Eschalon Setup archive

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|formattype=electronic
 
|formattype=electronic
 
|subcat=Archiving
 
|subcat=Archiving
|extensions={{ext|arv}}
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|extensions={{ext|arv}}, {{ext|a02}}, ...
 +
|released=≤1995
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Eschalon Setup archive''' ('''.ARV''') is a compressed archive format used in installation packages created by the Eschalon Setup line of installation software for Windows 3.x, by Eschalon Development and Robert Salesas.
 
'''Eschalon Setup archive''' ('''.ARV''') is a compressed archive format used in installation packages created by the Eschalon Setup line of installation software for Windows 3.x, by Eschalon Development and Robert Salesas.
  
It is apparently a successor to [[EDI Install archive]].
+
It is apparently the successor to [[EDI Install archive]].
 +
 
 +
== Discussion ==
 +
This format might also be named something like "ARCV version 2". For ARCV version 1, see [[EDI Install archive]].
 +
 
 +
Most packages contain exactly two files in this format, named "setup.arv" and "setupmn.arv".
 +
 
 +
Multi-file archives are possible. The first file uses extension '''.arv''', then '''.a02''', '''.a03''', etc.
  
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
ARV files start with ASCII "{{magic|ARCV}}", and apparently have "{{magic|BLCK}}" at offset 14.
+
All known files start with bytes {{magic|'A' 'R' 'C' 'V' 00 02 0e 00}}. A less strict pattern would be {{magic|'A' 'R' 'C' 'V' ?? 02}}.
 +
 
 +
The byte at offset 5 (<code>02</code>) is the high byte of the format version number. For version <code>01</code>, see [[EDI Install archive]].
  
Compare to [[EDI Install archive#Identification]].
+
ASCII "{{magic|BLCK}}" appears at the offset given by the two-byte integer (or byte?) at offset 6. This offset seems to always be 14.
  
 
== Software ==
 
== Software ==
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* {{CdTextfilesURL|sv/svdiamond/}} → *.ARV
 
* {{CdTextfilesURL|sv/svdiamond/}} → *.ARV
 
* {{CdTextfiles|psl/pslv3nv08/WIN/PRGMMING/INFODEMO.ZIP|INFODEMO.ZIP}} → *.ARV
 
* {{CdTextfiles|psl/pslv3nv08/WIN/PRGMMING/INFODEMO.ZIP|INFODEMO.ZIP}} → *.ARV
 +
* [https://archive.org/details/pcw-0996 Personal Computer World September 1996] → HTML/RES/RESOURCE/GENERAL/KNEX.ZIP → *.arv, *.a0?
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* {{DexvertSamples|archive/eschalonSetupARCV}}
  
 
== Editors' notes ==
 
== Editors' notes ==

Latest revision as of 15:04, 26 May 2024

File Format
Name Eschalon Setup archive
Ontology
Extension(s) .arv, .a02, ...
Released ≤1995

Eschalon Setup archive (.ARV) is a compressed archive format used in installation packages created by the Eschalon Setup line of installation software for Windows 3.x, by Eschalon Development and Robert Salesas.

It is apparently the successor to EDI Install archive.

Contents

[edit] Discussion

This format might also be named something like "ARCV version 2". For ARCV version 1, see EDI Install archive.

Most packages contain exactly two files in this format, named "setup.arv" and "setupmn.arv".

Multi-file archives are possible. The first file uses extension .arv, then .a02, .a03, etc.

[edit] Identification

All known files start with bytes 'A' 'R' 'C' 'V' 00 02 0e 00. A less strict pattern would be 'A' 'R' 'C' 'V' ?? 02.

The byte at offset 5 (02) is the high byte of the format version number. For version 01, see EDI Install archive.

ASCII "BLCK" appears at the offset given by the two-byte integer (or byte?) at offset 6. This offset seems to always be 14.

[edit] Software

Extraction:

Eschalon Setup distributions:

[edit] Sample files

[edit] Editors' notes

This article needs more research, to figure out what editions of Eschalon Setup and related software exist, and what formats each of them use. There is also an Eschalon Setup 2 for Windows 95, which has not been evaluated.

Installing an application that uses .ARV format does not give any clue as to what installation software was used. The SETUP.EXE installer program does not even have any embedded strings naming the software, though it does contain "Robert Salesas".

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