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.net/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