Computer Music Interactif: Special Edition 2000 April

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Petite 2.2 - Copyright (c) 1998-99 Ian Luck. All rights reserved. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Files that you should have found in the Petite package ====================================================== PETITE.EXE The Petite executable (console version) PETGUI.EXE The Petite executable (GUI version) PETITE.TXT This file REGISTER.TXT Registration details FILE_ID.DIZ BBS description file What's the point? ================= Petite is a Windows 9x/NT executable (EXE/DLL/etc...) compressor. It allows compression of the whole executable - code, data and resources. Petite automatically decides which parts of the executable can be compressed and which parts need to be left as they are. The compressed output executable can be run as if it was the original uncompressed version. Why "Petite"? ============= The file format of Win32 (Windows 9x/NT) executables is called the "Portable Executable" file format, "PE" for short. Petite means "of small and dainty build", which kind of describes the executables after they've been compressed! And, Petite obviously begins with "PE"! Clever huh? :) Main Features ============= * Compresses all Win32 PE files - including EXE, DLL, DRV etc... * Automatic compression decision making - decides which parts are compressable and which are not * Resource compression - user selectable which resource types to compress * 100% Assembler decompression code - no noticeable delay at load time in most cases * Virus/tampering checking - the compressed files automatically check themselves when executed * Very small memory requirements - only 4-8k image overhead * Command-line version... - allows use from within compilers and makefiles * ... and a GUI version - quick and easy to use Command-Line Options (console version) ====================================== -i Display file information: Displays a list of the sections in the file and a list of the resource types used. Also displays information on how much of the file is compressable. -<0-9> Set the compression level As the level gets higher the compression gets better, but you'll need a fast computer (or a lot of time) when using the highest levels! (default: 0) NOTE: The compression level has no effect on the decompression speed. -o<file> Set output filename: Sets the compressed output filename. -b<0|1> switch: Backup original file: Renames the original file to "file.BAK". Backups are disabled when the "-o" option is used. 0=OFF, 1=ON (default: ON) -t<0|1> switch: Compress import tables If files don't work after compression, try switching this OFF. 0=OFF, 1=ON (default: ON) -e<0|1|2> switch: Compress exports If files don't work after compression, then try switching this. 0=OFF, 1=ON, 2=ON+EXE TABLES (default: ON) ON: The exports are compressed, but not the export table. ON+EXE TABLES: The exports AND export table are compressed when compressing EXEs. The table is never compressed in DLLs as the DLLs would then not be importable. -s<0|1|2> switch: Strip relocations 0=OFF, 1=EXE ONLY, 2=ALWAYS (default: EXE ONLY) OFF: The relocation information is retained. EXE ONLY: Any relocation information is stripped from EXEs, but retained in DLLs. ALWAYS: The relocation information is always stripped. Only use this when you are sure that a DLL will never need to be relocated. -r<res1,res2,res3...> Select resource types for compression: (default: NONE) ... SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS -x<res1,res2,res3...> Select resource types for NON-compression: Excludes the selected resource types from compression, this is only really useful when using the "-r*" option. -m<0|1> switch: Mangle import tables Messes up the import tables during run-time. This may not work with files that import data items. 0=OFF, 1=ON (default: ON) -v<0|1> switch: Virus checking Makes the compressed files check themselves for virus infection every time they are executed. 0=OFF, 1=ON (default: ON) -a Align the file to 4k boundary This improves loading speed in Windows 98, but it also increases the size... not recommended for use with small files. -p<0|1> switch: Display compression progress: Disables/enables the displaying of the compression progress counter. 0=OFF, 1=ON (default: ON) -y Overwrite existing files -n Don't overwrite existing files -shell Register shell extension This allows you to compress an EXE/DLL file by simply right-clicking on it in Windows Explorer. You may also choose the options to be used, by specifying them at the same time as this option... For example, "Petite -shell -b0" will register the shell extension, and when used, Petite will not create backups. -shellx Unregister shell extension NOTE: You can use wildcards and multiple filenames in the command-line. If you use a filename with any spaces then the whole filename must be enclosed in quotes. Valid examples: petite *.exe -b0 -r* -xTYPELIB petite "my file.dll" -ob.dll petite a.drv b* c.exe -1 petite -y "*.dll" -b0 -5 petite a*.exe b.exe -p0 -e2 TIP: To produce the smallest files, use the "-r**" and "-e2" command-line options. Obviously, using higher compression levels also produces smaller files. Compressing Resources ===================== All resources are grouped into types, which can be either a number or a word. To see a list of the resource types used in a file you should run Petite using the "-i" (display information) and "-r" (compress resources) options. eg: petite blah.exe -i -r The resource types selected for compression must be seperated by a comma without any spaces. Valid examples: petite ... -r2 compress only bitmaps petite ... -r2,10 compress bitmaps and user data petite ... -rmytype compress "mytype" resources petite ... -r2,mytype compress bitmaps and "mytype" res petite ... -r* compress all resources except 3,14,22,16 Common resource types are listed below. It is recommended that you don't compress icon resources (types 3,14,22), otherwise the program's icon will not be visible in the Start menu or a directory listing. Also, version information (type 16) should not be compressed as it would be needed if a program wanted to check the version of the file. "*" can be used to respresent all resource types other than version information and icons (types 3,14,22,16). "**" can be used to represent all resource types other than version information and all but the 1st icon. You can also use the "-x" option to select other types to exclude from compression. Whichever resources you choose to compress, you should make sure the new compressed file loads properly before deleting the original file. It is probably wise to be on the safe side and test all files you compress with Petite before deleting the original. Standard Resource Types ----------------------- 1 Cursor 2 Bitmap 3 Icon 4 Menu 5 Dialog 6 String 7 Font directory 8 Font 9 Accelerator 10 User resource data 11 Message table 12 Cursor directory 14 Icon directory 16 Version info 21 Animated cursor 22 Animated icon Building an excutable with Petite ================================= Because Petite is command-line driven it can easily be used within a compiler's build process or makefile. The only extra things you have to do is use the "-p0" (progress off) option and possibly the "-y" (overwrite) option. Using Petite with Visual C++ ---------------------------- 1) Open the "Project Settings" dialog (press Alt-F7) and select the project configuration you wish to produce a compressed executable. 2) Goto the "Link" page and remove the ".exe" extension from the "Output file name". eg: "Release/blah.exe" -> "Release/blah" 3) Goto the "Custom Build" page and enter the following "Build command": "petite -p0 -y $(InputPath) -o$(InputPath).exe" (+extra options) 4) Enter the following "Output file": "$(InputPath).exe" If you wish to compress a DLL, rather than an EXE, then replace all cases of "exe" above with "dll". NOTE: You should make sure Petite is in the path. This is most easily achieved by copying PETITE.EXE into the Windows directory. Compressed files not working? ============================= Some compressed files may not work, there are a few possible reasons for this. If you do find a file that does not work after compression, try checking these causes. If you know that none of these cases apply to the file in question, then please send details (email at end of this file). Extra data attached (not fixable) --------------------------------- Some files, noteably installation packages, have data attached to the end of the file. This data is stripped by Petite as it is not part of the EXE structure. If the extra data is of importance to the file, not debug info or other unnecessary data, then this may mean that the compressed file does not work. Petite will display a warning message if it finds any additional data at the end of a file. Exports called before decompression (possibly fixable) ------------------------------------------------------ Sometimes, very rarely, an EXE will link to a DLL that will inturn call back a function in the EXE. The problem is that the DLL is linked to the EXE by the system before the EXE can decompress itself. Obviously, if the EXE has not yet been decompressed, the DLL ends up calling a load of rubbish and the program will crash. You can try switching off "Export Compression" ("-e0" option). This may vastly reduce the compression results, and the compressed program may still not work if the function that's called back needs to access data from a compressed part of the file. Resources accessed before decompression (always fixable) -------------------------------------------------------- This problem is similar to the previous exports problem, except this time a linked DLL is trying to access a resource before it's been decompressed. Obviously, this can only be a problem if you have compressed a resource that the DLL is trying to access. Unlike the exports problem, this problem is always fixable. You should try without compressing resources, if the compressed file works then you should try to find which resource is causing the problems. You can do this by compressing the different resources one by one and seeing which ones stop the file working. Then simply compress the file, without compressing the problem resource(s). If the problem file has a resource type called "TYPELIB", then try without compressing this resource type first. Modification detection (not fixable) ------------------------------------ If the EXE has some built-in modification detection, then the chances are it will detect that the file has been "modified", and it will probably refuse to work. Obviously, there are no fixes to this and these files are uncompressable. Data item importing (always fixable) ------------------------------------ If the file imports data items from a DLL, then import table mangling could cause problems. Try disabling the import mangling option. Decompression? ============== There is no Petite decompressor. So if it is not possible for you to re-install or re-compile a file, then you should keep a backup of the original incase you should want to go back to it at any time. Latest Version ============== The latest version of Petite can always be found at the Petite homepage: http://www.un4seen.com/petite/ Credits ======= Parts of the compression system used in Petite are developed from the ZLIB library by Jean-loup Gailly & Mark Adler. Copyright, Disclaimer etc... ============================ Petite is not free, it is SHAREWARE. You are allowed 21 days to evaluate it and decide if it's of any use to you. If you want to continue using it after this period you must register. See REGISTER.TXT for details. This software is provided as-is, without warranty of ANY KIND, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The author shall NOT be held liable for ANY damage to you, your computer, or to anyone or anything else, that may result from its use, or misuse. Basically, you use it at YOUR OWN RISK. Use of this software indicates that you agree to the above conditions. You may freely copy and distribute Petite as long as NO FEE is charged and all the files remain intact AND unmodified. All trademarks and other registered names contained in the Petite package are the property of their respective owners. History ======= 2.2 - 15/12/99 -------------- * GUI version * "-r**" compress all but 1st icon option * "-s" strip relocations option * "-m" mangle imports option * A few more improvements/fixes 2.1 - 13/5/99 ------------- * A few improvements/fixes 2.0 - 19/4/99 ------------- * Improved ratios * Shell extension * "-e2" (ON+EXE TABLES) exports option * "-a" alignment option * "-l" option removed * A load of other little improvements 1.4 - 27/1/99 ------------- * Improved ratios * Reduced image overhead 1.3a - 13/11/98 --------------- * A couple of bug fixes 1.3 - 8/11/98 ------------- * More re-structuring * "-f" option removed, now permanently ON * Virus/tampering checking * "-x" option * A few other minor improvements/fixes 1.2 - 25/6/98 ------------- * Further optimized decompression code * Petite becomes a Win32 only executable (no longer DOS) * Fixed NT bug, and a few other special case bugs 1.1 - 27/5/98 ------------- * Data moving * Resource type "*" * Fixed occasional section joining bug 1.0 - 22/5/98 ------------- First Release Bug Reports, Suggestions, Coments, Problems etc... ================================================== If you have any of the aforementioned you can email: petite@un4seen.com