File Explorer - Altering File/Folder associated icon programmatically

Question

Hi all, Have you noticed modifications to the icons associated with files and folders when using file explorer in windows/linux while having a svn client installed (e.g., TortoiseSVN). Basically, when a folder is saved in a SVN repository, normally there is a tiny green tick icon added to the associated file icon. I want to know how TortoiseSVN/Dropbox/... do this and whether I can achieve similar results using Java6 JDIC ?

Thanks, -A

Answer 1

This should help you out.. http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/J2SE/Desktop/jdic_assoc/

• org.jdesktop.jdic.filetypes.Association

  The Association class allows programmers to create new file types or edit existing ones. The class includes methods to edit the file extension type, the MIME extension type, the icon that goes with the file type, and the actions that are associated with the file type.associated with the file type.

Answer 2

Those are called "icon overlays" in Shell jargon. Here's a start:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc144123(v=VS.85).aspx

-scott