[Ham-Computers] RE: Make a Desktop Shortcut to a Web Site

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Hill [mailto:hro5-2 at cox.net] 

*** snip ***

  This icon thing really confuses me.  I have two computers, both with 
Netscape and IE.  One has Windows Me and the other XP Professional.  If 
bring up a site and look at the address field, most of the time the 
Netscape or IE logo is shown at the far left.  However, sometimes the site 
(Symantec, for example) icon is shown. Dragging it to the desktop may 
provide the site icon, but more likely the IE or Netscape icon.  I can't 
repeat myself.  While right clicking gives you an opportunity to change the 
icon, the choice is pretty limited.  I'll try the other approaches and see 
what happens.
Jim 

------------------

Jim,

The icons shown on the URL line of a browser are sent by the website you're
visiting.  It's a relatively new web "feature" and not all browsers support
it.  The browser only showing you what the website sent.

Icons on the desktop are controlled by the Windows Explorer.  Icons are
assigned by default according to Window's "association" list.  Generally,
shortcut's can be assigned any icon and "executable" files use either the
default icon embedded in the file or the Windows default icon (if no
embedded icon exists).

The icons are assigned based on the file extension.  If you don't have file
extensions turned "on" (it's "off" by default), then you won't see the
extension.  I always turn "on" the extensions as it helps identify malicious
scripts disguising themselves as harmless files.  For example, with
extensions "off", "README.TXT.SCR" would show up as "README.TXT" (the
extension .SCR is dropped).  Looks harmless, right?  But, it's actually an
.SCR (script) and when open will run a Windows script.  Sneaky, eh?  This is
how many e-mail viruses propagate.  BTW, there are also "super hidden"
extensions that Windows will aways hide.

Anyways, URL shortcuts default to whatever the current Windows association
is.  If your default browser is IE, then it should show the IE "E" symbol.
If it's Netscape, then it should show the Netscape symbol related to your
version of Netscape.  Same with Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, etc.  The extension
for an Internet Explorer shortcut is .URL.  Mozilla and Firefox shortcuts
are "super hidden", so you won't see the extension, but the association will
be with Mozilla or Firefox.

As for custom icons, I don't think I've ever seen a website's custom icon
except in the browser's Bookmarks.  Again, the browser handles these icons,
not Windows.  Windows will just assign an icon based on the extension.  When
dragging a URL to the desktop, you're just creating a file in Windows with
the appropriate extension - Windows will then assign the icon unless you
manually change it.  I could be wrong on this as I keep all my shortcuts in
the browser's bookmarks...I have enough clutter on my desktop!

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O (ex-KD6DAE)
    {nn6o}@arrl.net
    {athsu}@nbcuni.com
    No-QRO Int'l #1,000,006
    . -..- - .-. .-   ".... . .- ...- -.--"