Self Extracting Archive Creator (iexpress.exe) Anyone used it?
Hi experts.
I discovered the above very useful standalone program file in C:\Windows\System32. It is capable of creating self-extracting .exe files (although no choice of compression ratios), and optionally offers much the same options as WinRAR in that it can run a command after unpacking, and also adds functionality of a post-run install process.
The best part is the ability to create .CAB files, but again doesn't offer any other choices unlike the console-mode "Cabinet Maker" SDK tools Cabarc.exe and Makecab.exe.
In addition, it allows you to load and save a directive file (*.SED).
I'm puzzled about why it exists as a standalone program file though. I know it was installed by Windows XP Pro on my system, because I see it in the i386 directory of the CD (iexpress.ex_), but there are no associated help files (*.hlp or *.chm), and no references to it that I can see in the other Windows Help files.
Has anyone else used this utility program?
Do you know if is it called and used by any of the other management or maintenance programs?
Has anyone tested to see if it compresses cab files that are fully compatible with those on Windows installation CD's?
Is it just a GUI front-end for a command-line driven program like MAKECAB or CABARC.EXE?
I've had some failures in the past using those command-line programs, where the new archive was reported as incompatible or non-standard (or something similar), hence my curiosity.
Bill
I discovered the above very useful standalone program file in C:\Windows\System32. It is capable of creating self-extracting .exe files (although no choice of compression ratios), and optionally offers much the same options as WinRAR in that it can run a command after unpacking, and also adds functionality of a post-run install process.
The best part is the ability to create .CAB files, but again doesn't offer any other choices unlike the console-mode "Cabinet Maker" SDK tools Cabarc.exe and Makecab.exe.
In addition, it allows you to load and save a directive file (*.SED).
I'm puzzled about why it exists as a standalone program file though. I know it was installed by Windows XP Pro on my system, because I see it in the i386 directory of the CD (iexpress.ex_), but there are no associated help files (*.hlp or *.chm), and no references to it that I can see in the other Windows Help files.
Has anyone else used this utility program?
Do you know if is it called and used by any of the other management or maintenance programs?
Has anyone tested to see if it compresses cab files that are fully compatible with those on Windows installation CD's?
Is it just a GUI front-end for a command-line driven program like MAKECAB or CABARC.EXE?
I've had some failures in the past using those command-line programs, where the new archive was reported as incompatible or non-standard (or something similar), hence my curiosity.
Bill
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cool. :D
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Dark_King, those are three excellent linked pages. All of them are most helpful and directly relevant.
Merete, the 5 "sample" pages from the book "Microsoft Windows XP Power Pack" by Stu Sjouwerman are packed full of just the type of information that I find the most useful and like to have available as a reference.