LIF (Knowledge Dynamics) - Revision history

Jsummers: /* Format details */

2025-07-30T15:07:58Z

‎Format details

Sembiance: software

2024-11-14T19:15:03Z

software

Sembiance: /* Sample files */

2024-04-18T03:45:13Z

‎Sample files

Jsummers: /* Format details */

2023-12-29T18:00:56Z

‎Format details

Jsummers: /* Format details */

2023-12-09T17:11:33Z

‎Format details

Jsummers at 15:31, 27 March 2023

2023-03-27T15:31:58Z

Jsummers: Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Archiving |extensions={{ext|lif}} |released=≤1989 }} '''.LIF''' is an installer-archive format, apparently associated with ''INST..."

2023-03-10T19:09:10Z

Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Archiving |extensions={{ext|lif}} |released=≤1989 }} '''.LIF''' is an installer-archive format, apparently associated with ''INST..."

New page

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Archiving
|extensions={{ext|lif}}
|released=≤1989
}}
'''.LIF''' is an installer-archive format, apparently associated with ''INSTALL'' for DOS, by Knowledge Dynamics Corporation. See [[RED (Knowledge Dynamics)]] for more information about INSTALL.

This article covers the LIF format that begins with a string of ASCII-encoded hex digits. Note that the presumed successor format, [[RED (Knowledge Dynamics)|RED]], also sometimes uses the .LIF filename extension.

== File structure ==
A LIF file consists of a sequence of member file segments. Each member consists of a 54-byte header, then the file data, which is usually compressed.

The header starts with 34 bytes of ASCII-encoded hex digits. A filename follows. The bytes at offset 8 through 15 encode the compressed data size, which is needed to locate the next member.

== Sample files ==
* {{CdTextfiles|pier02/046a/dosdrvrs.zip|dosdrvrs.zip}} → *.LIF
* {{CdTextfiles|ccbwindows93/DEMOS/FINDEMO1.ZIP|FINDEMO1.ZIP}} → *.LIF
* {{CdTextfiles|cica/cica9207/WIN3/DEMO/ORIGINWM.ZIP|ORIGINWM.ZIP}} → *.LIF

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 == Format details ==
 === File structure ===
 A LIF file consists of a sequence of member file segments. Each member consists of a 54-byte header, then the file data, which is usually compressed.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 14 November 2024
Line 40:		Line 40:

	FWIW, there is a "Knowledge Dynamics LZW COMPRESSOR" format that was used in some video games: [https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/CC_Format], via [https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/Knowledge_Dynamics_LZW_COMPRESSOR]. However, it seems different from the LZW compression used in LIF.		FWIW, there is a "Knowledge Dynamics LZW COMPRESSOR" format that was used in some video games: [https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/CC_Format], via [https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/Knowledge_Dynamics_LZW_COMPRESSOR]. However, it seems different from the LZW compression used in LIF.
		+
		+	== Software ==
		+	* {{Deark}}

	== Sample files ==		== Sample files ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:45, 18 April 2024
Line 45:		Line 45:
	* {{CdTextfiles\|ccbwindows93/DEMOS/FINDEMO1.ZIP\|FINDEMO1.ZIP}} → *.LIF		* {{CdTextfiles\|ccbwindows93/DEMOS/FINDEMO1.ZIP\|FINDEMO1.ZIP}} → *.LIF
	* {{CdTextfiles\|cica/cica9207/WIN3/DEMO/ORIGINWM.ZIP\|ORIGINWM.ZIP}} → *.LIF		* {{CdTextfiles\|cica/cica9207/WIN3/DEMO/ORIGINWM.ZIP\|ORIGINWM.ZIP}} → *.LIF
		+	* {{DexvertSamples\|archive/lifArchive}}

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 |16 || 8 || 4 || Original size
 |-
-|24 || 4 || 2 || CRC of compressed data. The CRC algorithm seems to be the one named "CRC-16/IBM-3740" by the [https://reveng.sourceforge.io/crc-catalogue/16.htm CRC RevEng catalogue] (a slight variant of [[CRC-16#CRC-16/XMODEM|CRC-16/XMODEM]]).
+|24 || 4 || 2 || CRC of compressed data ([[CRC-16#CRC-16/IBM-3740|CRC-16/IBM-3740]])
 |-
 |28 || 4 || 2 || CRC of uncompressed data

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 |16 || 8 || 4 || Original size
 |-
-|24 || 4 || 2 || 16-bit checksum or CRC (unidentified)
+|24 || 4 || 2 || CRC of compressed data. The CRC algorithm seems to be the one named "CRC-16/IBM-3740" by the [https://reveng.sourceforge.io/crc-catalogue/16.htm CRC RevEng catalogue] (a slight variant of [[CRC-16#CRC-16/XMODEM|CRC-16/XMODEM]]).
 |-
-|28 || 4 || 2 || 16-bit checksum or CRC (unidentified)
+|28 || 4 || 2 || CRC of uncompressed data
 |-
-|32 || 2 || 1 || Compression method(?). Values "01", "02", and "03" have been observed, with "01" meaning uncompressed.
+|32 || 2 || 1 || Compression method
 |-
 |34 ||colspan="2"| 20 || Filename, NUL-padded. This 20-byte field might use as little as 12 bytes for the filename, with the remaining bytes having an undetermined purpose.
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 === Compression methods ===
-At least one of the compression methods appears to be a form of [[LZW]]. (TODO: Check if it could be the one described at [https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/CC_Format], via [https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/Knowledge_Dynamics_LZW_COMPRESSOR].)
+Method 1 is uncompressed. Method 2 is [[LZW]], possibly the same as [[Zoo]]. Method 3 has been observed, but is unidentified.
 == Sample files ==