PDA

View Full Version : How-To Create a Desktop "Emulator" Toolbar


DarthBrady
08-04-2006, 10:35 AM
I have been getting a few questions about this, since I posted my desktop screen shot. So here it is, the "How - To" that will show you the way :)
This can be a good idea to try, it keeps your desktop clean, which is good for you and windows. and besides the fact it's easy to use, it looks cool.;)
So try it!

Step One: Create a "Emulators" folder on you desktop.
This will be the foundation of your new Toolbar.
--Just Right click the desktop, point to "New", then "Folder" and Name the New Folder "Emulators", what ever you want.

--If you want, you can do like me, and change the icon so it doesn't look like an ugly folder on your desktop. Anvanced users may use their own icons, or just use one windows will provide for you. To do this, Right click the folder, point to "properties", then click the "customize" Tab, then click "change icon". There should be a bunch ready to choose. If not, use the browse button to find them at: C\Windows\system32\SHELL32.dll, usually.

Step Two: Add Your Icons to the Folder
These will be the Buttons in your Toolbar.
NOTE: I know there is usually more than one way to do this, but its important to do it using this method, so prevent problems later with the icons. for some weird reason WindowsXP just likes it done this way best, trust me.

--Open Windows Explorer, or My Computer
--Browse to the folder the emulator you want to add to the Toolbar
--Right Click the emulator program file (the one you use to play the emulator), and point to "Send To", then Click on "Desktop (Create Shortcut)".
--The shortcut is now on your Desktop. Once again you can Rename now if you like(I do).
--Repeat this for all the other emulators you want to add to the Toolbar

Step Three: Put all your new Icons in the new Folder
--This step is just what it says, open you new Emulators Desktop Folder, and drag and drop all your fancy new icons in it!

Step Four: Turn it all in to a ToolBar
This might take one or two tries, because windows doesnt notify you with anything, you gotta do it just right. ;)

--Close the Folder now if you have not done so.
--Now, just drag the folder's desktop Icon to the side of the desktop you want the toolbar on, and position it so you can only see about half of the icon. (putting on the top of the screen is easiest, I think)
--Now let go of the mouse button, and you had it "just right", your new Toolbar should appear!

You can now click the toolbar, and customize or play around with it if you like. If mess up, the icon is still on your desktop, just make a new one and you're good to go!

So, If you followed this like it said, you will have a Cool new Toolbar, that looks something like this:
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5200/frame01pa7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

pizzaman
08-04-2006, 11:20 AM
Oh, I see why you did that. Yesterday I was trying to do that and succeeded after realizing that my task bar was locked. :mad2:

Anyways, I thought that it was a scroll type thing. Can I somehow make it like the toolbars that I put on my original task bar? Like this one bellow?

http://img328.imageshack.us/img328/555/untitledre4.jpg

DarthBrady
08-04-2006, 12:05 PM
Good question. doing that is easy, to add any folders to your taskbar as a Toolbar, just right-click the taskbar, point to "toolbars", then point to "new toolbar" a window will pop up, asking you which folder to make the toolbar from.
Just select the folder you want. (it looks like you have already done this)

To make it more visible, instead of an arrow at eh end of the taskbar, right click it and "unlock" the taskbar. Then just stretch your taskbar taller, by putting the mouse over the top edge of the taskbar, so that the cursor changes to the "up and down arrow" strecth arrow, and drag it to be taller. It should now be easier to see, and you can drag the new toolbar left and right now, to change its size too. Here is a finished example:
http://img420.imageshack.us/img420/3466/frame21ms9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the more you play with it, the more you will see you can do!

pizzaman
08-04-2006, 12:30 PM
That's not really what I meant. I meant, how do I make my folders have a little arrow to scroll? They do when I have them on the original task bar, but when I move them to the top, they're just icons. When I press on them, the folder opens up in a new window.

DarthBrady
08-04-2006, 12:42 PM
That's not really what I meant. I meant, how do I make my folders have a little arrow to scroll? They do when I have them on the original task bar, but when I move them to the top, they're just icons. When I press on them, the folder opens up in a new window.

oh. that almost confused me there. well, a toolbar on the taskbar is gonna be different from an idependent toolbar like the one made in the lesson. the one I explained, is only going to display icons of whatever is in the folder you made the toolbar from.
So if the folder you made the toolbar out of is just full of more folders (like your A,B,C,... thing) its only going to open that folder for you(usually), not let you preview its contents like in a taskbar toolbar with the littlle arrow it adds. get it?

or am I still misunderstanding you?

pizzaman
08-04-2006, 12:50 PM
oh. that almost confused me there. well, a toolbar on the taskbar is gonna be different from an idependent toolbar like the one made in the lesson. the one I explained, is only going to display icons of whatever is in the folder you made the toolbar from.
So if the folder you made the toolbar out of is just full of more folders (like your A,B,C,... thing) its only going to open that folder for you(usually), not let you preview its contents like in a taskbar toolbar with the littlle arrow it adds. get it?

or am I still misunderstanding you?
Yeah, that's what I feared! Thanks for clearing that up for me, though. Hopefully the Vista will have some cool new features!

DarthBrady
08-04-2006, 01:17 PM
Yeah, that's what I feared! Thanks for clearing that up for me, though. Hopefully the Vista will have some cool new features!

well allow me to inform you, as I am now Voluteer Beta tester for Windows Vista, that it wont be out for a LONG time, and it will most likely soon be delayed again. But dont ket it get you down, Most of us agree tht Microsoft needs totake as much time as they can to make Windows Vista the best operating system it can be.

But from what I have seen so far, its gonna be awesome! Finally Microsoft is developing an operating system around the modern PC users need for high-powered graphics and gaming, like we have never seen in previous versions of windows!

Fierce Deity
09-01-2006, 07:04 AM
If you want, you can do like me, and change the icon so it doesn't look like an ugly folder on your desktop. Anvanced users may use their own icons, or just use one windows will provide for you. To do this, Right click the folder, point to "properties", then click the "customize" Tab, then click "change icon". There should be a bunch ready to choose. If not, use the browse button to find them at: C\Windows\system32\SHELL32.dll, usually.

After you make your toolbar, you can move the folder wherever you want, so it doesn't have to stay on your desktop. Thought I'd update you on that. :D

noodles
09-01-2006, 10:38 AM
Nice guide, DarthBrady. I found it very useful.

DarthBrady
09-01-2006, 01:12 PM
Nice guide, DarthBrady. I found it very useful.

Why, thank you! glad you enjoyed it. Spread the word!

DarthBrady
09-01-2006, 01:13 PM
After you make your toolbar, you can move the folder wherever you want, so it doesn't have to stay on your desktop. Thought I'd update you on that. :D

Great Tip! Yes, I missed that one ;)