.:. XUBE .:. for FAVICONS .:. How to use a FAVICON .:.

Once you have your image to use as a favicon, what to do with it? If you have your own domain hosted, it is usually as simple as uploading the favicon into your main web /public web folder. Not sure? Well then upload it!
Then try to view it. www. (your url)/favicon.ico ......

Didn't work? This is most likely to happen on a FREE web hosting service. But that is usually an easy fix!

First thing to do is make sure you can upload .ico files to the web host. Recently Geocities users found that they were not able too. This seems to be a sporadic behavior from Geocities .

Can't get a .ico file uploaded? Ask a friend who has a domain if they can load for you in a subdirectory or find one on another domain to point too. This may NOT work. Lovely incompatible file type message. Some suggest naming the file to .txt then try to change back to ico after upload, but that doesn't always work. Others suggest you just use a bmp. My suggestion? Find a diff host, or find a site with linkable favicons.

If you use Geocities PageBuilder, and have that favicon loaded or have one to link too, you can use a favicon on ~ click on FORMAT, then ADVANCED page Properties, and place the code/ info in the HEAD section. You will see a default Geocities or Yahoo favicon otherwise.

Got icon all situated? Good! It is an easy fix, and can be used on a webpage hosted on any site or domain. Simply add a line of code to your header, with your meta tags and above the title area works fine.

<link rel="icon" href="http://your url/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">? <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://your url/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">

The second line is for shortcuts.. you can also create a multiple image file. But that is another tutorial.

example <link rel=?shortcut icon? href=?http://www.xube.com/favicon/favicon.ico?>

Then save your html, and upload to the server. Then refresh and bookmark your page. or just check http:// (your url ) /favicon.ico and see how it looks. Make sure to use the www.

You can also use a different name for the favicon if you load the code ~ IE: xube-101.ico. This may come in very handy for Geocities favicon users.

If you are using FRAMES! make sure to add the tags or you risk no favicon being seen!

Another uses of favicons ~ with tools like MicroAngelo, you can change the appearance of icons on your desktop, or in folders. the larger icon versions can be used as avatars on chats or forums too.

Free Favicons for YOU! * a zip file of dozens of icons suitable to use as favicons. ALL icons in 32x32 size, just rename and load to use!

A side note * Someone recently asked, why load the favicon code at all? With the disappearing act they do when you clear temp files, why bother?

Couple of reasons ~ if you just drop in the web folder its picked up. True, but! If you have additional users hosted on your site, or even a subsection that is different, you may need or want different favicons. Example, if you bookmark Nhyrvana.com, you see a purple N icon on your favorites list and if you bookmark the web design pages on Nhyrvana.com/~nhyrvana, you should see the purple N icon as well IF no code is added. BUT, with the code was added to the html, it renders the cat favicon. Adding this code also allows the shortcut icon to change as well.

another reason to use a FAVICON ~ I personally prefer a larger image ~ 32x32 or so, because of a GREAT secret use..... just CLICK the upper left corner of the browser, and DRAG to the desktop. WOW! A customized shortcut icon right back to the website! You can also generate this icon by clicking on the favorites list, and selecting create a desktop shortcut. So even if the favorites list doesn't show the icon..... the desktop will! Remember, favicons and the shortcut icons are visual reminders to return to your website. It is a few minutes work that can mean return traffic!

Favicon FAQ