PKLITE

From Just Solve the File Format Problem
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 7: Line 7:
 
'''PKLITE''' is an executable compression utility, from the makers of PKZIP (see [[ZIP]]). There was a free-for-noncommercial-use version, and a "Professional" version.
 
'''PKLITE''' is an executable compression utility, from the makers of PKZIP (see [[ZIP]]). There was a free-for-noncommercial-use version, and a "Professional" version.
  
−
It supports mainly MS-DOS [[MS-DOS EXE|.EXE]] and [[DOS executable (.com)|.COM]] formats. Version 2.01 added the ability to compress [[New Executable|Windows 3.x executables]].
+
It supports mainly DOS [[MS-DOS EXE|.EXE]] and [[DOS executable (.com)|.COM]] formats. Version 2.01 added the ability to compress [[New Executable|Windows 3.x executables]].
  
 
Many files compressed by PKLITE can be decompressed by PKLITE, using the <code>-x</code> option. The main exception is files compressed with <code>-e</code>, an option only available in the Professional version.
 
Many files compressed by PKLITE can be decompressed by PKLITE, using the <code>-x</code> option. The main exception is files compressed with <code>-e</code>, an option only available in the Professional version.
Line 14: Line 14:
 
The PKLITE software includes a "CHK4LITE.EXE" utility that identifies PKLITE-compressed files, and the version of PKLITE they were created with.
 
The PKLITE software includes a "CHK4LITE.EXE" utility that identifies PKLITE-compressed files, and the version of PKLITE they were created with.
  
−
PKLITE-compressed files normally contain a copyright message near the beginning of the file (though this is not a very robust way to identify them). Based on limited testing, the message starts with either "{{magic|PKLITE}}" or "{{magic|PKlite}}". It is at offset 46 or 48 for COM files, 28 for DOS EXE files, 66 for Windows EXE files.
+
PKLITE-compressed files normally contain a copyright message near the beginning of the file (though this is not a very robust way to identify them). Based on limited testing, the message starts with either "{{magic|PKLITE}}" or "{{magic|PKlite}}". It is at offset 46 or 48 for COM files, 28 for DOS EXE files, 66 for Windows EXE files. Exception: COM files from v1.00ß have "{{magic|PK&nbsp;Copyr}}" at offset 38.
  
 
== Technical notes ==
 
== Technical notes ==
 
=== Version 1.20 ===
 
=== Version 1.20 ===
−
The CHK4LITE utility will identify some files as having been compressed with "PKLITE Ver. 1.20", but there is no free version 1.20. There is a Professional version that creates these files, though it's not completely clear what it was named.
+
The CHK4LITE utility will identify some files as having been compressed with "PKLITE Ver. 1.20", but there is no free version 1.20. There is a Professional version that creates these files, though it's not completely clear which one.
  
 
There is also a fake version that claims to be v1.20 (look for "pklt120r.arj"), but is actually a hacked copy of v1.12 Professional. The files it creates will be identified as version "1.12".
 
There is also a fake version that claims to be v1.20 (look for "pklt120r.arj"), but is actually a hacked copy of v1.12 Professional. The files it creates will be identified as version "1.12".
Line 26: Line 26:
  
 
== Software ==
 
== Software ==
−
* PKLITE freeware/shareware, for MS-DOS
+
* PKLITE freeware/shareware, for DOS
 
** v1.00 1990-12-01: [{{CdTextfilesURL|gigabytesw/027b/pklte10.exe}}]
 
** v1.00 1990-12-01: [{{CdTextfilesURL|gigabytesw/027b/pklte10.exe}}]
 
** v1.03 1990-12-20: [{{CdTextfilesURL|californiacollect/his992/pklte103.exe}}]
 
** v1.03 1990-12-20: [{{CdTextfilesURL|californiacollect/his992/pklte103.exe}}]
Line 36: Line 36:
 
** v1.50 1995-04-10: [{{CdTextfilesURL|dfeno1/ARCHIVER/PKLTE150.EXE}}]
 
** v1.50 1995-04-10: [{{CdTextfilesURL|dfeno1/ARCHIVER/PKLTE150.EXE}}]
 
** v2.01 1996-03-15: [{{CdTextfilesURL|darkdomain/programs/dos/archivers/pklts201.exe}}]
 
** v2.01 1996-03-15: [{{CdTextfilesURL|darkdomain/programs/dos/archivers/pklts201.exe}}]
 +
* PKLITE (other)
 +
** 1.00ß 1990-05-29: [{{CdTextfilesURL|swinnund/disk3/FILEUTIL/PKLITE.ZIP}}] (not an authorized release[http://cd.textfiles.com/simtel/simtel20/MSDOS/INFO/PKLITE.WRN])
  
 
Static decompression:
 
Static decompression:
Line 45: Line 47:
 
** v1.17a: [{{CdTextfilesURL|pdos9606/ARCHIVER/EXECOMP/DISLT117.ZIP}}], [https://johnpc.home.xs4all.nl/dislite/dislt117.zip]
 
** v1.17a: [{{CdTextfilesURL|pdos9606/ARCHIVER/EXECOMP/DISLT117.ZIP}}], [https://johnpc.home.xs4all.nl/dislite/dislt117.zip]
 
** [https://johnpc.home.xs4all.nl/dislite/dislite.zip Source code]
 
** [https://johnpc.home.xs4all.nl/dislite/dislite.zip Source code]
−
* A number of other DOS utilites exist to decompress PKLITE files; a few are at [{{CdTextfilesURL|pdos9606/ARCHIVER/EXECOMP/}}].
+
* A number of other DOS utilities exist to decompress PKLITE files; a few are at [{{CdTextfilesURL|pdos9606/ARCHIVER/EXECOMP/}}].
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==

Revision as of 17:04, 20 September 2021

File Format
Name PKLITE
Ontology
Released 1990

PKLITE is an executable compression utility, from the makers of PKZIP (see ZIP). There was a free-for-noncommercial-use version, and a "Professional" version.

It supports mainly DOS .EXE and .COM formats. Version 2.01 added the ability to compress Windows 3.x executables.

Many files compressed by PKLITE can be decompressed by PKLITE, using the -x option. The main exception is files compressed with -e, an option only available in the Professional version.

Contents

Identification

The PKLITE software includes a "CHK4LITE.EXE" utility that identifies PKLITE-compressed files, and the version of PKLITE they were created with.

PKLITE-compressed files normally contain a copyright message near the beginning of the file (though this is not a very robust way to identify them). Based on limited testing, the message starts with either "PKLITE" or "PKlite". It is at offset 46 or 48 for COM files, 28 for DOS EXE files, 66 for Windows EXE files. Exception: COM files from v1.00ß have "PK Copyr" at offset 38.

Technical notes

Version 1.20

The CHK4LITE utility will identify some files as having been compressed with "PKLITE Ver. 1.20", but there is no free version 1.20. There is a Professional version that creates these files, though it's not completely clear which one.

There is also a fake version that claims to be v1.20 (look for "pklt120r.arj"), but is actually a hacked copy of v1.12 Professional. The files it creates will be identified as version "1.12".

Specifications

Software

  • PKLITE freeware/shareware, for DOS
    • v1.00 1990-12-01: [1]
    • v1.03 1990-12-20: [2]
    • v1.05 1991-03-20: [3]
    • v1.12 1991-06-15: [4]
    • v1.13 1991-08-01: [5]
    • v1.14 1992-06-01: [6]
    • v1.15 1992-07-30: [7]
    • v1.50 1995-04-10: [8]
    • v2.01 1996-03-15: [9]
  • PKLITE (other)
    • 1.00ß 1990-05-29: [10] (not an authorized release[11])

Static decompression:

  • PKLITE (with -x option)
  • depklite (Not a complete decompression utility, but maybe useful.)

Dynamic decompression:

  • DISLITE (notable because its source code was released)
  • A number of other DOS utilities exist to decompress PKLITE files; a few are at [14].

Links

Retrieved from "http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/index.php?title=PKLITE&oldid=40712"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox