Pro-Pack
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|formattype=electronic | |formattype=electronic | ||
|subcat=Compression | |subcat=Compression | ||
| − | |extensions={{ext|rnc}} | + | |extensions={{ext|rnc}}, others |
| + | |wikidata={{wikidata|Q105860435}}, {{wikidata|Q105860831}}, {{wikidata|Q105855066}} | ||
|released=1991 | |released=1991 | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''PROPACK''' (spelled '''PRO-PACK''' in some versions, and also known as '''RNC''' compression) is multi-function data compression utility that was used by several commercial games. It was developed by Rob Northen (frequently misspelled "Northern"), who also produced the Rob Northen copylock ([[wikipedia:Rob Northen copylock|Wikipedia article]]) copy protection scheme. |
| − | + | Binary versions of the software were available for at least Amiga and IBM PC (DOS). Decompression routines written in assembly language were provided for 680x0 processors (Amiga, Atari ST, Megadrive), 80x86 (IBM PC), 65c816 (SNES) and 65C02 (Atari Lynx). | |
| + | |||
| + | Its native formats include a compressed file format, a compressed archive format (at least in v2.14+), and various executable compression formats. Supported executable formats include [[Amiga Hunk]], [[MS-DOS EXE|DOS EXE]] (compressed to EXE), [[DOS executable (.com)|DOS COM]] (compressed to COM), Atari ST [[Atari ST executable|TOS]] and Atari Lynx executables. | ||
== Identification == | == Identification == | ||
| − | + | ProPack data files begin with ASCII "{{magic|RNC}}", followed by an <code>0x01</code> or <code>0x02</code> byte to indicate the compression method used. | |
| + | |||
| + | ProPack archive files begin with ASCII "{{magic|RNCA}}". | ||
| + | |||
| + | Compressed executable formats: ''(TODO)''. | ||
== Format documentation == | == Format documentation == | ||
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== Software == | == Software == | ||
* [http://aminet.net/package/util/pack/RNC_ProPack RNC_ProPack.lha] - includes the original compressor for IBM PC and Amiga, all the decompression routines mentioned above, plus a MIPS R4300 version for the Nintendo 64 and a Z80 version for the GameBoy | * [http://aminet.net/package/util/pack/RNC_ProPack RNC_ProPack.lha] - includes the original compressor for IBM PC and Amiga, all the decompression routines mentioned above, plus a MIPS R4300 version for the Nintendo 64 and a Z80 version for the GameBoy | ||
| + | * {{OldskoolDOSEXE}} → DOSEXE Executable Tools Pack → packers/propack.* (has 2.08, 2.14, 2.19) | ||
| + | * [http://old-dos.ru/index.php?page=files&mode=files&do=show&id=5325 Various versions, at old-dos.ru] | ||
* [https://github.com/lab313ru/rnc_propack_source Pro-Pack compressor and decompressor written in C] | * [https://github.com/lab313ru/rnc_propack_source Pro-Pack compressor and decompressor written in C] | ||
* [https://github.com/temisu/ancient Ancient] | * [https://github.com/temisu/ancient Ancient] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Ed. note: The command-line utility's syntax is challenging to figure out, unforgiving, and different in different versions.'' | ||
== Sample files == | == Sample files == | ||
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[[Category:Executable compression]] | [[Category:Executable compression]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Archiving]] | ||
[[Category:Amiga]] | [[Category:Amiga]] | ||
Revision as of 18:40, 20 November 2023
PROPACK (spelled PRO-PACK in some versions, and also known as RNC compression) is multi-function data compression utility that was used by several commercial games. It was developed by Rob Northen (frequently misspelled "Northern"), who also produced the Rob Northen copylock (Wikipedia article) copy protection scheme.
Binary versions of the software were available for at least Amiga and IBM PC (DOS). Decompression routines written in assembly language were provided for 680x0 processors (Amiga, Atari ST, Megadrive), 80x86 (IBM PC), 65c816 (SNES) and 65C02 (Atari Lynx).
Its native formats include a compressed file format, a compressed archive format (at least in v2.14+), and various executable compression formats. Supported executable formats include Amiga Hunk, DOS EXE (compressed to EXE), DOS COM (compressed to COM), Atari ST TOS and Atari Lynx executables.
Contents |
Identification
ProPack data files begin with ASCII "RNC", followed by an 0x01 or 0x02 byte to indicate the compression method used.
ProPack archive files begin with ASCII "RNCA".
Compressed executable formats: (TODO).
Format documentation
Software
- RNC_ProPack.lha - includes the original compressor for IBM PC and Amiga, all the decompression routines mentioned above, plus a MIPS R4300 version for the Nintendo 64 and a Z80 version for the GameBoy
- ANORMAL's DOSEXE collections → DOSEXE Executable Tools Pack → packers/propack.* (has 2.08, 2.14, 2.19)
- Various versions, at old-dos.ru
- Pro-Pack compressor and decompressor written in C
- Ancient
Ed. note: The command-line utility's syntax is challenging to figure out, unforgiving, and different in different versions.
