AIN

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== Self-extracting archives ==
 
== Self-extracting archives ==
(TODO)
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Some versions support self-extracting archives, in [[MS-DOS EXE|DOS EXE]] format.
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Version 2.23: The distribution includes an AINSFX.EXE file, which seems to be undocumented, but can be prepended to an AIN archive to create a self-extracting archive.
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Version 2.32: The included AINEXT.EXE extraction utility doubles as the self-extractor module. You can prepend it to an AIN archive to create a self-extracting archive. Or you can use AIN's <code>-e</code> option to create a self-extracting archive instead of an .AIN archive (this requires that AINEXT.EXE be present). Note that AINEXT.EXE may report its version number to be 2.31.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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** AIN 2.1[1993-07-14]: [https://archive.org/details/ppcdcol-MBI Ultimate collection 95] → UTIL_/AIN.EXE
 
** AIN 2.1[1993-07-14]: [https://archive.org/details/ppcdcol-MBI Ultimate collection 95] → UTIL_/AIN.EXE
 
** AIN 2.2[1993-10-13, Russian]: [https://archive.org/details/2015-02-12.fidonet.org.ua FTP mirror - fidonet.org.ua - 2015-02-12] → fidonet.org.ua/pub/arcers/ain.arj
 
** AIN 2.2[1993-10-13, Russian]: [https://archive.org/details/2015-02-12.fidonet.org.ua FTP mirror - fidonet.org.ua - 2015-02-12] → fidonet.org.ua/pub/arcers/ain.arj
** AIN 2.2[1993-12-10, English]: [{{CdTextfilesURL|psl/pslv2nv08/DOS/UD/AIN22.ZIP}}]
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** {{CdTextfiles|psl/pslv2nv08/DOS/UD/AIN22.ZIP|AIN 2.2&#x5b;1993-12-10, English&#x5d;}}
** AIN 2.2[1994-07-01, English]: [{{CdTextfilesURL|pier05/002/ain22.zip}}]
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** {{CdTextfiles|pier05/002/ain22.zip|AIN 2.2&#x5b;1994-07-01, English&#x5d;}}
 
** AIN 2.23: [https://archive.org/details/cd-ascq DP TOOL CLUB CD ASCQ] → CD_ASCQ_28_030496.iso → DOS/TOOLS/AIN223.ZIP
 
** AIN 2.23: [https://archive.org/details/cd-ascq DP TOOL CLUB CD ASCQ] → CD_ASCQ_28_030496.iso → DOS/TOOLS/AIN223.ZIP
 
** [https://www.sac.sk/download/pack/ain232.exe AIN 2.32]
 
** [https://www.sac.sk/download/pack/ain232.exe AIN 2.32]
** [http://old-dos.ru/index.php?page=files&mode=files&do=show&id=698 Various versions at old-dos.ru]
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** [http://old-dos.ru/index.php?page=files&mode=files&do=show&id=698 Various versions at old-dos.ru] - Includes v2.22, and a v2.1 demo.
  
 
* AINEXT - Official extract-only utility, sometimes distributed separately.
 
* AINEXT - Official extract-only utility, sometimes distributed separately.

Revision as of 13:10, 30 March 2023

File Format
Name AIN
Ontology
Extension(s) .ain
Released ≤1993

AIN is a compressed archive format, produced by a DOS shareware program of the same name. It was developed by InfoService Ltd., later Transas Marine Ltd.

Contents

AINEXE

AIN also includes an executable compression utility named AINEXE. It compresses MS-DOS EXE files.

Self-extracting archives

Some versions support self-extracting archives, in DOS EXE format.

Version 2.23: The distribution includes an AINSFX.EXE file, which seems to be undocumented, but can be prepended to an AIN archive to create a self-extracting archive.

Version 2.32: The included AINEXT.EXE extraction utility doubles as the self-extractor module. You can prepend it to an AIN archive to create a self-extracting archive. Or you can use AIN's -e option to create a self-extracting archive instead of an .AIN archive (this requires that AINEXT.EXE be present). Note that AINEXT.EXE may report its version number to be 2.31.

Notes

The documentation says "AIN version 2.2 archive format is incompatible with that of AIN version 2.0." But, no versions before 2.1 have been found.

Identification

At least some .AIN files start with the byte sequence (hex) 21 ?? 00 00 00 00 00 00.

AINEXE-compressed EXE files most likely have ASCII "AIN" at offset 32.

Software

Sample files

Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
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