Extract Icons from Application Files - A Comprehensive Guide
Extracting High-Quality Icons from Files with a Free Tool
If you require the extraction of an icon from a program file or another file type, such as .dll files, numerous free tools are available to simplify the process. However, a limited number of these tools effectively extract icon images with high resolution.
Limitations of Common Icon Extraction Tools
Many freely available icon extraction utilities typically extract icons in smaller dimensions, like 16x16, 32x32, or 48x48 pixels. Larger icon sizes, often utilized within Windows, are not always supported. For accessing icons of any size, a free utility called BeCyIconGrabber provides a solution for viewing and saving icons and cursors contained within .exe, .dll, .icl, .ocx, .cpl, .src, .ico, and .cur files.
Extracted icons can be saved individually as .png, .bmp, .ico, or .cur files. Alternatively, they can be grouped within resource libraries, such as .dll or .icl files.
Downloading and Running BeCyIconGrabber
BeCyIconGrabber is available for download as either an installable file or a portable executable, eliminating the need for installation. The portable file is a convenient option.
To begin, double-click the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions. Alternatively, double-click the portable .exe file to launch the program directly.
Navigating the BeCyIconGrabber Interface
The BeCyIconGrabber window features three primary tabs on the left side: Directory, Search, and Favorites. The Directory tab allows you to select a specific file for icon extraction. The Search tab enables you to locate all icons within a chosen directory, potentially including its subdirectories. Finally, the Favorites tab allows you to bookmark frequently accessed files.
To demonstrate icon extraction, we selected the Internet Explorer executable (.exe) file to retrieve a large icon.
Navigate to the following directory:
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer
Select the iexplore.exe file.
Tabs will appear on the right side of the window, displaying icons in various sizes available within the selected file.
It’s important to note that BeCyIconGrabber will attempt to extract icons even from files that don’t inherently contain them. If a file lacks icons, the program will extract icons associated with the program linked to that file.
Saving Extracted Icons
Internet Explorer’s executable file contains large, 256 x 256 icons. To extract one of these, click the "256 x 256" tab and then click "Save" at the bottom of the window.
The "Save As" dialog box will appear, displaying all available icons in the selected file. The "Format" box shows the available icons. The default "Save as type" is set to Icon Files (*.ico). To save all icons into a single file, choose either the .ico or .cur type. Selecting .png or .bmp requires choosing only one icon from the "Format" box.
To save a specific 256 x 256 icon, select the desired icon in the "Format" box. Enter a filename and choose a file type from the "Save as type" dropdown menu. Then, click "Save."
Adjusting Icon Color Depth
You can also modify the color depth of a selected icon. Right-click on the icon and select "Colors" from the context menu. Choose from 1 bit, 4 bit, 8 bit, or 24 bit to specify the color depth. Selecting "(automatic)" utilizes the default color depth.
Utilizing the Favorites Tab
For frequently accessed files, you can add them to your Favorites list. Select the file on the Directory or Search tab and click "Favorites" at the bottom of the left side of the window.
To remove a file from your Favorites, select it on the Favorites tab and click "Remove." The "(Shell)" item, providing access to Windows system icons, is a default entry and cannot be removed. It’s a useful resource for general-purpose icons.
Searching for Icons in a Directory
Beyond selecting individual files, BeCyIconGrabber can search an entire directory for files containing icons. Click the "Search" tab and then click "New Search."
In the "Search" dialog box, click "Browse" to select the directory to search.
Alternatively, you can manually enter the directory path.
To search subdirectories as well, check the "Recursively Search Sub Directories" box. You can also specify a minimum number of symbols a file must contain to be listed in the search results.
The "Maximum number of symbols to immediately extract during search" setting controls the number of symbols extracted during the search. The default value is 10000.
Click "OK" to start the search.
Files containing icons will be displayed in a list on the Search tab. Selecting a file in the list will display only its icons on the tabs on the right side of the window.
Extracting Cursors
In addition to icons, BeCyIconGrabber can also extract cursors. By default, only icons are selected. To include cursors, select "Cursors" from the "Options" menu.
Remember to rerun the search or reselect the file on the Directory tab for the change to take effect.
Conclusion
Extracting icons from files is particularly useful when creating custom shortcuts for scripts or batch files, allowing for easy identification. BeCyIconGrabber simplifies the process of extracting high-quality icons in various sizes.
Download BeCyIconGrabber from http://www.becyhome.de/download_eng.htm.