If you are looking how to associate programs to file types look no further. The problem is that transferring a file, for example a file called test.readme to the Amiga, will not let you double-click and read test.readme with MultiView or whatever you use. These instructions will allow you to double-click many icon types and have been tested and working with MagicWB on OS3.1.

• First get yourself a set of default icons. This tutorial uses AWMWB3 because it has a lot of default icons and they look lovely and in theme with MagicWB.
• You will now need an utility called IconChief which, in-turn, will require WhatIs to install.
• Copy IconChief folder to a path you like and copy whatis.library to LIBS:. This tutorial assumes that the IconChief folder is placed at Workbench:Applications/System/IconChief. Additionally, you may have to run:

protect IconChief add e

in a shell in order to actually make IconChief executable from CLI.

• Copy the default icons from the AWMWB3 folder (placed in the DefIcons subfolder) to SYS:Prefs/Env-Archive/Sys - you can replaces the already existing files, no problem.
• Copy the FileTypes file from the AWMWB3 folder to S:
• Edit S:user-startup and add a new section:

;BEGIN IconChief
run >nil: Workbench:Applications/System/IconChief/IconChief
;END IconChief

at the bottom of the file.

Now, when you restart, the new icons will show up and you can double-click any file and it will open the program for the corresponding def_#?.info.

You can changed the assigned program by editing the default icons directly. For example, AWMWB3 default icons use Unpacker when you double-click a file that ends in the .lha extension. You can change this by going to SYS:Prefs/Env-Archive/Sys and selecting Icons→Information… on the def_lha.info and then setting, say WizArc as the Tool Type.

The contents of SYS:Prefs/Env-Archive/Sys get copied to RAM on boot. This is performed in the S:startup-sequence script. You can install HappyEnv which will take care of loading only the necessary default icons into RAM on demand.