C# Signature:

[DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
static extern uint ExtractIconEx(string szFileName, int nIconIndex,
   IntPtr[] phiconLarge, IntPtr[] phiconSmall, uint nIcons);

VB Signature:

<DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto)> _
Function ExtractIconEx(ByVal szFileName As String, _
            ByVal nIconIndex As Integer, _
            ByVal phiconLarge As IntPtr, _
            ByVal phiconSmall As IntPtr, _
            ByVal nIcons As UInteger) As UInteger
End Function

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

None.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

namespace Martin.Hyldahl.Examples.ExtractIconEx
{
    /*
     * Example using ExtractIconEx
     * Created by Martin Hyldahl (alanadin@post8.tele.dk)
     * http://www.hyldahlnet.dk
     */

    using System;
    using System.Drawing;
    using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

    /// <summary>
    /// Example using ExtractIconEx
    /// </summary>
    public class ExtractIconExample
    {
    /* CONSTRUCTORS */
    static ExtractIconExample()
    {
    }

    // HIDE INSTANCE CONSTRUCTOR
    private ExtractIconExample()
    {
    }

    [DllImport("Shell32", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
    private static unsafe extern int ExtractIconEx (
        string lpszFile,
        int nIconIndex,
        IntPtr[] phIconLarge,
        IntPtr[] phIconSmall,
        int nIcons);

    [DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint="DestroyIcon", SetLastError=true)]
    private static unsafe extern int DestroyIcon(IntPtr hIcon);

    public static Icon ExtractIconFromExe(string file, bool large)
    {
        unsafe
        {
        int readIconCount = 0;
        IntPtr[] hDummy  = new IntPtr[1] {IntPtr.Zero};
        IntPtr[] hIconEx = new IntPtr[1] {IntPtr.Zero};

        try
        {
            if(large)
            readIconCount = ExtractIconEx(file,0, hIconEx, hDummy, 1);
            else
            readIconCount = ExtractIconEx(file,0, hDummy, hIconEx, 1);

            if(readIconCount > 0 && hIconEx[0] != IntPtr.Zero)
            {
            // GET FIRST EXTRACTED ICON
            Icon extractedIcon = (Icon)Icon.FromHandle(hIconEx[0]).Clone();

            return extractedIcon;
            }
            else // NO ICONS READ
            return null;
        }
        catch(Exception ex)
        {
            /* EXTRACT ICON ERROR */

            // BUBBLE UP
            throw new ApplicationException("Could not extract icon", ex);
        }
        finally
        {
            // RELEASE RESOURCES
            foreach(IntPtr ptr in hIconEx)
            if(ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
                DestroyIcon(ptr);

            foreach(IntPtr ptr in hDummy)
            if(ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
                DestroyIcon(ptr);
        }
        }
    }
    }
}

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

Please edit this page!

Do you have...

• helpful tips or sample code to share for using this API in managed code?
• corrections to the existing content?
• variations of the signature you want to share?
• additional languages you want to include?

Select "Edit This Page" on the right hand toolbar and edit it! Or add new pages containing supporting types needed for this API (structures, delegates, and more).