EXE To CAB Converter ver 3.0, by Yuri Niyazov. 5/8/97 Included is a Win95 GUI application designed to convert SFX CAB files (files that you can download from the MicroSoft web or ftp sites) to standard CAB files that can be viewed with the EXTRACT utility included with Windows 95 or the Cab File Viewer Powertoy, included with the freeware package called MS PowerToys. The problem with the self-extracting/ self-installing files like MS IE 3.0 is that once you start the file, it will do everything automatically, without giving the user a chance to, for example, scan the contents for viruses or just look and see what kind of files are included inside. This utility will strip the starting code that extracts the files, leaving you with normal cab file (or at least it should do that). Requirements: Windows 95. A computer would be nice too. It might run under the WIN3.1+Win32s configuration, but I have not tested it on that platform so I do not know. Same applies to Windows NT 4.0. Usage of the utility: 1) EXE2CAB 2) EXE2CAB exefile 3) EXE2CAB exefile cabfile The following examples are based upon my computer's directory structure: I have a c:\windows folder, with a cabs folder in it, with a file mfc42.exe that I downloaded from the ms web site in the cabs folder. Adjust the examples to your computer. 1) If you start EXE2CAB with no parameters, it will display two common dialog boxes: "Open" (title of the box will be "EXE2CAB - choose input file") and "Save As" (title of the box will be "EXE2CAB - choose output file"). In the first dialog box, select the file that you want to convert. In the second dialog box, an output name will already be typed, and all you have to do is click on "Save", unless, of course, you would like the output file to be stored in a different folder or have a different name. If you click Cancel in either of those boxes, a Message Box will be displayed telling you that the file was not converted, and the program will exit. 2) you can also start exe2cab with one parameter: the input file. For example, in method one, to convert the file C:\windows\cabs\mfc42.exe, you'd do the following: dbl-click on EXE2CAB, select C:\windows\cabs\mfc42.exe in the "choose input file" box, click on save in the next box, and wait until the program completes. here, you can do all of that at one step: go to run, type exe2cab c:\windows\cabs\mfc42.exe press enter, and that's it. The program will save the output file as C:\windows\cabs\mfc42.cab 3) If you don't want the program to save the output file like in method 2, you can specify the output filename here: if you type exe2cab c:\windows\cabs\mfc42.exe c:\new.cab the program will convert mfc42.exe, but write the output to c:\new.cab Note that EXE2CAB will not, under any circumstances, replace an already existing file. If there already is a file mfc42.cab in the \windows\cabs folder, example 2 will fail, and will display an error message "Unable to access output file". If there already is a c:\new.cab, example 3 will fail and display the same error message. Example 1 will fail as well if you select a file that already exists in the "choose output file" dialog box. Ver 1.0 program used a pretty brain-dead algorithm to figure out whether a file can be converted to .CAB file, so there were many executable files that it couldn't convert, and it would claim that it did. This version was distributed for only about a week, and then was replaced by 2.0 Ver 2.0 of the utility worked with a pretty good accuracy, but it caused a GPF on some non-SFX files, was character based and didn't convert .CAB files that were created using other self-extractors. Also, if a file was not a SFX .CAB file, the program would leave a 0-length .CAB file after it exited. This version lived for 5 months. Ver 3.0 (this version) Is an enhancement for version 2.0. A lot of the code in 3.0 was taken right from 2.0 without any change. However, the GPF bug is fixed (I hope, if you find it to be not so, please tell me), there is a Windows UI, and it can convert other .CAB files too. This program is freeware. You can distribute it to anyone, in fact I encourage you to do so, as long as it is given for free and unmodified. However, I do ask you to register it because I would like to know how far it spreads. Registration is simple: Send Internet an e-mail to the following address: redshoe@juno.com In your message include your name and how you can be reached (Internet e-mail or Fido-mail, or address.) Address is not mandatory, however, please be sure to include country and city. If you register (and you should) you will be notified by e-mail of updates to this and other programs written by me. I will most likely send notifications by snail-mail, but an e-mail address is preferred. If you like my program and feel generous, a small contribution will be GREATLY appreciated. Write a check or money order in US dollars made out to Yuri Niyazov and send it to my mailing address: Yuri Niyazov 97-05 Horace Harding Expressway Apt. 18F Corona NY 11368 USA My phone number is 1-718-699-1250, so if you aren't afraid of long-distance charges or live in New York City, you can call me. Source code for this program written in C++ is available to developers for the price of $10 (you can bargain). To obtain it, just send me a message to the above addresses and we will work it out. Because of the complicated world that we live in, the following DISCLAMER became a necessary part of everything that we have access to. In normal English it means: Use EXE2CAB at you own risk. So here it is: DISCLAIMER: Users of EXE2CAB must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "EXE2CAB is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of EXE2CAB."