Export/Import backup for CustomEmoticons

Hello,

at the moment there is no way to export and
import the custom emoticons (create a backup).

It is really pain in the ass to add all emoticons
manually after a fresh installation of Windows
Live Messenger.

I have over 60 animated gif files as custom
emoticons in my messenger and just changed
from Vista to Windows 7 and had to add all
of them manually per hand... very annoying!

It is also not possible to just copy the old
emoticon folder to the fresh installation, the
messenger does not seem to recognize them.

Please can you propose this export/import
functions for CustomEmoticons in the next
team meeting?

Thanks a lot!

Greetings,

Actually with modern version of Messenger, just copying the files from machine to machine;
XP, Vista, or Windows 7, it will work just fine as long as you're copying them into the
correct location. The only "gotcha" is that you can only copy to the same Windows Live ID.

So if you're signing into on both XP and Win7, you can freely just copy
over the files back and forth. But if you're signing into on XP and
on Win7, you won't be able to just copy them.

Just to clarify, on Vista and Win7 the location is the same,
\Users\username\Appdata\Local\Microsoft\Messenger\ LiveID, where username is your Windows
login name and LiveID is your Windows Live ID e-mail address. If you're copying a "MSN
Messenger" folder, you're copying the old one.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Schnulla" <> wrote in message
news:F6384A03-1A8F-4A8C-A896-...
> Hello,
>
> at the moment there is no way to export and
> import the custom emoticons (create a backup).
>
> It is really pain in the ass to add all emoticons
> manually after a fresh installation of Windows
> Live Messenger.
>
> I have over 60 animated gif files as custom
> emoticons in my messenger and just changed
> from Vista to Windows 7 and had to add all
> of them manually per hand... very annoying!
>
> It is also not possible to just copy the old
> emoticon folder to the fresh installation, the
> messenger does not seem to recognize them.
>
> Please can you propose this export/import
> functions for CustomEmoticons in the next
> team meeting?
>
> Thanks a lot!
>

Thanks for your reply!
So I have to copy the whole...

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenge r\LiveID

....folder and not only the...

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenge r\LiveID\ObjectStore\CustomEmoticons

....folder. I modified my backup batch file for this and will give it
a try next time. Nevertheless a more user friendly integrated
Export / Import backup function would make sense for me.
Especially for users who are overwhelmed with such manual
copy procedure... like my girlfriend ;D

Hi,

Actually no, I was just simplifying it really, you can be specific and just copy over the
CustomEmoticons folder. Or even specific emoticons, as long as you're copying both the .id2
and .dt2 files for the specific emoticon. That goes for the display pictures (UserTiles),
Winks, and other content there as well.

It's a long standing suggestion to be able to do this, or at least be an option in the
USMT/Windows Easy Transfer/Files and Settings Transfer wizard in Windows.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Schnulla" <> wrote in message
news:FF21267A-5286-4FEE-81A1-...
> Thanks for your reply!
> So I have to copy the whole...
>
> C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenge r\LiveID
>
> ...folder and not only the...
>
> C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenge r\LiveID\ObjectStore\CustomEmoticons
>
> ...folder. I modified my backup batch file for this and will give it
> a try next time. Nevertheless a more user friendly integrated
> Export / Import backup function would make sense for me.
> Especially for users who are overwhelmed with such manual
> copy procedure... like my girlfriend ;D

Hi,

thanks that was the first thing I tried before opening this thread.
Maybe at that time it did not work and the messenger ignored
the .dt2/.id2 files because I copied the CustomEmoticon folder
to a different LiveID. Or should this also work?

Thanks!

> Actually no, I was just simplifying it really, you can be specific and just copy over the
> CustomEmoticons folder. Or even specific emoticons, as long as you're copying both the .id2
> and .dt2 files for the specific emoticon. That goes for the display pictures (UserTiles),
> Winks, and other content there as well.

Hi,

Nope, that's the only rule. They have to be the same Live ID to copy them over like this.

The only exception is that the .dt2 (which will be either a GIF or PNG) can be manually added
as an emoticon (after renaming it and going through the manual process in the interface).
The .id2 file is the metadata which defines the emoticon and is the part that's embedded with
the Live ID (thus preventing you from copying it to other IDs).

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Schnulla" <> wrote in message
news:8C976539-259A-459C-9F16-...
> Hi,
>
> thanks that was the first thing I tried before opening this thread.
> Maybe at that time it did not work and the messenger ignored
> the .dt2/.id2 files because I copied the CustomEmoticon folder
> to a different LiveID. Or should this also work?
>
> Thanks!
>
>> Actually no, I was just simplifying it really, you can be specific and just copy over the
>> CustomEmoticons folder. Or even specific emoticons, as long as you're copying both the
>> .id2
>> and .dt2 files for the specific emoticon. That goes for the display pictures (UserTiles),
>> Winks, and other content there as well.
>

I have the same problem. I used to copy/paste the custom emotios folder everytime i made a clean install of XP, but now i changed to windows 7 and it doesnt work anymore. Ive changed from x86 to x64, maybe thats the problem?

I copied the CustomEmotions folder to users\myusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger and i confirm it doesnt work.

I'm trying to import my emoticons from my XP to my new W7, but on m
CustomEmoticon folder I only see .dat files, no .id2 nor dt2. why? wher
else can I look for my emoticons? I really don't want to have a frien
of my to receive all of my emoticons and send them back to me... tha
you all :

--
alexvista

Greetings alexvista,

There is no other place, if you're seeing DATs, then you're in the wrong problem. Note that
the location has moved depending on version.

Just to confirm though, on Windows XP, with Windows Live Messenger 2009, the folder you're
looking for will be:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Messenger\LiveID\ObjectStore\Custom Emoticons
Where username is your Windows username and LiveID is your Messenger Windows Live ID.

So for example:
C:\Documents and Settings\Jon\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Messenger\\ObjectSt ore\CustomEmoticons

Additionally, you may just want to copy over your entire ObjectStore folder, as it contains
your custom emoticons, display pictures, winks, and so on.

And the folder location on Windows 7 will be:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenge r\LiveID\ObjectStore\CustomEmoticons

So for example:
C:\Users\Jon\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger\raw \ObjectStore\CustomEmoticons

Finally, on either Windows version, you'll need to make sure you can see hidden
files/folders. You can do this by opening any Explorer window, pressing the Alt key on the
keyboard to active the menu bar, choosing Tools, then Folder Options, click the View tab and
choose 'Show hidden files and folders'. Alternatively, you may just want to put the correct
paths in an Explorer address bar to quickly get there. Note that in other locales/language
versions, the paths may be slightly different.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--




"alexvista" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I'm trying to import my emoticons from my XP to my new W7, but on my
> CustomEmoticon folder I only see .dat files, no .id2 nor dt2. why? where
> else can I look for my emoticons? I really don't want to have a friend
> of my to receive all of my emoticons and send them back to me... thak
> you all
>
>
> --
> alexvista

yes, you where right, I was looking on the wrong folder... Found it no
thank

--
alexvista