    Main Alpha Five window: (X) Maximized
    Advanced tab:
    Code:
    Empty
    Please note that the icon is a .ico file and that the splash screen is a .bmp file.
    I think I following the documentation "Using the shortcut genie" closely, but obviously
    am missing something. Why does my icon not appear on my desktop? What happened to
    my custom splash screen and titile?

    Alpha Five does open the correct database but uses its customary splash screen
    of the blue cube on balanced on its edge with a green progress bar rather than my custom one.

    Bob
    Pittsburgh
    Last edited by rmcgaffic; 02-03-2008, 11:33 PM.

    #2
    Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

    I just created a shortcut on the desktop following the examples in your post.

    The shortcut was created properly on the desktop - everything was fine.

    The genie worked properly.

    Suggest that you delete the shortcut and run the shortcut genie all over again.

    Tom Baker

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

      Bob,

      Just tried creating a shortcut as you did using my own graphics. All worked as it should.

      What did your shortcut look like that was created?

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

        Guys,

        Am wondering if this might have to do with the "wrong" size icon/bitmap. There were discussions on this in which Alpha can be fairly picky on the size of a bitmap that it can use correctly (and may apply to icons as well I would think possible). Mostly I remember it had to be reduced down in bits/pixels.
        Mike
        __________________________________________
        It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
        It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
        Henry David Thoreau
        __________________________________________



        Comment


          #5
          Shortcut behaving badly; change of icon size unsuccessful

          Thanks fellows for confirming on your machines that the shortcut behaves as I was hoping.

          From your responses, I thought something might be wrong with my Alpha Five, so last night I downloaded and installed a5v8_full_patch.exe (release in Jan 08) to make sure I had the latest and greatest on my laptop. The install appeared to be fine and no errors or problems were encountered

          Then because one of you suggested one of the issues might be the size of the icon,
          I used a nifty utility called IconEdit Pro V7.04 (excellent value at $20) to create four icons as follows:

          16 X 16 Red
          24 X 24 Blue
          32 X 32 Green
          48 X 48 Yellow.

          The screen shot below shows clearly that these files have an .ico extension.

          Then I created five Alpha Five shortcuts as follows entering only two fields:
          General tab: Shortcut name
          Appearance tab: (X) Custom icon, then navigated to the desired icon.

          Name Custom icon
          Test 16X16 icon 16X16Red
          Test 24X24 icon 24X24Blue
          Test 32X32 icon 32X32Green
          Test 48X48 icon 48X48Yellow
          Test Default None

          I then [OK] each shortcut and received a message box stating it was successfully created.

          As the second screen print shows:
          1. Each shortcut was created with the desired name --GOOD
          2. None of the custom icons displayed � NOT GOOD
          3. The default icon shows the Alpha A as it should -- GOOD
          4. All shortcuts opened the Alpha Five database correctly -- GOOD

          I�m trying to fix this before tackling the problem of why the splash screen doesn�t work either. I suspect these problems are related.

          Does anyone see the error of my ways? Why am I not
          able to reproduce the results you achieved. If you would
          care to send me the icon file you used, I would be happy to try it myself ([email protected]).
          Last edited by rmcgaffic; 02-05-2008, 09:50 PM.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

            I used icon edit to make my icon that does work, but instead of starting new, I just modified an existing icon, resaved it under a new name. It works fine. Splash screen, I copied the alpha s[plash screen, modified it and saved it.

            This way the sizes remained the same. Been doing it this way with icons and such for years.
            Dave Mason
            [email protected]
            Skype is dave.mason46

            Comment


              #7
              Where are the Alpha Five icons and splash bitmap

              Does anyone know the file names of the Alpha five icon and the Alpha Five splash screen and where are they stored? I would like to find them, make a copy, modify the copy, and then see if the shortcut genie will work correctly as suggested by DaveM previously.

              I am somewhat puzzed that the shortcut query requires .ico and .bmp files and yet when I look in A5V8\Stylesheet bitmaps I find mostly JPEG and GIF files.

              I searched within C:\Program files\A5V8 for files with .ico extensions: using the search term *.ico.
              Search is complete. There are no results to display.

              Then I searched within C:\Program files\A5V8 for files with .bmp extensions
              using the search term *.bmp
              The search returned only a "stone" texture background and "hotbar" which had three icons (? mark, house, and exit sign) contained in its picture.

              PS: I also tried creating a shortcut, accepting the default icon, but selecting (X) No splash screen on the Appearance tab for Splash screen when Alpha Five is loading. When I executed the shortcut, the Alpha Five splash screen with the blue cube on its edge and copyright notices, etc. is displayed. This should NOT have displayed.
              Last edited by rmcgaffic; 02-06-2008, 09:46 AM.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

                Thanks to Alpha Forum member Tom B for providing me with icon files that he has confirmed worked with the shortcut genie.

                I used Tom's icon to create a shortcut and would like to
                report the following:

                1. The shortcut is correctly named on my desktop -- GOOD
                2. The icon is missing -- NOT GOOD
                3. The shortcut opens the correct Alpha Five Database.

                I conclude that there likely was nothing wrong with my icons or their size and that the problem now appears to be with Alpha Five itself.

                Thanks Tom for your icons. I have attached a zip file of exactly what I did.

                This is so frustrating/disappointing when functionality this simple and straightforward doesn't work as it is supposed to.

                Bob
                Pittsburgh
                Last edited by rmcgaffic; 02-06-2008, 09:45 PM.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

                  Bob

                  Can you change the icon by right clicking on the icon the shortcut on the desktop to another icon using the properties?

                  Tom

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

                    Bob, use the "Send a bug report" option on the help menu to send Alpha an example with instructions for replicating the problem you're seeing.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Time for a bug report

                      Toms,

                      Yes, I can change the icon on the desktop by right clicking on it, then on the shortcut tab, click on [Change icons] and select an icon.

                      But the icon is just the tip of the iceberg. Something is fundamentally wrong with the genie on my machine.

                      When I click on the radio button (X) No splash screen, the shortcut displays the Alpha Five splash screen. -- NOT GOOD

                      When I click on the radio button (X) Custom bitmap and browse to a .bmp file, the short cut again displays the Alpha Five splash screen -- NOT GOOD.

                      What I find bothersome is that many forum users report no problems with the Genie. I have installed a5v8_full_patch.exe (26,863.216 bytes) with a release date of January 2008, so I have every reason to believe my Alpha Software is current.

                      I'll send a bug report and will post again with Alpha Five support's response
                      Bob
                      Pittsburgh

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

                        Bob

                        First - I agree send in a bug report.

                        Now, I know you don't want to hear this, but your Alpha5 program could be corrupted - I'm not saying that it is, just suggesting since it seems that the genie is not responding at all. You may have to unistall Alpha5V8 and then reinstall it. (make sure you copy your license numbers).

                        But again, let Alpha know what problem you are having, they may be able to help.

                        Tom Baker

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Shortcut genie -- name OK, but no icon or splash images or custom title displayed

                          Guys.

                          I did file a bug report.

                          But I also downloaded an evaluation copy of A5V8 on another machine, and guess what? Lo and behold, both the icon and splash bitmap work just fine.

                          At least we have the problem isolated: there is something wrong with my copy of A5V8.

                          I have made a copy of my license number, and will try reinstalling the download software (hoping its the latest and greatest).

                          Thanks for all your help.

                          Bob McGaffic

                          Comment

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