Linear Executable
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(Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Executables |extensions={{ext|exe}}, others }} '''Linear Executable''' is an executable file format in the EXE family. It was u...") |
(Link to the EXEPACK and EXEPACK2 compression algorithms sometimes found in LX executables.) |
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|subcat=Executables | |subcat=Executables | ||
| − | |extensions={{ext|exe}}, | + | |extensions={{ext|386}}, {{ext|dll}}, {{ext|exe}}, {{ext|sys}}, {{ext|vxd}} |
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''Linear Executable''' is an executable file format in the [[EXE]] family. It was used by 32-bit OS/2, by some DOS extenders, and by Microsoft Windows | + | '''Linear Executable''' is an executable file format in the [[EXE]] family. It was used by 32-bit OS/2, by some DOS extenders, and by Microsoft Windows VxD files. It is an extension of [[MS-DOS EXE]], and a successor to [[NE]] (New Executable). |
There are two main varieties of it: '''LX''' (32-bit), and '''LE''' (mixed 16/32-bit). | There are two main varieties of it: '''LX''' (32-bit), and '''LE''' (mixed 16/32-bit). | ||
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== Specifications == | == Specifications == | ||
| − | * [http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/lxexe.txt LX Format Description] | + | * [http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/lxexe.txt LX Format Description] (1992 edition) |
| − | ** [http://www.oldlinux.org/Linux.old/study/sabre/os/files/Executables/LX.txt Another copy of the | + | ** [http://www.oldlinux.org/Linux.old/study/sabre/os/files/Executables/LX.txt Another copy of the 1992 edition] |
| + | * [http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/ibm/pc/os2/OS2_OMF_and_LX_Object_Formats_Revision_8_199406.pdf IBM OS/2 16/32-bit Object Module Format (OMF) and Linear executable Module Format (LX)] (Revision 8, 1994) | ||
| + | * [https://archive.org/details/IBMOS2Warp4ToolkitDocuments2/32-bit%20Linear%20eXecutable%20Module%20Format%20%28LX%29%20Specification/mode/2up IBM OS/2 16/32-bit Linear eXecutable Module Format (LX)] (Revision 11, 2001) | ||
* [http://faydoc.tripod.com/formats/exe-LE.htm (.vxd) LINEAR-EXECUTABLE File Header Layout] (LE) | * [http://faydoc.tripod.com/formats/exe-LE.htm (.vxd) LINEAR-EXECUTABLE File Header Layout] (LE) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Software == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [https://github.com/altsan/os2-gpi-font-tools/blob/master/parser/gpifont.c An OS/2 font resource extractor] reads resources from LX-format executable, including decompressing compressed pages | ||
== Sample files == | == Sample files == | ||
| − | * http://cd.textfiles.com/hobbesos29411/BIN/ → *.EXE (LX format) | + | * http://cd.textfiles.com/hobbesos29411/BIN/ → *.EXE (LX, OS/2 console) |
| + | * http://cd.textfiles.com/hobbesos2/2_X/GAMES/ → *.ZIP → *.EXE (LX, OS/2 GUI) | ||
| + | * http://cd.textfiles.com/silvercollection/disc4/DRIVERS/ - The *.386 files inside the archive files (for example, [http://cd.textfiles.com/silvercollection/disc4/DRIVERS/19GXE.ARJ 19GXE.ARJ] → VDDS3.386) use MS Windows LE / VxD format. | ||
| + | * [http://cd.textfiles.com/doomcompanion/DOOM/DOOM.EXE DOOM.EXE] - Example of the format used by some DOS extenders. Technically this is an [[MS-DOS EXE]] file, with an embedded LE file. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[Dynamic-link library (Windows)]] | ||
| + | * [[EXEPACK]] | ||
| + | * [[EXEPACK2]] | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
| − | * [http://www.tenberry.com/dos4g/faq/format.html DOS/4G and DOS/4GW FAQ: Executable File Format(s)] | + | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190202155306/http://www.tenberry.com/dos4g/faq/format.html DOS/4G and DOS/4GW FAQ: Executable File Format(s)] |
| + | * [http://www.mitec.cz/exe.html EXE Explorer utility] | ||
| + | * [https://github.com/open-watcom/open-watcom-v2/blob/master/bld/watcom/h/exeflat.h Open Watcom structs with LX/LE differences] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Windows]] | ||
| + | [[Category:OS/2]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:13, 19 January 2024
Linear Executable is an executable file format in the EXE family. It was used by 32-bit OS/2, by some DOS extenders, and by Microsoft Windows VxD files. It is an extension of MS-DOS EXE, and a successor to NE (New Executable).
There are two main varieties of it: LX (32-bit), and LE (mixed 16/32-bit).
Contents |
[edit] Identification
A Linear Executable file begins with the ASCII signature "MZ". At offset 60 is a 4-byte integer pointing to an "extended" header that begins with "LX" or "LE". For more information, see MS-DOS EXE.
[edit] Specifications
- LX Format Description (1992 edition)
- IBM OS/2 16/32-bit Object Module Format (OMF) and Linear executable Module Format (LX) (Revision 8, 1994)
- IBM OS/2 16/32-bit Linear eXecutable Module Format (LX) (Revision 11, 2001)
- (.vxd) LINEAR-EXECUTABLE File Header Layout (LE)
[edit] Software
- An OS/2 font resource extractor reads resources from LX-format executable, including decompressing compressed pages
[edit] Sample files
- http://cd.textfiles.com/hobbesos29411/BIN/ → *.EXE (LX, OS/2 console)
- http://cd.textfiles.com/hobbesos2/2_X/GAMES/ → *.ZIP → *.EXE (LX, OS/2 GUI)
- http://cd.textfiles.com/silvercollection/disc4/DRIVERS/ - The *.386 files inside the archive files (for example, 19GXE.ARJ → VDDS3.386) use MS Windows LE / VxD format.
- DOOM.EXE - Example of the format used by some DOS extenders. Technically this is an MS-DOS EXE file, with an embedded LE file.
