Chaos Reigns!
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The first (and so far, the only) Freeware Resource Editor
on the 'Net!
Resource Hacker -- Under Development
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What is Resource Hacker?
Resource Hacker will be my Email-Ware (free by sending Email)
Windows Resource Editor. When it's complete, you'll be able to edit
the "Resources" contained in any 32-bit Windows executable file.
"Will Be"? See below for details.
What are "Resources"?
The most common resource that you'll find in any Windows executable is its
Icon. But that's hardly all! In fact, there is an entire list of resources
that you will be able to work with. Here's the list (from PC Magazine's
Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API):
The Basic Resources
- RT_BITMAP
A Bitmap... that is, a picture! Got a Screen Saver, and you want to change
the fish to Romulan Birds of Prey? You can!
- RT_ICON
The Icon. Setting a shortcut to display a different icon is one thing...
now, you'll be able to change it for good
(or perhaps, for evil)...
- RT_GROUP_ICON
Hardware-independent Icon (see above).
- RT_CURSOR
A Cursor. So your app uses some sort of wierd, non-standard cursor.
Make it even stranger!
- RT_GROUP_CURSOR
Hardware-independent Cursor (see above).
- RT_STRING
Text Strings. If you see the same text more than once while running
a program, chances are it's stored as a Resource. So change it!
Fool your friends/fiends... or (more likely) yourself!
- RT_VERSION
Version Info. Have you ever right-clicked on an .EXE and checked out
the Properties? Look, Ma, I'm running Word 666.0!
Advanced Resources
I'd suggest you not mess with these unless you really
know what you're doing!
- RT_MENU
Change an application's entire menu structure! The freeware version
of Eudora (Lite) may use this functionality... or maybe not.
- RT_DIALOG
Don't like the "Are You Sure?" message? Change it!
- RT_FONT
Can't stand the font? If it's built in, you can replace it with whatever
you like... Dingbats, anyone?
- RT_FONTDIR
Font Directory... you got me!
- RT_ACCELERATOR
Accelerator table...
(and if you know what it is, I'm sure you'll be excited)
- RT_RCDATA
Raw Data Stream. Ummm... make mine Medium Rare, please.
- RT_MESSAGETABLE
So your app talks to other apps. Teach it a new language,
and watch the fun begin!
- RT_DLGINCLUDE
- RT_PLUGPLAY
- RT_VXD
These aren't even listed in the Programmer's Guide... but if you ever
wanted to change them, have at it!
Let Me Have It!
"Great," you say, "so where can I get it?" Well... even though my
company has purchased Visual Basic 5.0,
I haven't been able to finish developing ResHack. You see, for some
strange reason, my boss would like me to use VB 5.0 on his projects before
I use it on my own. I wonder why he would feel that way? ;-)
If you'd like to see what I've created so far, you can download
reshackp1.zip (11,154 bytes). It currently lists the names of
the resouces in any EXE or DLL file, and it can even show you some of them.
But you can't yet make any changes. If you don't have it, you'll also need to download the
Desaware
(free distribution) apigid32.zip (53,699 bytes),
and you'll probably need the VB 5.0 version of comdlg32.ocx (write me for details).
If nothing happens when you select a file to view, you've got the old version of comdlg32.ocx.
I will get a chance to work on ResHack eventually, though, so if you
want me to let you know when it's complete, send me a note.
I hate SPAM, and your E-Mail address will be kept completely confidential. Plus, I
promise that if someone creates a freeware Resource Editor and puts it on the
net before I do, I'll let you know exactly where it is!
If you want the source code for what I have so far, just ask!
Send an Email to me, Robert Brooks,
and I'll send the source to you
via return Email (or by other means as required).
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