A couple of nice toys for toolbar, icon and cursor images from Axialis

[Steve Hutchesson]

I recently bought the latest version of the Axialis Icon Workshop as it has a new capacity, toolbar strips. Like anyone who has been around for a long time I have heaps of image tools but I had a gap between the older resource editors, paintbrush and the photosoftware I have and with the advent of higher resolution images for presentation graphics I had to do toolbar strips the hard way which was very slow.

The new version of IconWorkshop changed all of that, heaps of stock images and components so you can pelt an ordinary strip together in a hurry and with more important stuff you can import, tweak and size photographic data to fit. I already owned the old version of AX-Cursors so after reading their web site where they offer lifetime licencing I asked the question and was sent the link to an upgraded current version so I now have both.

Both tools work well, have tons of features and are very solid, a pleasure after some of the buggy old junk I have used in the past. The professional version cost me about $70 USD which is reasonable counting the amount of stock image data you get access at once you have the licence.

[Theo Gottwald]

The Axialis Icon Editor also helps you out, if you want compile a PB ".rc" file using Vista Icons (PNG compressed).

Use of Windows Vista™ Compressed Icons in Software Projects
Windows Vista™ PNG compressed 256x256 icons will be supported in Microsoft Visual Studio® 2008 (codename "ORCAS"). We've tested PNG compressed icons on Visual C++ 6.0 and Visual .NET 2003/2005 and they all reject the icon during the resource compilation:

Code Select Expand

Error RC2176: old DIB in res\app.ico; pass it through SDKPAINT

This is unsurprising to us since this new ICO file format introduces a new header which points to raw PNG data. Of course the compiler returns a false error message. The DIB header is not old, it is PNG. Passing it through SDKPAINT does not help.
Windows Vista™ compressed icons have also been reported as not functioning in the Delphi programming environment. New components will no doubt be developed in the future that identify these shortfalls.

I had this problem, using Axialis, removing the compression the problem can be solved.

More Infos: Axialis FAQ

[José Roca]

What surprises me is that it says "Axialis IconWorkshop™ is the only icon editor which permits creation and edition of Image Strips for toolbars."

ArtIcons ( http://www.aha-soft.com/articons/ ) has allowed it since many years ago.

[Patrice Terrier]

I am using IcoFX and it works very well for me.

...

[Theo Gottwald]

I was just giving a hint, avoiding the

"Error RC2176: old DIB in res\app.ico; pass it through SDKPAINT"

Error from the outdated "RC.exe", which was included even with the last PB Compilers.
Maybe anybody should inform PB to add a "state-of-the art" rc.exe to the next PB.

[José Roca]

You aren't forced to use the one that comes with the compiler. I use version 6.1, available to download at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949408/en-us

[Patrice Terrier]

I am using those provided with SDK v7.0A:

• RC.Exe from 04-03-2010 version 6.1.7600.16385
• along with RcDLL.DLL from 04-03-2010

See the attached ZIP file...

[James C. Fuller]

I've been using gorc lately but not with any "new" formats.
I'd be interested if it works for someone on items failing with rc.exe supplied by PowerBASIC

http://www.godevtool.com/

James

[Theo Gottwald]

Thanks Patrice, I had this update (Post from Jose) but could not install it because i have no VS 2008.
Now this is good, that we have this resource here in the forum for everybody.

I hope it will be a part of next PB.

@James: The Go-Site you linked is really a valuable resource for Programmers.

[Guy Fournier]

Hi,

******
I am using those provided with SDK v7.0A:


•RC.Exe from 04-03-2010 version 6.1.7600.16385
•along with RcDLL.DLL from 04-03-2010

See the attached ZIP file...
*******

Someone can send the RC.ZIP file again, the file is corrupt when I unzip ?

Thank you very much

[José Roca]

I have reuploaded it.

[Guy Fournier]

Thank you very much