how can I make an executable file like as a zipfile

[freesurfer]

hello, I am new here. I have been researching in googling that I found this site.

I am researching on how to make an executable file also act as a zipfile.

I am planning to store/zip some files which are to be extracted on load of my executable file on which those extracted files will later be called by the the executable file.

my intention why i do that is the extracted files will only be extracted when used and deleted on exit of the executable file.

kindly help me on my project. thanks.

[Doogle]

You may wish to look at this thread http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ight=embed+exe (round about Post #37)
It shows how to embed files into the .exe

[freesurfer]

thanks Doogle. I will check it now.

[freesurfer]

Doogle, I have read the link that you provided me, however I was looking towards an exe file acting as a zipfile where the files are archive in the exe file and can be extracted later. do you possibly know how to do that?

[Doogle]

'fraid not. This is not an area I have experimented with.

My guess is that you need to find a suitable installer package (perhaps one that creates a .msi format) or one that provides a self-extract capability.

[freesurfer]

anyway I have googled above RES file. I think you are more experienced than I do on RES file. can you possibly give me an example on how to create RES file and extract the contents of the RES file!

[LordAshes]

Just off the top of my head, if I had source for a UNZIP program, I would do something like...

1. Create the EXE that will include the UNZIP routines as well as anything else that you need immedaitely
2. Record the file length of the resulting EXE
3. Create the desired ZIP file(s)
4. Use COPY /B (binary copy) to merge the ZIP files onto the end of your EXE
(Ensure that you merge the ZIP file to the end of the EXE and not vice versa)
5. I believe the EXE should still run fine (it will just never try to run anything past its normal length)
and then the UNZIP portion of the program can start to processing the UNZIP from the position
recorded in setup 2.

I would write some sample code but the above solution relies on having the source code for an UNZIP program (since it code will need to be modified to start processing the file not from the beginning but from somewhere in the middle)...I don't have that handy so I am posting this only as a design idea.

[Hack]

http://www.codetoad.com/vb_resource_files.asp

http://www.vb6.us/tutorials/using-wi...urce-files-vb6

http://cuinl.tripod.com/tutorials/res-12.htm

[AsmIscool]

You might be going about this the wrong way. winzip used to be able to create and execute an archive by itself. It may not still be part of the app as I have not used winzip in years. but if so you can create your app, archive it as an exe and then when run it will execute your exe which can then delete your files upon completion.

[Edit] Actually I am talking rubbish Winzip creates a self extracting archive so you dont need winzip to extract the files. It will not run your app at all.

http://kb.winzip.com/kb/entry/88

[dilettante]

There are a number of similar self-extracting archive products though that will run one of the extracted files. I've used ZIP 2 Secure EXE with good results.

It is also useful as a wrapper for PDW setups.