Using !packhdr: Difference between revisions

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== !packhdr ==
== !packhdr ==
!packhdr is a useful compile time directive which allows modifications to the built installer executable header before it is written to the finished installer executable file.
!packhdr is a useful compile time directive which allows modifications to the built installer executable header before it is written to the finished installer executable file. It can be used in conjunction with some useful batch files to:
It can be used to pack the executable header using UPX or edit resources using Resource Hacker. I have used !packhdr for many years in conjunction with some useful batch files to:


* Pack the header (UPX)
* Pack the header (UPX)
* Pack the header (UPX) and remove the installer icon (Resource Hacker)
* Remove the installer icon (Resource Hacker)
* Add additional supported OS GUIDs for Windows 8 and above detection in NSIS 2.46*


== Batch files ==
<br>
Firstly you will need to download [http://upx.sourceforge.net/#download UPX] and [http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/ Resource Hacker] and copy upx.exe and reshacker.exe to a new NSIS\Packhdr folder. Then place the following batch files in the NSIS\Packhdr folder:
''* Use the '''ManifestSupportedOS''' installer attribute in NSIS 3.0 for the same purpose.''


'''upx.bat'''
== Download ==
<pre>
# Extract the contents of <attach>Packhdr.zip</attach> to your NSIS directory
cd /d %~dp0
# Download [http://upx.sourceforge.net/#download UPX] and [http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/ Resource Hacker] and copy upx.exe and reshacker.exe to the NSIS\Packhdr folder
 
upx --best %1
</pre>
'''upx+noicon.bat'''
<pre>
cd /d %~dp0
 
ResHacker -delete %1, %1, icongroup,103,
del ResHacker.log
 
upx --best %1
</pre>


== Usage ==
== Usage ==
You can put this code into a NSIS\Include\Packhdr.nsh file:
<highlight-nsis>
!ifndef _Packhdr_Included
!define _Packhdr_Included
!if `${Packhdr}` != upx
  !if `${Packhdr}` != upx+noicon
    !error `Packhdr must be defined as: upx | upx+noicon`
  !endif
!endif
!packhdr $%TEMP%\exehead.tmp `"${NSISDIR}\packhdr\${Packhdr}.bat" "$%TEMP%\exehead.tmp"`
!undef Packhdr
!endif
</highlight-nsis>
Then use the following at the top of your NSIS scripts:
<highlight-nsis>
<highlight-nsis>
!define Packhdr upx
!define Packhdr noicon+upx
!define RequestExecutionLevel admin
!include Packhdr.nsh
!include Packhdr.nsh
</highlight-nsis>
</highlight-nsis>


I use ''upx+noicon'' for utility executables that are written in NSIS but do not serve a purpose as an installation wizard (i.e. ''SilentInstall silent'').
'''For all NSIS versions'''
* ''!define Packhdr upx'' for all installers to reduce their header size.
* ''!define Packhdr noicon+upx'' for installers or utilities written in NSIS that do not require an icon.
* ''!define Packhdr noicon'' for when you do not require an icon and have appended client data to the end of the executable that you do not want to compress.
 
'''For NSIS 2.46'''
* ''!define RequestExecutionLevel admin'' is the same as using ''RequestExecutionLevel admin'' while also embedding the additional supported OS GUIDs. Other supported values are ''user'' and ''highest''.


[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Tutorials]]

Revision as of 15:30, 19 January 2014

Author: Afrow UK (talk, contrib)


!packhdr

!packhdr is a useful compile time directive which allows modifications to the built installer executable header before it is written to the finished installer executable file. It can be used in conjunction with some useful batch files to:

  • Pack the header (UPX)
  • Remove the installer icon (Resource Hacker)
  • Add additional supported OS GUIDs for Windows 8 and above detection in NSIS 2.46*


* Use the ManifestSupportedOS installer attribute in NSIS 3.0 for the same purpose.

Download

  1. Extract the contents of Packhdr.zip (2 KB) to your NSIS directory
  2. Download UPX and Resource Hacker and copy upx.exe and reshacker.exe to the NSIS\Packhdr folder

Usage

!define Packhdr noicon+upx
!define RequestExecutionLevel admin
!include Packhdr.nsh

For all NSIS versions

  • !define Packhdr upx for all installers to reduce their header size.
  • !define Packhdr noicon+upx for installers or utilities written in NSIS that do not require an icon.
  • !define Packhdr noicon for when you do not require an icon and have appended client data to the end of the executable that you do not want to compress.

For NSIS 2.46

  • !define RequestExecutionLevel admin is the same as using RequestExecutionLevel admin while also embedding the additional supported OS GUIDs. Other supported values are user and highest.
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