First off, let me say that while I am aware that there are multiple utilities out there (of varying quality) which do the same thing, few of them allow for extensive customisation options, and so rely solely on their context menu entries (again, of varying quality) to be the main interface. Also, even fewer of those utilities, even the free ones, are completely open-source, so the user is entirely reliant upon the developer to accede to specific requests.
Download Link: SetFolderColour2 (version 2.7.1.7, size: 1.9 MB, updated 05-Aug-14)
RAR includes x86 and x64 EXE's, full source code, and basic icon sets
Ok, so what's so new about it? Doesn't it just do the same bloody thing as it did before?
Well yes, the basic functionality is much the same, but how it does it has been completely updated and improved, alongside a multitude of other changes. For example, now the icons update in the shell instantaneously, rather than the user needing to wait for divine inspiration spending the afternoon refreshing the display like some demented character in a Beckett play. Other changes include a wholly new popup menu (for selecting the icons from a user-command, as seen above), and two different types of shell context-menus for those who prefer that approach.
Can I easily add my own icons if I don't like yours?
Yes you can, just add whatever ICO files you want (up to 250 of them!) into the Icons folder in the utility's directory and they will automatically show up in the selection list (popup/context menus). What's more, you can rearrange the menu any way you like - if you want some icons to be in their own sub-menus, just create some subfolders (named whatever you want), and add the icons there. The subfolder name becomes the submenu name as you would expect. The hierarchy only extends to the first-tier in depth (any subfolders of subfolders will be ignored), which may seem somewhat limiting, but considering the menu structure is updated anew instantly whenever you add/remove/rename or move the icons, I tried to keep it as simple as possible. (The icons in subfolders can also be amalgamated into a single large menu [no submenus] without needing to move anything physically, just ticking a box in the options.)
In fact, I intentionally provided a "mess of icons" by default just to give the user an idea of how things can be arranged - people may simply delete any or all the icons they don't like, and use a set they prefer themselves.
So, knowing you, I suppose there's all sorts of wacky options, yeah?
I always do my best.
"x2 Integration"? What's that about? Does this mean I can't use it from Windows Explorer, or other file-managers?
Not at all - this utility may be used however you wish, and will work fine from Windows Explorer or any other way you interact with folders (we ask no questions around here). It's just that I was experimenting with a few things, and decided to add a few key options which optimise its integration within x2. That is, after all, why we're here, isn't it?
I suppose there's some command-line stuff in there too in case things go bump in the night?
Oui monsieur, what would a utility be without command-line options?
Ok, I like what I'm hearing so far - how do I use it?
Well, if you want to use it as a x2 toolbar button, just make a user-command as follows and add it to a toolbar. (You must use the $A token [or '/List=$>' if you're more adventurous], because the utility requires full paths to work properly.) And don't forget the '/Menu' part - that's really really important.
> "SetFolderColour2.exe" $A /Menu
When you click the button, the menu will open up and away you go - at the bottom of the menu there is a <Configure> entry which allows quick-access to the options screen shown above, so you never need to go near the command-line again, if you don't want to.
If, on the other hand, you only want to use one of the shell context-menu options, just run the EXE and the options window will open up and you may select one at the bottom of the window. These menus do not require Admin access (unlike the original utility) and so may be easily added/removed simply from checkboxes. If anyone is still using the context menu from the original utility, it must be removed (from within that old utility) before using either of these shell entries.
So - umm - dumb question, but why are there two context-menu entry styles?
I'm just being weird and offering people more options than they know what to do with - one uses the "popup"-style (same as the user-command [above], just available from the right-click menu instead of a toolbar); and the other is the more traditional "cascading" entry (from the original utility). Unfortunately both of them have their drawbacks - for example, you may only select one folder at a time to modify... if you select more than one the others will be ignored. This is a just a limitation of how static shell entries work, and there's not much I can about it without leaping off the cliffs of Dover in a fit of anguish and angst. If you want to be able to modify multiple folders at once, use the user-command approach - that one can process thousands of folders at once if necessary, and has no limitations whatsoever.
Also, the cascade-style is very limited in its functionality - if left up to me I would just deprecate it completely and let people fend for themselves, but I left it in for those who prefer it. Basically it's limited to Win7+ only, may only contain up to 12 icons entries, cannot have submenus, and does not have a "Subfolder Recursion" toggle-option like the other menus. This is just life - I highly suggest using the popup-style menu (it does not suffer the same limits as cascade, except for the 1-folder per selection thing) - it can contain as many icons as you want, works fine in XP, and is fully functional with all the swish and swagger it can muster.
Does this modify the 'desktop.ini' files which ordinarily control such things? Will this interfere with anything else which also utilises those files?
It uses Windows' own API functions to access the ini's (which is the way it should be done), which means it's 100% kosher, halal, permissible, legal, and fully paid up with its union dues. This will not interfere with anything (except, obviously, any other programmes which take it upon themselves to change folder icons - but that's the user's responsibility).
What does the option "Create and reference an in-folder hidden copy of the icon (relative path)" actually do, and why would I want to do it?
In the interests of portability, normally if you wanted to move a folder with a bespoke icon to another computer it would not really work, because most icon-references are to files somewhere on the original computer. Using this option will always create a "copy" of the selected icon within the folder itself (and set its attribute to "Hidden"), which will then become the icon which is referenced - in other words, the "icon" to be used is always available because it's held within the folder itself, no matter where that folder is moved to.
A special option is available pertaining to subfolder recursion - wherein either every single folder and subfolder receives it's own copy of the original icon, or whether only the base-folder receives an actual copy, and all subfolder references are relative to that one. This way the base-folder becomes portable, but the individual subfolders are not, if taken separately.
The only real drawback for using these options is the extra space the icon itself takes up - especially in the case of subfolders - for example, if there are 1000 subfolders in your Music folder, and you create a hidden duplicate icon in each one of those (and the base folder itself), that can add 1001 duplicated icon-files into the folder structure, which is a bit extreme.
These hidden duplicate-icons are always removed if the folder is "cleaned" (reset to plain icon) or the icon is itself changed again by the user - the hidden duplicate file will become the new icon instead. Hence only a single icon-file exists within a folder at any given time, mitigating the potential bloat.
I know you have a whole configuration modal, but are there any more "advanced" options for strange people who wake up in the middle of the night with nothing better to mess with?
Indeed there are. Just open the <Configure> window, and press <F2>, and all will be revealed. Be aware that I do not recommend changing these options unless you know what you're doing, but (as usual) they're there if you really want them and don't feel like editing the INI manually.
I notice there are two executables in the download, do I need to worry about which one I use?
Not really, they both do the same thing (obviously), but the x64 version will display faster if you populate menus with large numbers of icon-entries (anything above 50) and have an x64 OS. Other than that, you won't notice a difference and can safely just delete the one you don't use.
Any last words?
I could babble on about minutia, but that about covers it. If you have any questions, requests, or criticisms, feel free.
I hope it proves useful to somebody. (And yes, for those who know me, I do have a slightly odd taste in my mouth from creating what could be seen as a more "mainstream" utility - have no fear, I won't make a habit of it. 
)Enjoy or dismiss as you may.
I would like to specially thank the forum member dunno for climbing down off his hammock long enough to provide extensive testing on Windows XP and for finding a couple of bugs which threatened the very essence of western civilisation itself (as far as my understanding of x2 tabs is concerned). Thanks again.
