aperdon
asked on
Program that takes wraps a file into an executable which extracts the original file
Hi,
I need a program what takes another file and turns it into an executable which extracts the original file.
Lets say the program is called wrapper.
wrapper <destination> <sources>+
will make an executable, containing all sources
on running this executable the sources will be extracted
example
1. run: wrapper newfile.exe c:\mydir\somefile.mdb
2. an executable newfile.exe is generated
3. run: newfile.exe
4. the sourcefile c:\mydir\somefile.mdb is extracted
This is not needed to make a virus or so. I need this to distribute datafiles by mail to other users. I want them to run an executable from within their mail, instead of Save-as.
The generated executable should show a status screen what files as exctracted.
Many thanx in advance.
I need a program what takes another file and turns it into an executable which extracts the original file.
Lets say the program is called wrapper.
wrapper <destination> <sources>+
will make an executable, containing all sources
on running this executable the sources will be extracted
example
1. run: wrapper newfile.exe c:\mydir\somefile.mdb
2. an executable newfile.exe is generated
3. run: newfile.exe
4. the sourcefile c:\mydir\somefile.mdb is extracted
This is not needed to make a virus or so. I need this to distribute datafiles by mail to other users. I want them to run an executable from within their mail, instead of Save-as.
The generated executable should show a status screen what files as exctracted.
Many thanx in advance.
How about using winzip (www.winzip.com) ?
ASKER
WinZip could be an option but creation of a zip-file using winzip's command-line-interface needs user inter-action in case of an unregistered version. Further, WinZip needs user action to start the extract routine.
At this moment I am checking JAR to solve this. I already use JAR (i guess far more reliable than WinZip coz it is written by Java experts) to ZIP the datafiles. Now i am trying to associate JAR to the filetype to make it executable. I use .wbbjar is my own filetype so it wont interfere with the already defined .jar filetype.
If this is working i think i will use JAR as the distribute tool.
At this moment I am checking JAR to solve this. I already use JAR (i guess far more reliable than WinZip coz it is written by Java experts) to ZIP the datafiles. Now i am trying to associate JAR to the filetype to make it executable. I use .wbbjar is my own filetype so it wont interfere with the already defined .jar filetype.
If this is working i think i will use JAR as the distribute tool.
Get yourself the Internet Explorer Administration Kit from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ieak/default.asp - it is free and comes with 'IExpress.exe' which creates self-extracting executables that run one of the extracted applications after finishing the extraction process.
If have written a self extracter file maker myself and its only requirement is DOS and so it will run on any version of windows....(i could possibly port it to LINUX too) if u want the tool mail me at cryptosid@rediffmail.com i have been using it to distribute many of my softwares...to check the softwares check http://siddhesh.s5.com
cheers
cheers
ASKER
Done som testing now and I have seen some pitfalls starting an executable from mail. The user is always bothered to permit the program for executing.
This however is not the case when associated filetype is used. Only once necessary to say that it is allowed to open the file.
More, I want to keep the original sent mail-file intact, so JAR is not a solution to start upon opening the file. Now I will copy the file.
This however is not the case when associated filetype is used. Only once necessary to say that it is allowed to open the file.
More, I want to keep the original sent mail-file intact, so JAR is not a solution to start upon opening the file. Now I will copy the file.
Hi :-)
I wrote a quik-n-dirty demo for a guy a while back that does this... This demo is a self-modifying exe that alters itself at runtime by adding external files to it's own exe on disk...I wrote it in Delphi (sorry bout that :-) but you can re-do it in C easily I think... or just use it as it is if you want... I could make a tiny change or two to the look of it if you wish.. just let me know :-)
here is the readme file from that demo
=========================
This demo shows an easy way to create a program that can store a bunch of files within itself at runtime...
You can then 'finalize' the exe and it will convert itself into a program that will extract all the files you stored...and then run the first file that you saved inside the exe.
This first file can be any file that windows recognizes.. an exe,html,pdf,zip,jpg...etc
You can easily add compression to this program and then you will have a nice self extracting archive program... use it for storing web pages, ebooks, images... or create a self extracting setup program like wise install.. there are a lot of uses for a simple program like this one :-)
Remember that you can double-click on the form to reset the program back to its original state.
Please read the comments in ExeMod.pas .. especially if you use NT/2000/XP
==========================
The file is here
http://www.geocities.com/gacarpenter386/newdemo1.zip
You may have to right click and then choose 'save target as' to download the demo... GeoCities is funny like that :-)
..Gwen..
I wrote a quik-n-dirty demo for a guy a while back that does this... This demo is a self-modifying exe that alters itself at runtime by adding external files to it's own exe on disk...I wrote it in Delphi (sorry bout that :-) but you can re-do it in C easily I think... or just use it as it is if you want... I could make a tiny change or two to the look of it if you wish.. just let me know :-)
here is the readme file from that demo
=========================
This demo shows an easy way to create a program that can store a bunch of files within itself at runtime...
You can then 'finalize' the exe and it will convert itself into a program that will extract all the files you stored...and then run the first file that you saved inside the exe.
This first file can be any file that windows recognizes.. an exe,html,pdf,zip,jpg...etc
You can easily add compression to this program and then you will have a nice self extracting archive program... use it for storing web pages, ebooks, images... or create a self extracting setup program like wise install.. there are a lot of uses for a simple program like this one :-)
Remember that you can double-click on the form to reset the program back to its original state.
Please read the comments in ExeMod.pas .. especially if you use NT/2000/XP
==========================
The file is here
http://www.geocities.com/gacarpenter386/newdemo1.zip
You may have to right click and then choose 'save target as' to download the demo... GeoCities is funny like that :-)
..Gwen..
ASKER
cryptosid,
I tried to access ur web-site, but is awfull slow.
Is there an option in ur software to start an executable after extracting the files?
I assume i get the source too?
thanx,
Alexander.
I tried to access ur web-site, but is awfull slow.
Is there an option in ur software to start an executable after extracting the files?
I assume i get the source too?
thanx,
Alexander.
Try www.geocities.com/cryptosid/download.htm and sorry the source code is not available...
also the extracter does not run any program automatically...
cause the utility is meant to be a split utility not a self extracting installer maker or something...
cryptosid
also the extracter does not run any program automatically...
cause the utility is meant to be a split utility not a self extracting installer maker or something...
cryptosid
ASKER
It does not look so nice, and installation procedure fails.
well aperdon what do u expect i had mentioned that the program is DOS based and what is available on the site is a split utility not an installer...
if u don't like it write your own one!
cryptosid
if u don't like it write your own one!
cryptosid
I assume you didn't bother looking into what I suggested?
ASKER
jkr,
Yep, I looked into IExpress, downloaded it and installed it almost. Seems during install u have to license the product and therefore i guess it is not free.
cryptosid,
the installation for ur program failed without giving any reason. and so ur program is not installed on my pc. how must i rely on software whose install procedure already fails?
Yep, I looked into IExpress, downloaded it and installed it almost. Seems during install u have to license the product and therefore i guess it is not free.
cryptosid,
the installation for ur program failed without giving any reason. and so ur program is not installed on my pc. how must i rely on software whose install procedure already fails?
Yes i acknowledge that there is a bug in the code...the installation program fails for Win 98 and above but then i have rectified it....the only problem is that i haven't updated to site for quite some time now...if u wanna have the updated program mail me at cryptosid@yahoo.com
cheers
cryptosid
cheers
cryptosid
I am in the process of porting all my ExeMod code over to C using the free LCC compiler...
I figure that the new version of my archive extractor demo should come in at about 10kb.. I will put up the source for the new demos as well...
Look for them in a few weeks... I'm still learning C
and it's a bit hard :-)
I'm working on an open source archive extractor that displays a EULA and then when the user accepts it and optionally enters a passphrase to decrypt the files it extracts them... I did this in Delphi but the exe size was about 90kb... way too much overhead for a simple archive thingie so I'm going with C
I'm going to use RC4 for the encryption. And the compress/decompress code from UPX... since the decompress binary comes in at about 200 bytes :-)
I figure that the new version of my archive extractor demo should come in at about 10kb.. I will put up the source for the new demos as well...
Look for them in a few weeks... I'm still learning C
and it's a bit hard :-)
I'm working on an open source archive extractor that displays a EULA and then when the user accepts it and optionally enters a passphrase to decrypt the files it extracts them... I did this in Delphi but the exe size was about 90kb... way too much overhead for a simple archive thingie so I'm going with C
I'm going to use RC4 for the encryption. And the compress/decompress code from UPX... since the decompress binary comes in at about 200 bytes :-)
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*Shrug* - IExpress still does the job and still is *free*...
I never tried it myself jkr but I left it out because of the explicit reject by the asker...
What would be your recommendation ?
What would be your recommendation ?
>>I left it out because of the explicit reject by the asker
By stating "Seems during install u have to license the product and therefore i guess it is not free"
Interesting logic :o)
>>What would be your recommendation ?
Let's wait a little and see what the others have to say.
By stating "Seems during install u have to license the product and therefore i guess it is not free"
Interesting logic :o)
>>What would be your recommendation ?
Let's wait a little and see what the others have to say.
>Interesting logic :o)
I have to depend on asker's feedback (if any) while making recommendations ...
>Let's wait a little and see what the others have to say.
there is slim chance of anyone responding ... so dont count on them
you are a respected expert, if you think askers rejection was in error then analyse this question and post your recommendation ... I shall modify my recommendations ...
your contribution is appreciated
I have to depend on asker's feedback (if any) while making recommendations ...
>Let's wait a little and see what the others have to say.
there is slim chance of anyone responding ... so dont count on them
you are a respected expert, if you think askers rejection was in error then analyse this question and post your recommendation ... I shall modify my recommendations ...
your contribution is appreciated
ASKER
The MS-website simple states:
Evaluate IEAK and learn how easy it is to tailor a custom browser to meet your customers' needs.
I never trust MS about licensing and evaluation. Now it can be free but in future not anymore.
Beside that it seems that the tool is very overweighted for what I asked.
What I asked for is a simple command-line tool which wraps files into an executable and upon execution unwraps the files to their original locations.
I guess the problem is that people think I need this code to make a virus. The wrapper.c needs some embedded binary-machine-operations to extract the files from the executable (basicly itself). However I am not an expert in embedding machine-operations into my c-programs and have them relocated.
The problem is solved by defining a file-type in windows and on opening the file-type a zip-executable is called on the file. However, this zip-executable should be installed seperately and its location its fixed to the definition of the file-type.
For my concerns the question is not properly answered. As for the points. The reason why I have set it to 200 is to expect a full blown solution. I myself know the complexity of what i have asked.
Alexander.
Evaluate IEAK and learn how easy it is to tailor a custom browser to meet your customers' needs.
I never trust MS about licensing and evaluation. Now it can be free but in future not anymore.
Beside that it seems that the tool is very overweighted for what I asked.
What I asked for is a simple command-line tool which wraps files into an executable and upon execution unwraps the files to their original locations.
I guess the problem is that people think I need this code to make a virus. The wrapper.c needs some embedded binary-machine-operations to extract the files from the executable (basicly itself). However I am not an expert in embedding machine-operations into my c-programs and have them relocated.
The problem is solved by defining a file-type in windows and on opening the file-type a zip-executable is called on the file. However, this zip-executable should be installed seperately and its location its fixed to the definition of the file-type.
For my concerns the question is not properly answered. As for the points. The reason why I have set it to 200 is to expect a full blown solution. I myself know the complexity of what i have asked.
Alexander.
thanks for taking out the time to reply alexander
since this question has been open for more than an year, there is very slim chance that you will get a solution to it (atleast until you repost it so that experts can see it... currently it is at the bottom of a heap of more than 1500 questions). However, this question cannot be left open forever. Its fate has to be finalized... either you post in community support for deleting it or you accept an answer and close this question.
since this question has been open for more than an year, there is very slim chance that you will get a solution to it (atleast until you repost it so that experts can see it... currently it is at the bottom of a heap of more than 1500 questions). However, this question cannot be left open forever. Its fate has to be finalized... either you post in community support for deleting it or you accept an answer and close this question.
ASKER
It seems that Gwena is doing some promising work. What I understand is that she will make an utility creating an archive containing the actual de-archive/compress routines. That what I am looking for all the time. I hope it will be command-line and not via a GUI.
Maybe even I can get the c-code? Do I Gwena? So I can tailor it to my needs, eg. have an optinal startup of an executable from the archive.
Alexander.
Maybe even I can get the c-code? Do I Gwena? So I can tailor it to my needs, eg. have an optinal startup of an executable from the archive.
Alexander.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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