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Shell extensions for an operating system

  • US 5,838,322 A
  • Filed: 08/20/1997
  • Issued: 11/17/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a data processing system having a video display, a memory means and a processing means running an operating system that includes a shell that provides functionality, an application program installed under the operating system, and a file having a file type associated with the application, the file having an associated file identifier, a method comprising the steps of:

  • providing a database of registration information that is stored in the memory means;

    storing a representation of a per-instance icon for the file in the memory means;

    registering the representation of the per-instance icon in the database in association with the file identifier;

    providing and registering in the database, a per-instance icon handler for the file type to extend the functionality of the shell relative to the file type, said per-instance icon handler provide by the application program and being independent of the operating system,wherein the per-instance icon handler is for finding the representation of the per-instance icon and providing the representation of the per-instance icon to the operating system to display the icon on the video display; and

    in response to a request to display an icon for the file, accessing the database to locate the per-instance icon handler and using the per-instance icon handler to display the per-instance icon as the icon for the file on the video display.

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