READMAKE

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(Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Executable envelopes |extensions={{ext|exe}} |released=1993 }} '''READMAKE''' is a DOS utility for creating a DOS EXE file that...")
 
 
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'''READMAKE''' is a DOS utility for creating a DOS [[EXE]] file that, when executed, displays a text document in a full-screen viewer. It was developed by Bruce Guthrie and Wayne Software.
 
'''READMAKE''' is a DOS utility for creating a DOS [[EXE]] file that, when executed, displays a text document in a full-screen viewer. It was developed by Bruce Guthrie and Wayne Software.
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READMAKE is related to ''READ'' (a.k.a. ''READ.EXE''), a text file viewer by the same developer.
  
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
EXE files made by the 03/31/93 version of READMAKE has {{magic|blREADINCL}}. and other READMAKE-specific text at near bottom. Then the text data from the input document comes in.
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The executable part of a generated file is compressed with [[EXEPACK]].
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The EXE ''code segment ''(refer to [[MS-DOS EXE#Special file positions]]) at offset 512 starts with ASCII "{{magic|blREADINCL}}". While not a deliberate signature (it's some sort of linker artifact?), it could be a fairly effective way to identify the files.
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The ''overlay'' always starts with the same 62 bytes, the first four being {{magic|3e 00 00 00}} (presumably a ''segment size'' field). However, some other EXE files from the same developer also have this trait.
  
 
== Software ==
 
== Software ==
* READMAKE 03/31/93 (informally 3.07): {{HTTP|:|/|/|cd.textfiles.com/nightowl/nopv10/051A/READ307.ZIP|READ307.ZIP}}
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READMAKE was usually packaged with other software by the same author. The individual programs have revision dates that serve as their version numbers. Each package as a whole has an apparent 3-digit version number, probably loosely derived from the release date.
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* READMAKE (selected versions)
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** 01/07/93 (3.01): [https://archive.org/details/pegasus20 Pegasus 2.0] → pegasus/textutil/read301.zip
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** 07/09/93 (3.07): {{CdTextfiles|nightowl/nopv10/051A/READ307.ZIP|READ307.ZIP}}
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** 09/04/95 (5.09): {{CdTextfiles|cream10/cream10-01/utility/read509.zip|read509.zip}}
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** 10/08/97 (7.10): {{CdTextfiles|simtel0101/simtel/txtutl/read710.zip|read710.zip}}
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** 03/08/98 (8.06): [https://archive.org/details/hot-shareware-cd36 Hot Shareware 36] → FICHEROS/DUTI/READ806.ZIP
  
 
== Sample files ==
 
== Sample files ==
* {{HTTPS|:|/|/|archive.org/details/readmake_sample|READMAKE Sample}} → HELLO.EXE
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* [https://archive.org/details/readmake_sample READMAKE Sample] → HELLO.EXE
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* {{CdTextfiles|cream05/windows/ezydosv1.zip|ezydosv1.zip}} → README.EXE
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* {{CdTextfiles|cream06/windows/mornt10.zip|mornt10.zip}} → README.EXE
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* {{CdTextfiles|nopv10/031a/hof893.zip|hof893.zip}} → README.EXE
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* {{CdTextfiles|nogames3/012a/pgold11.zip|pgold11.zip}} → README.EXE
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* {{CdTextfiles|thebbsorg/ddsbbs/makelst.zip|makelst.zip}} → README.EXE

Latest revision as of 13:52, 24 October 2024

File Format
Name READMAKE
Ontology
Extension(s) .exe
Released 1993

READMAKE is a DOS utility for creating a DOS EXE file that, when executed, displays a text document in a full-screen viewer. It was developed by Bruce Guthrie and Wayne Software.

READMAKE is related to READ (a.k.a. READ.EXE), a text file viewer by the same developer.

[edit] Identification

The executable part of a generated file is compressed with EXEPACK.

The EXE code segment (refer to MS-DOS EXE#Special file positions) at offset 512 starts with ASCII "blREADINCL". While not a deliberate signature (it's some sort of linker artifact?), it could be a fairly effective way to identify the files.

The overlay always starts with the same 62 bytes, the first four being 3e 00 00 00 (presumably a segment size field). However, some other EXE files from the same developer also have this trait.

[edit] Software

READMAKE was usually packaged with other software by the same author. The individual programs have revision dates that serve as their version numbers. Each package as a whole has an apparent 3-digit version number, probably loosely derived from the release date.

[edit] Sample files

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