How to add tiny logo in URL address line in browser?

[nadsab]

Hi there,

Anyone know how to add those tiny little logos at the beginning of the http address in browser windows for domains?

[willybfriendly]

Do a search for favicon

WBF

[nadsab]

Thanks willybfriendly

[nadsab]

willybfriendly,

OK I created an icon 16 x 16 pixels and saved it as favicon.ico and uploaded it to root web dir and it does not show up. ANy idea as to what I did wrong?

I saved it as jpg and then renamed to .ico

[sidyadav]

Add this code at the top of your index page:
<LINK REL="SHORTCUT ICON" HREF="/favicon.ico">

Add your site to Favorites, close IE, open another one, go to your site.

Sid

[nadsab]

OK I got it to work in Netscape 7 but can't get it to work in ie 6.

I deleted temp internet files and cleared history, still does not show.

[nadsab]

<LINK REL="SHORTCUT ICON" HREF="/favicon.ico">

In the head?

[Macguru]

I believe they have a max of 16 colors and are better saved as .gif too.

You could also paste

<LINK REL="SHORTCUT ICON" HREF="favicon.ico">

in the head section of every page, of course giving the right path. I put those buggers in every folders. To make your life simple, do a search and replace in whole site for

</HEAD>

and replace by

<LINK REL="SHORTCUT ICON" HREF="favicon.ico">
</HEAD>

Of coure, you need to upload the whole shabang before you see the results online.

[nadsab]

OK I added <LINK REL="SHORTCUT ICON" HREF="favicon.ico">
to both my head and body and it still does not show up, although it does show up in netscape 7.

I deleted all temp internet files, cleared history, bookmarked, still does not show up.

[sidyadav]

Add your site to Favorites, close IE, open another one, go to your site.

did you try that?

Sid

[nadsab]

sidyadav yes tried that several times.

It shows up fine in netscape browser but not IE 6

[BaseVinyl]

I believe that the favicon is not always reproduced reliably in IE broswers. Sometimes mine shows up and sometimes it doesn't. I've heard that it will most likely work better on someone elses computer than the one that created the favicon...I don't know really...sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't...it might be good to ask a friend if they can see it at least you know it works for other people. Bottom line is I think it's not a 100% reliable trick.

[Macguru]

I believe they have a max of 16 colors and are better saved as .gif too.

While we are at it, is this still true?

[nadsab]

Yes it's 16 x 16 and I tried saving it as both gif and jpg. Either gif or jpg works in netsape but not IE 6.

ALso tried rebooting pc, that did not work either.

[nadsab]

Both 16 colors and 16x16 pixels that is.

[john_k]

IE is finicky about going and getting the favicon. Remove your site from your favorites, clear your history, and then close all of your browser windows. It would not hurt to reboot since IE is probably involved in your desktop layout also. After you restart, add your site back to your favorites.

Don't be surprised when the icon stops showing up in a day, a week, a month, or some other random time frame. When it disappears, repeat the above process.

[cadillac]

The file format should be ico and not jpg or gif. To create that type of file you can use IconForge for example. Mozilla FireFox also supports png files but no IE. *.ico files work for all.

[nadsab]

OK thanks guys I tried all that still no sucess.

Can't I just rename a .gif or .jpg to .ico in photoshop 7? Or is an ico file a different format and the graphics editor needs that file conversion cabability?

If I can in photoshop, i guess I'll take a wait and see tactic for a few weeks as suggested because it seems as if I tried everything.

Thanks.

[john_k]

Can't I just rename a .gif or .jpg to .ico in photoshop 7? Or is an ico file a different format and the graphics editor needs that file conversion cabability?

No you can't just rename it. And yes, .ico is a different format. It actually supports multiple images in the same file (16x16, 32x32, and others). Besides putting an image next to your url in the address bar, or next to your favorite/bookmark in the menu, it also provides a normal size icon if you copy the shortcut to your desktop. It is also used in the taskbar. And you need to have a real .ico file for your favicon.

[nadsab]

Ah ha so that's the problem.

Does Photoshop 7 have a plug in for .ico file conversions? Seems to me that an application like photoshop should have that.

[Bonusbana]

Photoshop 7 does not support the .ico format. Try graphic converter if you are on a mac or do a search for PC applications that support .ico.

[bruhaha]

If you're looking for a simple (and free!) graphics application that creates favicons or converts to *.ico format -- try IrfanView.

[nadsab]

Thanks bruhaha
I'll check it out.

[HarryM]

In an earlier thread someone recommended that there are two linking formats and both should be included in the <head>. I can't remember why. I include both, but IE still doesn't always show a favicon.

<link rel="shortcut icon" href="../favicon.ico" />
<link rel="icon" type="image/ico" href="../favicon.ico" />

Harry

[rogerd]

Delete your temp files, clear your history, remove all your favorites, uninstall IE, delete any remaining files on your HD and do a low level format, reinstall Windows and IE, add your site to favorites, and see if the favicon appears. (Just kidding.)

Favicon handling in IE seems inconsistent and occasionally inexplicable. On the off chance that there is something weird about your image, you might try a free favicon generation tool. I haven't used one lately, but there were online tools as well as trial downloads. If your .ico image is OK, try using a different computer entirely and see what happens. If the other computer displays the icon, then it's probably some weirdness on your PC.

Due to the transitory and inconsistent nature of favicons in the dominant browser, I've stopped worrying about them in most cases. It's a neat feature, but poorly implemented.

[ncw164x]

This is a good tool for making an icon from any photo, upload the photo and it makes it into an .ico file for you
[chami.com...]

cheers

ncw164x

[willybfriendly]

Favicon handling in IE seems inconsistent and occasionally inexplicable.

You can always reach up there in the address bar and give the little IE icon a couple of shakes with your mouse pointer. This seems to bring the favicon back for some reason.

WBF

[nadsab]

rogerd ah ha that's hilarious maybe ill try it hehe.

[limbo]

give the little IE icon a couple of shakes with your mouse pointer

Can't belive that worked :o

IE is truly odd.

[rogerd]

Jiggling the "e" icon only works part of the time. I used to have a WebmasterWorld icon, but it left and no amount of jiggling seems to get it back. :(