Archive: Can somebody explain me how I can use upx
Can somebody explain me how I can use upx
Now I have bat file with next context:
del Weight.exe
upx --best --crp-ms=999999 --nrv2d -o Weight.exe WareHouse.exe
pause
!packhdr "$%TEMP%\exehead.tmp" '"C:\Program Files\UPX\upx.exe" "$%TEMP%\exehead.tmp"'
Manual says:
[skip]
Specify a temporary file name (such as "temp.dat") and a command line (such as "C:\program files\upx\upx -9 temp.dat") to compress the header.
Russian:
Укажите Ð¸Ð¼Ñ Ð²Ñ€ÐµÐ¼ÐµÐ½Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ файла (такое как "temp.dat") и команду (например, "C:\program files\upx\upx -9 temp.dat")
The temporary name could be any file name (maybe there are some restrictions), you can use the same name as in example (i.e. "temp.dat").
(Ð˜Ð¼Ñ Ð²Ñ€ÐµÐ¼ÐµÐ½Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ файла может быть любым (возможно еÑÑ‚ÑŒ какие-то ограничениÑ), Ð’Ñ‹ можете иÑпользовать такое же Ð¸Ð¼Ñ ÐºÐ°Ðº и в примере ("temp.dat"))
I understand this, but where should I write the executable name?
Am I wrong that upx only pack the executables?
You should not write executable name (except for OutFile attribute).
As I wrote, you should write name for temporary file, wich will be compressed. And then (in the second parameter) that name is used at command line.
UPX compresses files in several executable formats. Extensions of this files are only used by OS, UPX determines file format by it's header.
But when I pack the executable with first script (before compiling nsi-script) installer size is smaller in 15-20%. Why?
I suppose it's because UPX packs whole executable, not only header (as it described in manual).
This code is more efficient for me
!define UPXParams '"upx --best --crp-ms=999999 --nrv2d -o ${OutputEXEName} ${InputEXEName}"'
!system ${UPXParams}
!packhdr "$%TEMP%\exehead.tmp" '"upx --best --crp-ms=999999 --nrv2d" "$%TEMP%\exehead.tmp"'
What exactly are you trying to compress? The first piece of code doesn't compress the installer itself. You can't compress the installer before it's created. Even more, you can't use UPX to compress the complete installer because it'll fail the CRC check. The data after the header/stub is compressed anyway.
What's this ${InputEXEName}? Is it the executable you're distributing? If that's the case, the second piece of code won't change it because it compresses the installer header and not the files the installer extracts.
If you want to compress the distributed executable, the first piece of code is the way to go. However, know that your installer might be bigger because compressing compressed data doesn't usually give the best results.
Originally posted by kichikYes, this is that I wanted to know.
What's this ${InputEXEName}? Is it the executable you're distributing? If that's the case, the second piece of code won't change it because it compresses the installer header and not the files the installer extracts.
The first piece of code will be executed every time, no matter which compressor you use. !system is only conditioned by !if[def]. !system is executed when you build the installer.
What exactly are you trying to do? What versions do you wish to compare? Do you want to compress the executable only if it's of a certain version? Why not compress it every time?
Originally posted by kichikIs there any reason to do it?
Why not compress it every time? [/B]
section PackExecutable
${GetFileVersion} ${OutputEXEName} $0
${GetFileVersion} ${InputExeName} $1
${VersionCompare} $0 $1 $2
${If} $2 == 2
!delfile ${OutputEXEName}
!system ${UPXParams}
${EndIf}
SectionEnd
That won't work because GetFileVersion and VersionCompare are run time instructions. Variables such as $2 are also usable only at run time.
-Stu
Originally posted by Afrow UKSo, what you advice?
That won't work because GetFileVersion and VersionCompare are run time instructions. Variables such as $2 are also usable only at run time.
-Stu
Going back to what Kichik already pointed out:
From Kichik:In other words, UPX can only compress the exe header not the full EXE when used from within your script. And, if you try to compress the full EXE after it's created, then you'll run into CRC errors when you try to run it.
You can't compress the installer before it's created. Even more, you can't use UPX to compress the complete installer because it'll fail the CRC check. The data after the header/stub is compressed anyway.