Displaying Icons in a file directory

woodeye

Ok, I'm sorry if this question has already been answered. I've searched all the forums and google too. Either the answer is in my face and I refuse to see it, or it's just not an easy thing to do!

I'm creating an web based file transfer system. I'm using a java applet to do the actual uploading, but it doesn't display the directory. I'm using PHP to display the directory.

So the question is, how can I display the icon for each file? Right now, I determine the file type, and then I have a directory full of PNG's (ie. jpg.png, html.png, etc.). Based on the file type, I add ".png" to it, and it displays the icon from my folder.

Is there a preview or generic icon that is embedded into the file, or is there a way to display the icon the client side OS would display for that type of file?

The problem that I have with doing things the way I'm doing them is that I don't want to have to build a library of all the possible icons. It seems like there has to be an easier (or at least an automated) way of doing this.

Thanks in advance for any advice that you can give.
Brian

rsmith

woodeye wrote:
So the question is, how can I display the icon for each file? Right now, I determine the file type, and then I have a directory full of PNG's (ie. jpg.png, html.png, etc.). Based on the file type, I add ".png" to it, and it displays the icon from my folder.

Is there a preview or generic icon that is embedded into the file, or is there a way to display the icon the client side OS would display for that type of file?

The problem that I have with doing things the way I'm doing them is that I don't want to have to build a library of all the possible icons. It seems like there has to be an easier (or at least an automated) way of doing this.

Unfortunately you cannot "retrieve" the icon that the client's OS is using because PHP is server-side and all your imagery has to reside on the server. The way you're doing it (by checking the type and using that to determine which icon image to display) is the best way that I am aware of to accomplish what you're seeking to accomplish. Good luck!

woodeye

Is there any place that you know of to download a collection of standard icons? I have some utilities to edit icons, but I'll have to do them one at a time.. could take a while.

Thanks for the reply.
Brian

rsmith

This ZIP file has a fairly nice set: http://www.zap.org.au/documents/icons/file-icons/file-icons-1.2.zip

Should help get you started anyway. Keep in mind you'll probably want all your icons at 16x16.

waptech

Howzit,

Here is the code I generally use, all it basically does is reads the file type and assigns the correct image to it.
I just ripped it out of 1 of my scripts but you get the basic idea

$icon = "$image/data/unknown.gif";
$rev = strrev ($file_name);
$exp = explode (".", $rev);
$true = strrev ($exp[0]);
$trueext = strtolower ($true);
$icon = "data/$trueext.gif";

$file_name is ofcoz the full name of the files in question.
Just edit it and add the coding to your array