Linear Executable
From Just Solve the File Format Problem
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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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| + | Note that 32-bit LX executables are compatible only with OS/2 2.0 and later versions, incl. OS/2 Warp 4.x. | ||
== Identification == | == Identification == | ||
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* [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) | * [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) | ||
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| + | == Software == | ||
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| + | * [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 == | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Dynamic-link library (Windows)]] | * [[Dynamic-link library (Windows)]] | ||
| + | * [[EXEPACK]] | ||
| + | * [[EXEPACK2]] | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Latest revision as of 16:21, 4 March 2026
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).
Note that 32-bit LX executables are compatible only with OS/2 2.0 and later versions, incl. OS/2 Warp 4.x.
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.
