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I have an installer that was made with click install for windows. It installs a series of files to a specific folder. I would like to view these files on a macintosh. Is there any way to 'unpack' a click install file? In other words, if i open the .exe on a mac with a file editor, how can i parse out the files? tnx.
You can't do that. The only way to unpack the files is to run the installer.
too bad. i was hoping that maybe you could help me separate out the installer code by telling me the data headers. tnx anyway.
A Note - we only provide the software for people to make an installer, we wouldnt (even if we could) extract files from an installer for people. This would open up the possibility of people trying to steal/pirate programs from installers etc.
If you have questions about a particular problem with a game/program you have downloaded you should contact the software creator.
Jason
tnx. actually i was trying to extract an xml file from a mod installer for a windows pc game on a macintosh. the xml files are identical and this works (ghost recon mod for version 1.4)-it's just i dont have a windows pc handy.
Do you really think it can't be done, or do you just not want us to know?
Think about it. All the installer does is perform a set of actions, actions which one could also perform manually (albeit with more tedium). There is no other difference.
I just unpacked one manually. The compression used is zlib. I didn't spend any time figuring out the headers/install script/etc. because all I needed were the files. Pointed the decompressor at the packed body and went one byte at a time until I got valid output.
Are you really going to trust the data on YOUR machine to be subject to the actions of someone else's program? That little installer may seem harmless, but think again when you just run it and before you know it, megabytes of your personal data have been corrupted and wiped beyond recovery. The main question is, are YOU in control of YOUR own machine?
Ignorance is the downfall of humanity.
Knowledge is power. Think and stay educated.
I don't see the point of your post. If you trust the installer, just run it to get the files. If you don't trust it, don't run it, period.
If someone has made an installer instead of packaging all the files in a simple zip file, then that's for a reason. If you want to extract idividual files from the installer that's your problem but you must ask the creator of the installer for his/her authorization. Have you ever noticed installers usually contain a user licence and you cannot install the files without agreeing with this licence? ;)