Icon image is small when viewed as large or extra large for Shortcut created for .exe Application file (when installed using msi created using Visual Studio Setup Project)

Question

_{Friday, February 1, 2019 2:35 PM}

I have created msi installer using Visual Studio Setup Project.

I have created a desktop shortcut for an .exe application. 

But after installing the msi, the icon image of the desktop shortcut when viewed under large and extra large, is small, i.e., has space around the image.

Is I missing something...

Kindly suggest solution for it as soon as possible.

All replies (18)

_{Saturday, February 2, 2019 1:35 AM}

Hi Shabari Pragash,

Icon files (*.ico) can have several image size in themselves, i.e. 128x128, 64x64, ... 16x16 (each of them is 32-bit or 16-bit color).
Does your icon have larger images in it? 

Regards,

Ashidacchi -- https://ssl01.rocketnet.jp/hokusosha.com/default.html

_{Saturday, February 2, 2019 12:17 PM}

Hi,

my icon is 32x32. it is not a large image. 

the icon occupies the entire square space when viewed under right-click(on blank area in file explorer)->view->small or list etc.

the problem is when it is viewed under right-click(on blank area in file explorer)->view->large or extra large, the image does not zoomed to fill the entire square space. hence  the image is present at centre and there is some white blank space around the image.

Kindly suggest a solution as soon as possible.

_{Saturday, February 2, 2019 3:18 PM}

Could you provide/share an image where the icon looks small?

Ashidacchi -- https://ssl01.rocketnet.jp/hokusosha.com/default.html

_{Saturday, February 2, 2019 4:09 PM}

Icon image samples at:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Au7-rhDCjFyghHasQE2kGMHoPOJA

I want my icon like the images shown at right side which should occupy entire square.

Not like the one displayed at left where the icon is placed at centre and white space surrounds all the 4 directions.  

_{Saturday, February 2, 2019 7:51 PM}

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Au7-rhDCjFyghHasQE2kGMHoPOJA

I have updated the image link. I want my icon to display like the Sublime Text icon in the link, not like Dev C++.

Kindly suggest a solution asap.

_{Saturday, February 2, 2019 10:30 PM}

Hi,
I've made an icon and shared "Shabari.ico" via OneDrive.  Please download and check how it looks like.
Regards,

Ashidacchi -- https://ssl01.rocketnet.jp/hokusosha.com/default.html

_{Sunday, February 3, 2019 9:33 PM}

Hi,

I have checked your icon. In large and extra large views, the problem still remains the same.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Au7-rhDCjFyghHdeuMO8OgaM-pKT

Kindly suggest a solution asap.

_{Sunday, February 3, 2019 10:17 PM}

Hi,
The icon I've shared includes image of 128x128, 64x64, etc. It should look large with [Large icons] in File Explorer.
And according to your image link, I suspect your issue causes from Windows or File Explorer (not from Visual Studio).  Please check how icons look with Safe-Mode.
Regards,

Ashidacchi -- https://ssl01.rocketnet.jp/hokusosha.com/default.html

_{Monday, February 4, 2019 10:15 PM}

Hi,

Is there any solution other than checking in safe mode?

Many other applications installed in my system has icons occupying full square. Only few apps including mine is like this.

Even the .exe application of my same product of my msi produces icons correctly.

Only my msi of same product with same icons causes problem.

Is I have to set any property in File Types in Visual Studio Setup Project (such as &open, etc).

Currently, i have used only &open as file action in it.

Kindly suggest a solution asap.

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 3:16 AM}

Hi,

I'm not sure if I can understand exactly your situation.
Usually I add an icon in this way: [My Project] > [Application] > [Icon]  

Regards,

Ashidacchi -- https://ssl01.rocketnet.jp/hokusosha.com/default.html

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 10:41 AM}

Hi,

I think you have added icon for a console application in Visual Studio.

I does not use console application.

But I have added icon in Setup project in Visual Studio (Visual Studio Installer Projects Extension) for creating msi. 

Actually i added icon for desktop shortcut to be created for my application after it gets installed in user's machine.

The icon displays fine when viewed under small or medium.

Icon does not get zoomed when viewed under large or extra large.

Kindly suggest a solution asap.

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 11:01 AM}

Hi,

I think you have added icon for a console application in Visual Studio.

Hi Shabari Pragash,

No, I develop mainly Windows Form application with Visual Studio, and add an icon (including 128x128, 64x64,... images) to "My Project" of my application.

I do not Setup project for making an installer. (I use Inno Script Studio)
I cannot suggest a solution to your issue.

Regards,

Ashidacchi -- https://ssl01.rocketnet.jp/hokusosha.com/default.html

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 12:33 PM}

ok thanks

Anybody else plz suggest a solution asap.

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 2:43 PM}

If you open the property page for the shortcut is the "Change Icon" button available or is it grayed out?

If it is available then use it to specify that the shortcut obtains its icon directly from your installed executable file and not from the location set up by the installer.

In my test this solved the issue with respect to the Extra Large and Large icon views.

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 7:05 PM}

Hi,

As you have said, I have tried setting icon manually in properties -> not working

also tried not setting icon manually in properties and let msi itself get icon from .exe application automatically -> not working

both methods shows icon smaller at centre of square.

Actually, my icon is 64 x 64 with bit depth of 32.

plz suggest a solution asap.

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 7:19 PM}

Perhaps you need to use an icon that contains a variety of sizes and bit depths.  Try using the icon that is created by the Visual Studio new project wizard for a windows desktop application.

Were you able to change the icon in the shortcut?  I don't know what "not working" means.  Does it mean that the Change Icon button was disabled?

And stop ending every post with "plz suggest a solution asap"

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 7:39 PM}

I can able to change icon in properties too, but with no success.

Not working means the icon appears, but is smaller when viewed under large or extra large.

_{Tuesday, February 5, 2019 9:55 PM}

As previously suggested, try with a different icon that contains a variety of image sizes (e.g., 16x16, 32x32, 48x48, 64x64 and 256x256. These are the image sizes contained in the Windows icon used by the VS wizard that i referred to earlier.  With this icon, after changing the shortcut property the issue was resolved in my tests. 

I have no other advice to offer you.