How do I change the default system icons that Mac OS X come with. Icons I would like to change are the Finder Icon in the Dock, the Trash can, so on an so forth.
The system icons such as the Finder and Trashcan are stored in a different place. If you want to change them, you'll have to live a little dangerously and play with the Terminal. You'll also need the shareware app called Iconographer.
Ready?
Okay!
Open the Terminal (loacted at /Applications/Utilities) and enter these commands:
cd /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources
cp HIToolbox.rsrc ~/Desktop/HIToolbox.rsrc
Now, open Iconographer and open the file "HIToolbox.rsrc" that was just copied to the desktop.
Edit to your heart's content! Specifically, the Finder and Trash icons are resource IDs -16482, -3993, and -3984.
Save the file.
Open the Terminal again and enter these commands:
cd /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources
sudo cp HIToolbox.rsrc HIToolboxBackup.rsrc
sudo cp ~/Desktop/HIToolbox.rsrc .
You will be asked for a password because you are modifying important system files that, if improperly modified, could render your system completely unusable. When asked, enter your normal admin user password.
Now, to make the Dock reflect the changes you made, you have to kill the Dock process. Enter this command:
top
A list of the current processes will be shown. Look for the one called Dock. If the Dock process isn't shown, you may need to make the Terminal window bigger so you can see more processes. Once you see the dock process, press 'q' to stop the top list. Take note of the PID for the Dock -- it's the number to the left of the process name.
Enter the command:
kill x
but replace x with the PID number you got from the top list.
The Dock should then disappear and reappear with your new icons!
If you ever want to return to the default set of icons, one of those commands created a backup of the rsrc file. Simply use these command to put it back:
cd /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources
sudo mv HIToolboxBackup.rsrc HIToolbox.rsrc
Feel free to ask any questions, as I'm sure you may have some.
<strong>it is their a way to change the default folder icon when you create a new folder?</strong><hr></blockquote>Yes, the folder icon is in that same HIToolbox.rsrc file. Just look through it -- all the default system icons are there, including the different folders in your home directory (Movies, Music, etc).
By the way, I suggest you not use xicons' instructions with the chmod command. If you do, you should run Apple's Repair Privileges tool to set the ownership back to what it should be after you're finished.
Comments
just cut and paste them in
Ready?
Okay!
- Open the Terminal (loacted at /Applications/Utilities) and enter these commands:
- Now, open Iconographer and open the file "HIToolbox.rsrc" that was just copied to the desktop.
- Edit to your heart's content! Specifically, the Finder and Trash icons are resource IDs -16482, -3993, and -3984.
- Save the file.
- Open the Terminal again and enter these commands:
- You will be asked for a password because you are modifying important system files that, if improperly modified, could render your system completely unusable. When asked, enter your normal admin user password.
- Now, to make the Dock reflect the changes you made, you have to kill the Dock process. Enter this command:
- A list of the current processes will be shown. Look for the one called Dock. If the Dock process isn't shown, you may need to make the Terminal window bigger so you can see more processes. Once you see the dock process, press 'q' to stop the top list. Take note of the PID for the Dock -- it's the number to the left of the process name.
- Enter the command:
- The Dock should then disappear and reappear with your new icons!
If you ever want to return to the default set of icons, one of those commands created a backup of the rsrc file. Simply use these command to put it back:cd /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources
cp HIToolbox.rsrc ~/Desktop/HIToolbox.rsrc
cd /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources
sudo cp HIToolbox.rsrc HIToolboxBackup.rsrc
sudo cp ~/Desktop/HIToolbox.rsrc .
top
kill x
but replace x with the PID number you got from the top list.
cd /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources
sudo mv HIToolboxBackup.rsrc HIToolbox.rsrc
Feel free to ask any questions, as I'm sure you may have some.
[ 08-02-2002: Message edited by: Brad ]</p>
Hey, well we're at it is their a way to change the default folder icon when you create a new folder?
<strong>Wow, thanks!!!
Hey, well we're at it is their a way to change the default folder icon when you create a new folder?</strong><hr></blockquote>
read this at xicons.com
<a href="http://xicons.macnn.com/articles/defaults.php"; target="_blank">Changing the default icons in OS X</a>
<strong>it is their a way to change the default folder icon when you create a new folder?</strong><hr></blockquote>Yes, the folder icon is in that same HIToolbox.rsrc file. Just look through it -- all the default system icons are there, including the different folders in your home directory (Movies, Music, etc).
By the way, I suggest you not use xicons' instructions with the chmod command. If you do, you should run Apple's Repair Privileges tool to set the ownership back to what it should be after you're finished.
[ 08-03-2002: Message edited by: Brad ]</p>