What is the best icon set to use on A2000 with 3.1

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

You say "icon set" in your subject, but "icon library" in the post.  Not sure which you mean?  That's two different things.

In any case, best icon.library for any system is going to be Peter K.'s.  You'll need to use LoadModule or LoadResident with 3.1, with 3.5 or 3.9 it's just "drag & drop":

http://aminet.net/package/util/libs/IconLib_46.4

And MagicWB for the icon set:

http://aminet.net/package/pix/mwb/StandardMagicWB16

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Thanks for the MagicWB16 link! I must have missed this back in October. Cheers!

It is a heck of a set!  I couldn't believe how many icons were in there, some serious work by the folks who put it together (and of course the people who created all the icons, too).

I know some people think it looks dated, but to me that just means "classic"!  :lol:

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

No no no.  Icon.library is built into ROM.  With 3.5 and 3.9 they "look on the disk" to see if there's a newer version first, as opposed to automatically using the version that's on the ROM.

3.0/3.1 isn't that smart, so you need to force it to use the updated version on your disk by putting either the LoadModule or LoadResident command before SetPatch in your Startup-Sequence:

Code: [Select]

LoadResident >NIL: LIBS:icon.library REBOOT

Or the more full example, given in the docs:

Code: [Select]

Version >NIL: icon.library 46
If WARN
   If EXISTS LIBS:workbench.library
      LoadResident >NIL: LIBS:workbench.library
   EndIf
   LoadResident >NIL: LIBS:icon.library REBOOT
EndIf

SetPatch QUIET

You'd need to use Ed to edit one or the other of the above statements into your S:Startup-Sequence.

Aside from LoadResident (or LoadModule) the rest of the stuff in the C drawer of the installer is optional.  It's for if you want to do things like make outlines around your Workbench fonts, and other little tricks.  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Oh yeah - and rename icon.library_68000 to just icon.library.  Like Gizmo said.  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

You need FullPalette to lock the pens.  Mfilos's guide is really good, too:

http://www.mfilos.com/2012/01/guide-making-workbench-prettier-using.html

Although personally I wouldn't use Birdie on a 16-color screen (like he did), I still run the Rebel Palette on my A500.

And MagicWB is nice on the system specs OP posted about (2MB fast / 1MB chip / 3.1 / 68000).  Not going to be running 3.9 GlowIcons/Ken's Icons/etc. on that!  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

A Vine that shows a little of it:
https://vine.co/v/iq3ijdhzeJD

@blakespot - those are MagicWB icons.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Ah!  You guys!  You're killing me!  Probably almost as much as Gizmo's dentist is killing him right now.  

The Peter K. icon library is one of the most revolutionary enhancements to come out for Amiga in like, the past decade.  Seriously.    Obviously it's pointless if all you do is play floppy-based games, but it's great for folks who spend a lot of time in Workbench.

I'm paraphrasing the .readme, but just off-hand some of the features it adds:

• Completely rewritten icon-rendering routine for much faster performance
• Built-in support for NewIcons (no more having to run hacks or patches to display them)
• Built-in support for GlowIcons
• Built-in ghosting for def_icons (so they show at 1/2 the brightness of normal icons)
• Built-in support for neat little font tricks, like adding outlines and shadows to the text of icon fonts
• Built-in color reduction routines (able to dither and reduce truecolor and 256-color PNG icons so they look better on low-color screens)

TL;DR.  It makes your Amiga faster.  Of course some people don't care about that sort of thing.  


I think I've shared these before, but here's a few older (couple years ago) screenshots of my main A2000 running 16-color Workbench 3.9 with IndiECS/Peter K. library/VisualPrefs.  Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I thought it looked nice at the time.  I could probably do much better today.  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

The question I have is for OS 3.1, what programs are out there that let you easily (i.e., via drag and drop) replace a programs icon image with a another image without changing the icons tool types?  As far as I can tell CopyNewIcon cannot be used for this as it is NewIcons image specific.

I've been a big proponent of 3.9 for years, since it integrates this functionality (being able to drag & drop a new icon image).  For 3.1 try SwazInfo:

http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/SwazInfo18b

http://www.amiga.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-59449.html

It's also a part of BetterWB:  http://lilliput.amiga-projects.net/BetterWB.htm

Enjoy!  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

@Is Visual Prefs the program to interface with PK's icon library? So, where do I start to copycat your desktop Mike? 1) Install PK's library. 2) Use FullPallet in some manner. 3) Use Rebel's Pallet in some manner? 4) Read Mfilos' blog. 5) Use GlowIcons/Ken's Icons/etc.? 6) Enjoy great looking WB?

Um, no, yes, yes, yes, yes, no.  VisualPrefs lets you fancy-up your window gadgets - the stuff in the corners - and the sliders, and whatnot.  See any of the screenshots of mine I've posted in the past few years.  It's got tons of options, personally I kind of made mine to resemble 4.1.  There's still a couple things I could do to make it closer, but I'm good with it for now.

And I wouldn't use Ken's Icons with anything less than a 16-bit (not 16-color) screen.  But otherwise, go for it.  

PS - now I want to see that movie again, lol.  


Attached files:
1 - Plain, boring, ugly Workbench.jpg
2 - Workbench with MagicWB icons.jpg
3 - Mike's Workbench 1.7.2016.jpg

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Quite nice.

What would you with a system like mine as far as making it gussied up a bit in the WB? I am running 3.1 in A2000 w/ 14MHz 68020, 6MB FAST, 1MB CHIP, Indivision ECS. I am currently using MagicWB icons.

I used to have an '060 and a Picasso II in this '060, but I sold them, thinking I'd just not be spending much time on the WB. But...your setup has me wanting to spend lots of time with the A2000. I should've kept that '060!

( Also, didn't you sell me an Indivision AGA a few years ago? I'm in Alexandria, VA. )

Hiya buddy!  No, it wasn't an Indivision AGA, but I did sell a DCE ScanMagic for an A1200 to someone on here... geeze, 13 years ago?  Don't think it was you though, it was somebody else local though.  They actually just popped back up on here a few weeks ago, danged if I can remember who it was though!

Or, heck,  it might've been you.  Did you buy a ScanMagic and a completely taken apart A1200 from someone local back 13 or so years ago?  

In any case, one of my favorite "hacks" for a low spec system back in the day was Urouhack:

http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/urouhack17

I remember you could just run this thing in the right place of your Startup-Sequence (it was tricky since it had to be run before some things, and after others), and it would give you these nice gradient window buttons.

It's mentioned here, as well:  http://www.geocities.ws/dsmatthews_99/html/towb16.html

(in fact, that whole "This Old Workbench" site is pretty good)

I ditched Urouhack when it didn't work with 3.9 and moved on to things like VisualPrefs, Birdie, etc.  But I remember it was good for a low to mid-spec system to sort of "gussy it up".

I'm also a big fan of the sort of "do everything in one" commodities, MultiCX and MCP.  I know MultiCX is the older of the two and doesn't have as many features, but in my experience I found it to be a bit more stable.

MultiCX:  http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/MCX280
MultiCX prefs editor:  http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/mcxp337
MultiCX prefs editor option #2:  http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/MCXPrefs

I know MCP changed hands a few times and continued to be developed beyond the version that's on Aminet.  Might poke around a little but it looks like there's versions here:

http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/MCP130
http://mcp.a1k.org/

Also MagicMenus should work fine on a system of your spec.  Just don't try to turn on transparency, or any of the advanced features.  

The latest version AFAIK is 2.35.  Get the main archive here:
http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/MagicMenu_II
or here:  http://sourceforge.net/projects/magicmenu/

Then the update here:  http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=54702

There's also a lot of goodies consolidated into BetterWB, which you can get here:  http://lilliput.amiga-projects.net/BetterWB.htm

I am *not* a fan of the ClassicWB packs, IMHO they change your Amiga too much and make it feel "not like an Amiga" anymore, but I know some people swear by 'em.  Looked at a recent screenshot last night and it made me want to throw a monitor through a wall, lol, but they're out there if you want 'em.  ( http://classicwb.abime.net/ )  Just make sure you check your system specs against the charts on the page.  You'd probably want "68K", "LITE", or "FULL" versions, nothing more than that.

But, enough rambling.  Go have fun!  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Mike, what settings are you using on VisualPrefs to get that 4.1 look?  I'd be interested in trying that out without too much fuss

Also, for anyone... is it me or does the version information for icon.library for PeterK's respond differently once it's in the LIBS: folder and made resident?  Like check it out in the install folder and you get

icon.library 46.4.409
(68020)

vs.

icon.library 46.4
(68020)

I typically use "VersionWB" now, instead of just "version" or "version xxx.library full".

With VisualPrefs, I started with a template, then I basically deleted every bit of it except for the Boing Ball logo.  Then made a bunch of changes in the GUI settings.  Then added Birdie (with mostly default settings).  It was an iterative process over a period of time.  Someone here from AmigaKit actually has a much better (as in, it looks more like 4.1) setup, I asked them once what they ran but never implemented it all, myself.  It's somewhere here in a thread though, if you want to dig it up.

Anyhow, some screenshots.  Don't be all "copying me" though.  Go make up your own stuff!  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Ok, so where do I find and place the LoadResident too?
I guess my bigger question is where should the iconLib_46.4 folder be placed as nowhere in the documentation does it say where in the system folder this stuff should be installed.

• LoadResident is a command. It goes in C:. (should probably also stick LoadModule in there, too).  These are not unique to icon.library, lots of programs use these commands.
• Icon.library goes in Libs:
• The other stuff in the C directory of the archive is optional, it's simple command line utilities to do things like add outline, shadows, etc., to the icon text. They're described in the manual.

The program author included a lot of optional stuff: config files for FBlit, benchmark tools, palette prefs settings, source code, etc.  Basically everything in the "bonus", "source", and "ThirdParty" drawers is optional, with the exception of "ThirdParty/Loadmodule" and "ThirdParty/LoadResident".  ;)

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Ok, got that right now and it's boots into workbench however there is no change at all in the icons? Maybe I should have just done the simple line
"LoadResident >NIL: LIBS:icon.library REBOOT"
Load time is longer so it must be doing the reboot as requested. I did the full version that's shown in the startup sequence.
I'm sorry for all the questions....

To confirm if it's running, drop down to the command line and do a "version icon.library full", or try enabling one of the C: options, like "OutlineIconText".

Remember, this isn't what makes the icons "look different".  But it greatly improves performance when using more advanced icon sets like GlowIcons or Ken's Icons, for example.    Are you still running stock 3.1 icons?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I'm feeling dumb here, yes stock 3.1 icons. That's what I want to change. I hate the default disk icon it uses and my RAM disk also just looks like a disk not the chip I see on my a4000

It says "icon.library 46.4"
(68000)

Sounds right.  Well, what do you want to change the icons *to*?  Plenty of options already listed in this thread, my recommendation for a low-spec system is still as follows:

3.1 + BetterWB:  http://lilliput.amiga-projects.net/BetterWB.htm
The full set of MagicWB icons:  http://aminet.net/package/pix/mwb/StandardMagicWB16

All the other things we keep talking about here (NewIcons, GlowIcons, Ken's Icons, etc.) would work, but they're going to be slow on a stock 68000, and require higher color modes than a low-spec system can "comfortably display".  

Anyhow, you could start with the above and then build on it, maybe by adding MagicMenus, or a  multi-commodity like MultiCX or MCP.  There's no real "standard" as far  as customizing an Amiga goes, just look at other people's screenshots  and ask what they're running, if you're curious.  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

LoadResident has to be the first line in your startup-sequence. Before SetPatch. Did you put it there?