Why didn't anyone notice that this program also has a keylogger in it? For that reason alone I completely removed it using a feature in another program I got here. I am surprised that they would put a spyware program on here.

Shows color icons in gray scale for some icons that makes them look like crap.

Help?
I installed this when it fisrst appeared last night, cannot find reg code, my About does not show red Giveawayoftheday.

I uninstalled and redownloaded with no change. Never saw a second window with reg code; I did look for it.

I checked the forums at 4am, nothing posted, checked again just now, found 1 question same as mine 12 hours ago - no answers.
There are only 3 hours left, so PLEASE can someone help me here?

Msg From BuBBy: As mentioned in the readme.txt (instructions) you need to run Activate.exe before running setup.exe. (Though it may still work afterwards). Make sure "Total Icon Organizer" isn't running - and then run Activate.exe. No reg codes are 'displayed' and you don't need to type any into the program If you still have technical problems please leave us a note in our forums.

I can't see where this is an organizer more than just a viewer. It does allow one to search the icons, but it doesn't allow one to do any advanced organization/sorting, at least not that I could find. There isn't even a way to pick and store favorites. It is a little bit strange that an icon organizer does not give one the option to view the icons as icons instead of only as thumbnails. I would think that even designers would like to have such functions, and maybe even additional functions, in an organizer.

I had expected and hoped that it somehow integrated with the ability to change icons but as it is a program for designers I guess they don't need or desire that function. I'm also glad I read the post by Curt #5 first because I was going to allow this program to scan my entire computer to see if there were any other icons on it, but I have discovered that there is no way to delete the icons or pictures from the program once they are added other than to start over from scratch. Instead I only allowed it to scan my icons folder. I did allow it to scan one picture folder and you can save files of one type to icon files. For example, I saved a JPEG file as an icon file and it came out nicely, so it does do that outside of organizing/viewing. I also had several strange problems/issues while trying to test the icf files to see if it would be useful, and under the help menu, I really couldn't find anything that helped. I guess as a very, very basic program, it helps somewhat. Though I don't really know what else is out there. I would think that even a designer or developer would want something more.

#6 Belgian Dude, I understand your point about the claims on their web page, even though it concerns a different program. It does make one kind of want to suspect their claims about their other programs, especially when they want $40 for this one. (I'm not saying that I do suspect their programs, but it does make me want to look twice at their reputation when they make claims that may or may not be false)

I'm going to keep it though, especially as I haven't seen any other viable suggestions for alternate programs.

#36-Kevin, One point you just reminded me (I forgot to mention earlier) - for an application that supposedly has designers and developers as the intended audience, the user interface (presentation), program workflow, and just general design standards and quality is something the developer of Total Icon Organizer should be thoroughly embarrassed to release publicly. It really is terrible (and dis-organised)

But it works ok (If you can work out the purpose and steps to take) - and is a very good idea that wastes an opportunity by not going as far as it could. (eg. Why exactly isn't there any ICL support, or explorer integration for moving files back and forth, or tutorials or online help)

I find the "buy me" buttons everywhere, as I said earlier - are a sad joke (and a turn off).

But even with all these failings, I still don't know of another program with the same feature set (rapid search on name, file type, and dimensions) - so I'm happy to use it until something better comes along.

(BTW - If at times it seems I am playing "Devils Advocate" it is because discussions on the program are far more interesting than "Not worth $30. This Sucks" - I think most users would like to see reasons why something is useful or not, with evidence of people having actually used the software for a while before posting a verdict).

If you have any doubts that WINDOWS ADVANCED SEARCH is the same thing...

Try this scenario:

You have spread across 100 folders about 20,000 graphic files/resources used for your web design business. They consist mostly of jpg, png and gif files. Normally items such as buttons, borders, banners, logos, pictures, and backgrounds.

You have a somewhat standard naming convention which indicates (to you at least) what each of these files are for.

You need to find and view the files that have "button" in the filename... (Cool WINDOWS SEARCH can do that!)

Also the word "draft" cannot appear in the filename. (WINDOWS SEARCH isn't looking quite as hot now...)

And I ONLY want to see gif or png files in the results...

And the files have to be between 300 and 450 pixels in width, and ONLY 150 pixels in height (Uh oh.. Windows search was... ALMOST the EXACT SAME THING... )

And you have about 10 different searches to run - each one should take about 20 seconds to set up - and the results should appear more or less instantly.

Not the same thing. (Don't take my word for it - try to do it in Advanced Search).

Maybe the areas in which Total Icon Organizer is different don't matter to some users. But that doesn't make them have the same functions and limits, as the generic Windows Advanced Search.

Another complete and total dud. All this program does is search for files with .ico, .jpg, .png, and .gif extensions.

In other words, YOU CAN DO THE EXACT SAME THING WITH WINDOWS ADVANCED SEARCH.

It doesn't give you program icons, and it doesn't even display the contents of ' C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll ' which ANY program claiming to be for icons should be able to do!

#21 and #22, ditto here, I downloaded and search all over for some tips of how to use it and nada...suddenly realized it probabaly was not for an expert-novice like me (lol)...thanks anyway, and will wait till a program that is more tailored to my novice skills. Yep, I also felt like a dummy after messing around with this. Their site offered no tips either that I could find. Oh, well, 4 days in a row of software was great. This time I was wearing the butter :-)
Thanks GOT & Coolutils for the chance to take a look at this up close.

Just adding my 2 cents to things. I do accept returns, and charge a $10 restocking fee if you don't like my opionion ;)

I got the Folder Marker when it was offered a while ago. I think I will give today's program a try, as it will help me find the icons I want to add to Folder Marker. I do have IcoFX as well. Each serves it's own purpose for me, so I don't mind having three different programs.

OK Folks. Was it lost on many of you that the description indicates this is not for everyone? This is a very good and simple Central place where app. developers & web designers can keep their icon's handy for retrieval.
Of course ya' have to do a little work and access the various, perhaps a large number of Icons into the repository access folders.

Simply put.... Total Icon Organizer does exactly what it the name says it will do.

It is something I can use and a Thumbs Up from me.

Thank you guys for providing your comments. This is what helps me decide whether to download today's GOTD or not. Evernote was a great software and I look forward to similar valued, bugless goodies :)

BTW, I bought the real Evernote program for $19.99 holiday sale after trying the freebie so yes GOTD does help both users and the vendor.

Thank you Belgian Dude #2. You made it very easy for me to decide if I wanted to try this offer. I will pass. BTW I like to read your thoughts about the offers here.

Jesus Christ! If you dont like the program dont complaim you aint paying a dime, JEEZZZZ

anyone know of a desktop shortcut organizer? That would be useful for GOATD.

Please comment only on the software here. If you have technical problems or suggestions on our project, please leave us a note in our forums.

Now THIS is useful to me. My apologies to those who don't find it useful but to me this is great. :)

Hey thanks this is great, too bad soo many people vote down this nice software.

Software installed just fine. Worked with program for a while, looks like a utility I will/could use. Under the "Help"; "Enter Registration Code", the fields are blank. Yet under the "Help"; "About", reads "Personal License". Is there a separate place to retrieve the "Registration Name & Registration Code"? Which is the right one?

I truly appreciate the work and free software that GAOTD provides for us, but after downloading this product, I found it very difficult to use as there's not much info in the Help section.

After looking at the IcoFX website, personally I feel I can do far better by simply creating an Icon folder and using IrfanView, which does everything IcoFX does.

BuBBy, thanks for the info! Than this program isn't what I need...

ANYONE
I went to their website and read around on there but couldn't find anything on whether this proggy reads icon libraries. .icl files. I have all my icons in grouped named .icl files. Would this program help me in any way. It would be futile to download and do a search of icons if it cannot read .icl files.

Thanks in advance

Msg From BuBBy: The program is not an icon extractor, and it doesn't read icon libraries - it works specifically with individual files of type bmp, ico, jpg, png and gif.

not worth trying. not worth 30.00.

The add folders page does not link into windows explorer, so you have to type in the folder to search. Also, there is a purchase link in the upper left corner to buy all of their products for $99. Yes, I can copy the directories from the Run links, but I don't like to have it forced on me. There is also a purchase box in the upper right corner to buy all of their software for $99. Tacky, I think.

I do appreciate the general warnings that if the OS is lost or PCs are changed, that the software will have to be purchased or not used. This is so true with the way Microsoft set up the Registry in Win95.

The comments about free programs are appreciated if they are checked out thoroughly to make sure that they handle the same functions without major technical experience. Otherwise, the comments just confuse issues and take time to determine that the other programs aren't as useful.

On a more personal note, whining about too many of this type of program or too many of that type are just annoying and take up space and don't add anything.

Hey, Bubby if thats the browser that comes with the built-in dishwasher-potscrubber attachment I'll take it.
Chalk and cheese,nice comparison.

I can't believe people charge for this! LMAO

Reply to "Belgian Dude" (14)

BD: You yourself acknowledge that Total Icon Organizer can't grab icons out of exe and dll files.

BuBBy: That is correct. For some people, using both programs might be a viable solution.

BuBBy: the "Search" function in windows explorer (whilst free) is quite different. Yes, explorer lets you search for a filename with a certain extension - but to say it is the same, is to tell a writer that Notepad is the same as Microsoft Word. This program doesn't try to make any claims to be a better icon editor, designer or extractor - in fact it doesn't even claim to be able to do those things AT ALL. Simply - it provides (to possibly a very limited set of users) an advanced search and organize feature for icons that isn't currently available in other programs (including windows explorer).

As a result - the program definitely isn't going to be "just the thing" everyone has been looking for. But as the program claims, it is aimed towards "designers and developers with huge icon collections". If this is "what you do" on computers all the time - then perhaps purchasing or using this is a done deal.

Because a designers/developers requirements might be specific - settling for a general purpose (but free) compromise that does 65% of what you need, may not be good enough.

If you were a chef then spending $200 on a single knife might make sense. To somebody else looking at your $200 purchase - It's "just a knife" when "any other knife could do the job". This is software with a specific audience, it isn't for everybody - and that's perfectly OK. If you are not a chef, being content with a cheaper (or free) knife is fine. If you can compromise on function with a cheaper knife - doesn't make the $200 purchase a "bad knife".

BuBBy: When crossing that bridge, I may choose to use a freeware alternative over PDF Converter.
How this is relevant to the performance of Total Icon Organizer?

Does Total Icon Organizer do what it claims? I believe it does.
Is this software you have a need or use for? Probably not.

BuBBY

You yourself acknowledge that Total Icon Organizer can't grab icons out of exe and dll files.

IcoFX can, just check it's features

# Extract icons (including Vista icons) from 32 bit exe and dll
# Import / export images (transparency also)

You can argue that the 2 programs that I mentioned don't do 'organizing' of icons. Then again isn't it so that most user, pro or not, that want to do stuff with icons will be wanting to do much more then just finding the ICO, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF type files on their harddrives.

Therefor isn't so that a program like IcoFX (that is freeware) that does even find/extract icon files out of exe and dll files and on top of that lets you edit and manipulate them a far more stronger intricate powerful program that today's offering which main selling feature can just as well be done by using the search function in windows explorer?

Besides all that is the fact that the company that makes it is one found of making silly claims. E.g. they claim that (and I qoute from their site) "PDF Converter is the only pdf converter that can save Adobe files as images (in jpeg format)". Never mind the fact that once again there are dozens of freeware programs that can do that which therefor don't cost 39.90 USD.

Does this program also grab icons out of exe and dll files?

Msg From BuBBy: No it doesn't. Strictly search and organize.

google "icon extractor" - that's what you are thinking of.

Search doesn't work, About says BUY NOW!
Activate first , then setup like in readme didnt work

Msg From BuBBy: If you have technical problems (ie. Installing/Activating), please leave us a note in our forums.
(I think the "BUY NOW!" is a subliminal sales technique that everyone gets. You can never buy too many copies.

re: "Search doesn't work" - you need to have something TO search, so try the "Add Folder" option first. (It will add all sub folders too).

How can we tell if the program registered? It still shows the (BUY NOW $) in the right corner of the program

Msg From BuBBy: Select from the top Menu - Help -> About.

The "About" window should look like This.
(Note the red 'giveawayoftheday' text).

At last count there were 46 different buttons and messages (Buy Now, Order Now, special offer, please come to our website) scattered throughout the program.
I think they are trying to say something. ;)

START/Search/*.ico in the search bar will find your icons surely. Coupled with EXPLORER 2 (Given away on here recently) is a much better way of doing things, isn't it?

That's what the search function is designed for, after all.

#8, Michael, I think you have the comparisons around the wrong way.

It's not illogical that Photoshop is $1000 when Gimp is Free, because most would argue that Photoshop is a better program and should therefore cost more. You pay a premium for a superior product.

Where many would question if it makes sense, if Gimp was $1000 and Photoshop was free. You might ask the developers of Gimp, "how do you expect anyone to pay $1000 for your product when another product that is far superior is completely free?"

However that is where #2 examples wheels just "fell off". Because there is no real comparison between the two products - so that one is free and the other isn't, is beside the point because other than they work with graphics files - there isn't much in common.

Sure they are entitled to ask whatever price they want for their software - but if a functionally superior product costs less or is completely free - how do they expect it to sell. Some may cynically suggest - "There is a customer/sucker born every minute".

(BTW. I have a web browser for sale - based on Internet Explorer 5. Cost $20,000. Have a heart). ;)

If you would like to debate this not useful issue - voters, that's a hint :) - take it to our forums.

I find comment #2 problematic. Just becuase someone else has offered something similar for free doesn't mean that it's worth next to nothing. Maybe the purchaser might be loony to pay for something that he can get free, but the developer can't be faulted for wanted to get get compensated for the finicky labour (s)he put in. I mean it would be like saying the the guys who did Frontpage are ethically twisted to ask for money when there is the perfectly free Nvu; or the Office guys are crazy to ask for money when there is perfectly free Open office; or that the Photoshop people are bastards for charging money when you can get the perfectly free Gimp. Have a heart.

Comment number 2 was posted by someone who clearly did NOT try the program before posting. Today's Icon Organizer is what is says, an organizer. I have both Art-Icons Pro, Greenfish Icon Editor Pro and IcoFX and they are NOT any better than today's giveaway when it comes to organizing. In fact Icon Organizer is better at organizing than they are, it can just not do anything else! Simple but effecient.

Icon creation would have been more useful, and as mentioned this isn't the greatest type of software available for the afformentioned application. Searching for icons... Hmm start search advanced check off search system folders, and hidden files then the extension .ico

Then again how many publishers do not have their icons already embedded into the executable or a dll these days?

Be careful to navigate to the proper folder the first time or you may get a hard time to correct your mistake, because this program will make thumbnails of any picture files as well - not just icon files - but you don't want that to happen because it can do nothing with these pictures. It is a problem that is hard to correct because when uninstalled, this program will leave many files (settings and thumbnails) behind where you don't see them, so please install via TotalUninstaller or alike.

This is a good program to have around. When one decides that they want to change some icons, they can easily find them with this application. Eliminates opening every folder and file to try to find the icon one wants to use.
Also, it shows the user some icons that they may have never known they had!
Ease of use 5/5
Features are basic, but still 5/5

In the above case (#2) "IcoFX" and "Total Icon Organizer" are like chalk and cheese. It appears there is no overlap in function between either program. Certainly to a developer or designer these two programs may work together in a complimentary fashion - but neither could replace the other.

IcoFX is a free icon editor. You can easily create, edit, read and save icons with transparency for Windows XP and Vista.

Total Icon Organizer - Advanced search for icons in huge collections for designers and developers.

So let's see.... one could either download and (normally) pay 30 USD for this or.... one could use, for instance, Greenfish Icon Editor Pro or IcoFX which do even lots more for 0 USD...hmmm.... difficult decision.
;)

I'm not saying this is a bad product but one truly has to question the mind of those that make programs, that they expect people to pay for, when it doesn't do more nor look better nor is easier in usage then the widely available and very decent freeware/open source alternatives.

Compare Total Icon Organizer's homepage
http://www.coolutils.com/TotalIconOrganizer
with IcoFX's
http://icofx.xhost.ro/

Look at the actual homepage of the creators of Total Icon Organizer. Notice the assembly of awards in the top right corner... claims of awards that I couldn't find anywhere else on their site.

Look IcoFx's awards page and how you can click through to the actual page on the sites mentioned.

In short : it's a sad thing when software for free, and the creators of it, is more professional then software, and it's creators, that one is expected to pay for.

Interesting piece of software.... It loaded over 1000 icons in less than one minute. Makes finding just the right icon much easier.

Running Win2K Pro SP4.