GRABBER

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'''GRABBER''' is a screen capture utility for DOS, developed by Gerald (Jerry) A. Monroe.
 
'''GRABBER''' is a screen capture utility for DOS, developed by Gerald (Jerry) A. Monroe.
  
−
Images are saved as self-displaying executable files. Older versions use [[DOS executable (.com)|COM]] format, while newer versions use [[MS-DOS EXE|EXE]]. The switch to EXE happened sometime between v3.35 and v3.60. The default filenames for v3.x are "SCREEN00.EXE" (or "SCREEN00.COM"), "SCREEN01.EXE", etc. For v2.x, it's "SCREEN_A.COM", "SCREEN_B.COM", etc.
+
Images are saved as self-displaying executable files. Older versions use [[DOS executable (.com)|COM]] format, and newer versions use [[MS-DOS EXE|EXE]].
 +
 
 +
== Discussion ==
 +
Some of the registered versions have major version number 5 or 6, though they aren't necessarily newer than the 3.x shareware versions. This is mentioned in, for example, the REGISTER.DOC file from the 3.98 distribution.
 +
 
 +
GRABBER may require a fairly accurate DOS emulator or a VM, like VMware Player. Versions that seem to work in [[DOSBox]] are 2.10 through 3.35, and 3.84 through 3.91. Versions that seem to work in VMware Player are later ones (like 3.98). Earlier versions like 3.34 doesn't support VMs (it captures garbage), but works fine in DOSBox.
 +
 
 +
In INNARDS.COM in GRABBER 2.10 (with samples), there was a earlier 2.0 release (from 1987), but it hasn't been located. Magic numbers are:
 +
 
 +
{{Magic|GRABBER Ver. 2.0 Drive ë:}}
 +
 
 +
and:
 +
 
 +
{{Magic|Copyright (C) 1987 by Gerald A. Monroe}}
 +
 
 +
== Format details ==
 +
The default save filename for v2.10 to v3.00 is "SCREEN_A.COM", "SCREEN_B.COM", etc. For v3.20 to 3.35, it's "SCREEN00.COM", "SCREEN01.COM", etc. For v3.60 to 3.96, it's "SCREEN00.EXE", "SCREEN01.EXE", etc. Later versions try to derive a name from the running program, or "MSDOS00.EXE"... if there isn't one, or "SCREEN00.EXE"... as a last resort.
  
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
Line 16: Line 32:
 
  fb be 81 00 8a 4c ff 30 ed 09 c9 74 20 56 fc ac
 
  fb be 81 00 8a 4c ff 30 ed 09 c9 74 20 56 fc ac
  
−
v3.20 to 3.30 (COM format): There's a string at offset 5 that's either
+
v3.0 to 3.30 (COM format): There's a string at offset 5 that's either
  
 
  All Code Copyright (C) 1988 Gerald A. Monroe
 
  All Code Copyright (C) 1988 Gerald A. Monroe
Line 34: Line 50:
 
** {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/003a/grabber.zip|v2.10}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/003a/grabber.zip|v2.10}}
 
** v2.20: [https://archive.org/details/AllFritz All Fritz] → FILES/GRAPTIES/GRABBER2.LZH
 
** v2.20: [https://archive.org/details/AllFritz All Fritz] → FILES/GRAPTIES/GRABBER2.LZH
−
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk3/scrnutil/graber32.zip|v3.2}} -or- {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/012a/graber32.zip|v3.2}} (they are the same, but it's on a alternative link)
+
** v3.0: [https://archive.org/details/TheMeltingPot20 The Melting Pot 2.0] → MEALMAST/MYRECIPE.ZIP → GRABBER.COM (bare executable)
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk3/scrnutil/graber32.zip|v3.2}}
 +
** v3.2K: Some of the files in [https://archive.org/details/frostbyte_1980s_DOS_collection Frostbyte's DOS Collection] → floppyshareware//NWUG/CGAUTIL7.ZIP
 
** {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/001a/grabb3.zip|v3.3}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/001a/grabb3.zip|v3.3}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk1/grprogs/grabb334.zip|v3.34}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk1/grprogs/grabb334.zip|v3.34}}
 
** v3.35: [https://archive.org/details/RBBSIABOX RBBS in a Box - Ver 3.1, Number 1] → HDNO/GRABV335.ZIP
 
** v3.35: [https://archive.org/details/RBBSIABOX RBBS in a Box - Ver 3.1, Number 1] → HDNO/GRABV335.ZIP
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk1/grprogs/grabb360.zip|v3.60}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk1/grprogs/grabb360.zip|v3.60}}
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|californiacollect/his034/grabb370.zip|v3.70}}
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|californiacollect/his034/grabb373.zip|v3.73}}
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk3/scrnutil/grabb377.zip|v3.77}}
 +
** v3.80: [https://archive.org/details/The_PC-Sig_Library_Shareware_for_the_IBM_PC_and_Compatibles_PC-SIG_Tenth_Edition PC Sig Library 10th Edition] → PC_SIGCD/27/7/DISK2775.ZIP
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk3/scrnutil/grabb381.zip|v3.81}}
 +
** v3.84: [https://archive.org/details/frostbyte_1980s_DOS_collection Frostbyte's DOS Collection] → floppyshareware/KAND/GRABB384.ZIP
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|640swstudio/UTILITY/GRABBR38.ZIP|v3.85}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk1/grprogs/grabb387.zip|v3.87}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav1993/disk1/grprogs/grabb387.zip|v3.87}}
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|tigershareware/x16/grabb390.zip|v3.90}}
 +
** v3.91: [https://archive.org/details/PC-Sig_Library_12th_Edition_PC-SIG_1993 PC Sig Library 12th Edition] → gra/disk2775.zip
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|megarom/megarom1/SCREEN/GRABB392.ZIP|v3.92}}
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|nopv07/042A/GRABB393.ZIP|v3.93}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|simtel/simtel20/MSDOS/SCREEN/GRABB394.ZIP|v3.94}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|simtel/simtel20/MSDOS/SCREEN/GRABB394.ZIP|v3.94}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|simtel/simtel0595/DISC1/SCREEN/GRABB396.ZIP|v3.96}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|simtel/simtel0595/DISC1/SCREEN/GRABB396.ZIP|v3.96}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|megarom/megarom5/UTILITY/SCREEN/GRABB397.ZIP|v3.97}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|megarom/megarom5/UTILITY/SCREEN/GRABB397.ZIP|v3.97}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav8/swextrav8-1/all/grabb398.zip|v3.98}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|swextrav8/swextrav8-1/all/grabb398.zip|v3.98}}
 +
** Additional links at [[GRABBER/Alternative links]].
  
 
The GRABBER distribution (at least v3.87+) includes utilities for converting to common formats such as [[GIF]] and [[PCX]].
 
The GRABBER distribution (at least v3.87+) includes utilities for converting to common formats such as [[GIF]] and [[PCX]].
  
 
== Sample files ==
 
== Sample files ==
−
* Versions 3.87 and earlier include some DEMO*.EXE or DEMO*.COM sample files.
+
* Versions 3.90 and earlier include some DEMO*.EXE or DEMO*.COM sample files.
 
* {{DexvertSamples|image/grabber}}
 
* {{DexvertSamples|image/grabber}}
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|nightowl/nopv06/029A/AMENU310.ZIP|AMENU310.ZIP}} → SCREEN_?.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|ultimateswco/gas/gas06.zip|gas06.zip}} → SCREEN_A.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|soundsensations/MIDIFILE/ZIPFILES/ANDANTE.ZIP|ANDANTE.ZIP}} → README.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|psl/pslv3nv03/HOME/DOS/BIBLE_GA/BIBLMIND.ZIP|BIBLMIND.ZIP}} → README.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|ccbcurrsh1/textfile/fedjobs.zip|fedjobs.zip}} → FJOBS.ZIP → DEMO.ZIP → SCREEN??.COM
 +
* [https://archive.org/details/SolarHeaven Solar Heaven] → olddemo/scr*.exe
 +
* [https://archive.org/download/RBBSIABOX/RBBSIABOX31.cdr/HDNO/GRABBER.ZIP GRABBER.ZIP] → *.COM, excluding GRABBER.COM
  
 
[[Category:Executable envelopes]]
 
[[Category:Executable envelopes]]

Latest revision as of 19:34, 4 September 2024

File Format
Name GRABBER
Ontology
Extension(s) .com, .exe
Released 1987

GRABBER is a screen capture utility for DOS, developed by Gerald (Jerry) A. Monroe.

Images are saved as self-displaying executable files. Older versions use COM format, and newer versions use EXE.

Contents

[edit] Discussion

Some of the registered versions have major version number 5 or 6, though they aren't necessarily newer than the 3.x shareware versions. This is mentioned in, for example, the REGISTER.DOC file from the 3.98 distribution.

GRABBER may require a fairly accurate DOS emulator or a VM, like VMware Player. Versions that seem to work in DOSBox are 2.10 through 3.35, and 3.84 through 3.91. Versions that seem to work in VMware Player are later ones (like 3.98). Earlier versions like 3.34 doesn't support VMs (it captures garbage), but works fine in DOSBox.

In INNARDS.COM in GRABBER 2.10 (with samples), there was a earlier 2.0 release (from 1987), but it hasn't been located. Magic numbers are:

GRABBER Ver. 2.0 Drive ë:

and:

Copyright (C) 1987 by Gerald A. Monroe

[edit] Format details

The default save filename for v2.10 to v3.00 is "SCREEN_A.COM", "SCREEN_B.COM", etc. For v3.20 to 3.35, it's "SCREEN00.COM", "SCREEN01.COM", etc. For v3.60 to 3.96, it's "SCREEN00.EXE", "SCREEN01.EXE", etc. Later versions try to derive a name from the running program, or "MSDOS00.EXE"... if there isn't one, or "SCREEN00.EXE"... as a last resort.

[edit] Identification

Information based on minimal research. May not be correct for all files.

v2.10-2.20 (COM format): No readable signature. The first 16 bytes are 

fb be 81 00 8a 4c ff 30 ed 09 c9 74 20 56 fc ac

v3.0 to 3.30 (COM format): There's a string at offset 5 that's either 

All Code Copyright (C) 1988 Gerald A. Monroe

or 

All Code Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 Gerald A. Monroe

v3.34-3.35 (COM format): There's a string at offset 5 that starts with 

This file was created by GRABBER.COM Version

EXE files have ASCII "Created by GRABBER" at offset 49.

[edit] Software

The GRABBER distribution (at least v3.87+) includes utilities for converting to common formats such as GIF and PCX.

[edit] Sample files

Retrieved from "http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/index.php?title=GRABBER&oldid=49289"
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