Iconizer Plug-in

Embird Embroidery Software Tutorial

This tutorial explains how to use the Iconizer plug-in. The 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 the 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 a universal "type" icon (Picture No. 1). A 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.

1. Type icon

2. Design icon

Note: The 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 the Iconizer plug-in is contained in the Embird setup file, so there is no special file to be downloaded. 

2 - Run "Embird" and click on the "eXplorer" menu. This will launch Microsoft® Windows® Explorer.

3 - In Explorer, browse to the folder with the designs, e.g., to the "C:\Program Files\EMBIRD64\FILES" folder (or into the "C:\Program Files(x86)\EMBIRD32\FILES" folder if you use the 32-bit version). This folder contains some free .DST designs, and because the Iconizer plug-in is not enabled for the .DST extension, the designs will look like those in Picture No. 3.

3. Iconizer Disabled

4 - Close the Explorer window.

5 - In Embird, select the "Options" > "Iconizer Settings" menu. A dialog box will appear on the screen (Picture No. 4). You will see that there are 2 lists of extensions in this box. The first list allows you to choose which files should be opened in Embird when you double-click on them in Explorer. The second list allows you to choose which files will be handled by the Iconizer. Click the large button "Typical Settings" and confirm the new settings by selecting the "OK" button.

4. Iconizer Plug-in Settings

6 - The User Account Control mechanism will warn you that this program will make changes to your computer (Picture No. 5). Click the "Yes" button.

5. UAC Warning

7 - The elevated Embird application will write the new settings to the Windows registry database (Picture No. 6). Please wait.

6. Writing to Windows Registry

8 - After a short while, the result of the operation is shown on the screen (Picture No. 7).

7. New Iconizer Settings Applied

9 - Click the "eXplorer" menu in Embird to launch the Explorer again.

10 - In Explorer, browse to the "C:\Program Files\EMBIRD64\FILES" folder again (or into the "C:\Program Files(x86)\EMBIRD32\FILES" folder if you use the 32-bit version). Now the Iconizer plug-in is enabled and the designs will look like those in Picture No. 8.

Note: You must purchase and register your copy of the Iconizer plug-in; otherwise, only several icons will show design contents. All the others will display the universal "type" icon (Picture No. 8, compare it with Picture No. 9 showing all icons). You can purchase the Iconizer plug-in at https://www.embird.net/user.htm. Then 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. See also the tutorial at https://www.embird.net/sw/embird/tutorial/inpswd/inpswd.htm

8. Unregistered Iconizer Plug-in

9. Registered Iconizer Plug-in

11 - When you move the mouse cursor to some of the designs in Explorer and depress the right mouse button, the popup menu will appear (Picture No. 10). 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 preview image in the popup menu. The size of this image can be changed in the "Options > Iconizer Settings" menu in Embird (Picture No. 4). The Iconizer in the popup menu can be disabled by unchecking the "Enable Images in Popup Menu" option in the "Iconizer Settings" menu (see Picture No. 4 above).

10. Image in Popup Menu

 

Troubleshooting: Please see also the FAQ regarding the Iconizer at https://www.embird.net/faq.htm

Tips:

12 - Use the "Medium Icons" view mode (or larger) in Explorer to obtain better results; otherwise, the icons are too small. In Explorer, click on the "View" command to change the icon size (Picture No. 11).

11. Icon Size

 

13 - Registered users of the Iconizer plug-in can also allow the displaying of design icons in the "Files" box located on the right panel in Embird (Picture No. 12). Use the small check-box above the "Files" box to allow this option, or the "Preview Files" command in the "Right Panel" menu.

12. Design Icons in File List

14 - 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. 13). In Explorer, select the "View" menu and switch ON the setting "File name extensions" (Picture No. 14).

13. Design in Various Embroidery Formats

14. File Name Extensions

15 - When you right-click on a design in Explorer and choose the "Properties" item (Picture No. 15), a dialog box will be displayed with a new tab - "Embird Iconizer". This new sheet will contain the design preview image and properties (Picture No. 16). The "Embird Iconizer" tab sheet can be disabled by unchecking the "Enable Property Sheets" option in the "Iconizer Settings" dialog box (see Picture No. 4 above).

15. Select Properties

16. Embird Iconizer tab

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