Cannot zip *.EXE file in VFP9

[paulvdw]

I'm using VFP9, before VFP6
I'm building a genealogical application, and all is goiing well except the following:

I was making an exe file with build, In Project Info, Encrypted was set off, but after building the exe file encrypted was set on and it was impossible to zip the exe file ( zip ratio : 0%)
With VFP6 no problems
What is goiing wrong?

regards

Paul Vandewalle

 

[craigsboyd]

What program are you using to zip it? At the risk of sounding pedantic, you should include as much relevant information as possible when posting your question.

http://www.sweetpotatosoftware.com

 

[rob444]

Packing any kind of encrypted vfp-exe will not bring you more than a reduction of a few percents.

Have a look at tools like Refox XI that compresses the vfp exe considerably (only when not encrypted when compiled) and encrypts in the same run.

Also Konxise is a tool that will do the job on a vfp exe that can be run in compressed version.

Rob.

 

[rob444]

Paul,

What you're saying is that when setting encrypted off in the project info tab, after compiling the setting of encrypted is on.

Perhaps you didn't click OK when changing the encrypted option so it wasn't saved.

With my vfp9 projects it works fine (at least after clicking OK when changing any options)

Rob.

 

[craigsboyd]

While rob is correct using certain compression algorithms, it is not always the case. RAR for instance can and will routinely give a reduction between 30-50% when the VFP exe is encrypted. The problem with encryption and compression is that encryption schemes do not lend themselves to repeatable patterns that can readily be encrypted.

I would add Armadillo to rob444's decent list of third party products that work well with VFP executables, and add that it is important to make sure products like these support VFP executables as the VFP exe is not true PE format. Refox, Konxise, and Armadillo happen to be a few of them out there that know what to do and how to do it when handling VFP executables.

http://www.sweetpotatosoftware.com

 

[rob444]

Craig,

for vfp9 executables it should be SoftwarePassport (successor of Armadillo) for Armadillo shouldn't be suitable for vfp9 (at least according to the manufacturer)

Rob.

 

[craigsboyd]

rob444,

The applications that I use Armadillo for are VFP7 and VFP8, so your post is of interest to me. Where did you get this information? I couldn't find it on the Silicon Realms website. I will see if I can find some time this weekend to compress a VFP9 exe with Armadillo and post back with my findings.

http://www.sweetpotatosoftware.com

 

[rob444]

Craig,

I agree, its no longer on their website.
If I remember correctly it was when armadillo updated to a new version but I do not remember exactly which one.
So probably it will be no problem handling vfp9 exe files with a (recent) release of Armadillo I think.

Rob.

 

[paulvdw]

Thank you all.
What I'm doiing:
I have a project s3, with forms,programs,classes,data,bitmaps and so on.
Before I'm using BUILD, i open the ProjectInfo, uncheck Encrypted, press OK and than I execute Build
After building tne EXE I reopen ProjectInfo and Encrypted is checked on.
When I open s3.pjx, a lot of files are marked Encrypted .F.
When I make a brand new project with 1 programfile, there are no problems and the exe file can be zipped.
regards

Paul

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Hi Paul,

do you by chance have a project hook that sets encryption on before build? You would see the hook class used in the project info too... Do you check "recompile all files" when building? If not, some parts may stay encrypted.

Bye, Olaf.

 

[paulvdw]

Hi Olaf

In my project, I have a class _base.vcx with a subclass _projecthook. I don't use this class. Can I remove this class without damage to my Project?
Thank you for the help

Paul

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Is this set as the project hook of the project? What code is in it? If it does other maybe important things to your project before compiling it may be better to leave it there and try to only remove code that sets the encryption on. Code should be located in it's BeforeBuild Event. You can find out what's running with

SET STEP ON
BUILD EXE ... FROM ...

Copy that to the command window (,fill in the ...), select it and then right click on the selection and run it. Now you can step through what the Projecthook does and see if that's needed or not.

Bye, Olaf.

 

[paulvdw]

Hello Olaf,

I resolved my problem in the following way: I was making a new project with the forms, programs, bitmaps, classes and data from my old project, and with Encrypted set OFF i made a .EXE file. The zip ratio is now 79%

Thanks for the help... but the problem is not resolved.

Paul

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Hi Paul,

well, if you did that, you certainly now have no projecthook that could switch on encryption... You have only told that there was a _projecthook in the _base.vcx of the project, but not if it was activated in the project info. And you didn't tell me, if you checked on "recompile all files" when building the exe. By building a new project you certainly recompile all files and thereby eleminate every encrypted objectcode through the first build.

Bye, Olaf.