How to Edit CAB files

[Grumpy]

We had to do some cleaning up of the CD to DVD Thread so I have copied this info here as it is of interest! Hope the contrubuters dont mind!
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(Posted by 'Asimov')

How do you edit cab files?
What program are you supposed to use?
I asked this question a little while back in one of the threads but it went un-answered.
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(Posted by 'The One')

You can use CabPack
http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.hederer/english.htm
to edit .cab files but you have to save as new cabs. This program will not edit Installsheild cabs though.

For Installsheild cabs You need the ICOMP cab editor which can be found here http://cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/files.shtml. I have used this program many times to insert the cracked game executable into the setup cab and make a cracked setup and it will also extract files. ICOMP does not have a GUI, it command line based.
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(Posted by 'Asimov')

Thanks the One. I managed to download the cabPack fine but the icomp link didnt work properly. I searched and found it here http://sac-ftp.externet.hu/pack9.html for anyone thats interested and has the same problem as me.

Thanks again the One.
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(Posted by 'The one')

You must use the correct version for the Installsheild version. I find that I6COMP/v0.20 works most of the latest versions of Installsheild. This utlilty hasn't been updated in some time though so in some cases it doesn't work. I just used it on Star Wars Battlefront and it worked ok.

You must use these command lines when inserting or extracting files

i6comp r data1.cab game.exe.....this will insert a file
i6comp x data1.cab game.exe.....this will extract the file

You can make a .bat file to make it easier, Here's the bat I use

@echo off
i6comp r data1.cab game.exe
echo.
echo All done
echo.
pause

Just put the I6COMP.exe, I6COMP.bat and the file to inserted in the same folder as the setup cabs. You also must put all of the setup cabs from the setup in this folder plus the data1.hdr file.

I like to try extracting first to verify the the file is in fact in the specified cab, plus I always backup the original file. You will also find that with multiCD setups, if you alter the cab files then the setup no longer works correctly from multiple CDs. Instead of installing the selected file from the first cab like normal, You will be asked for the second CD almost imediately, then the setup fails. Maybe 3% of the multi CD games I've use this with actually work. If you put all CDs onto one DVD it's ok because all the cabs are in the same location and there is no disc swithching.

Here's another place to download this utility
ftp://ftp.sac.sk/pub/sac/pack/i6comp02.zip
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(Posted by 'VanTokkern')

What if the cab file doesn't come with the hdr file?

I've also tried doing exactly you said,

It can extract files but not insert them What am I doing wrong?

EDIT: NM! I've figured it out, seems like it needs a few more extra files other than the cab files and the hdr. Don't know exactly what files But extracting all the installation files into the same directory seemed to be working fine, thanks a lot for this excellent program. Feels so much better knowing I'm this much closer to perfection.
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[VanTokkern]

This does not apply to all CAB files tho, some seem to be working without a hdr file, but a msi installer, untill so far I haven't been able to edit these particular CAB files.

[Morglum007]

Standart .cab are handled by CabARC ( DOS and originally how Microsoft cabinet files are created).
Installshield cabinets are handled easily with iXComp (i5comp/i6comp), but this is heavyly installation dependant (Sometimes it is needed some tricks in order to insert or "replace" an original exe inside such file).
Anyway, Grumpy (and others), u should read at CdSTeam. This have been discussed long ago and have a lot of solutions. It is quite easy to manage a cabinet file ( when u know what u should touch)

morg.

[Grumpy]

Thanks again for your advice Morglum. Editing the cab files is not something I have tried yet! I only copied the other posts to a new thread as I didnt think the others would appreciate me deleting them. I havent checked anything that was written there I just kept them for others, but yes you know I will definately be checking your site when it comes time for me to learn this. Thanks again

[VanTokkern]

Originally Posted by Morglum007

Standart .cab are handled by CabARC ( DOS and originally how Microsoft cabinet files are created).
Installshield cabinets are handled easily with iXComp (i5comp/i6comp), but this is heavyly installation dependant (Sometimes it is needed some tricks in order to insert or "replace" an original exe inside such file).
Anyway, Grumpy (and others), u should read at CdSTeam. This have been discussed long ago and have a lot of solutions. It is quite easy to manage a cabinet file ( when u know what u should touch)

morg.

Thanks!! Now I finally know how to edit those CAB files. Shame it hasn't got an option to add/replace files. Extracting the files one by one, and then creating a new one is a bitch, but.. it get's the job done

[Joe Forster/STA]

Hey VanTokkern,

Remember that the iXcomp softwares have been discontinued years ago, so they might not be as easy to use as you'd expect...

Joe

[VanTokkern]

Actually, it's not the ixcomp I'm complaining about, they simply replace the files in the CABs, unlike CabARC, where you have to unzip the CAB file. And rebuild it file by file. But I got plenty of time , I'm glad I can edit those CAB files at all!

[Morglum007]

Originally Posted by Joe Forster/STA

Hey VanTokkern,

Remember that the iXcomp softwares have been discontinued years ago, so they might not be as easy to use as you'd expect...

Joe

This is why some tricks must be used. Anyway, i6comp is still plenty of health.

Good luck!

[santi_evil]

Somebody has tryed editing the cab files with ISCab ¿?¿?

http://helpnet.installshield.com/rob...abExamples.htm

I´ve could open Warhammer MOC cab with this...

[mojo8850]

It Is Pretty Handy Piece Of Info..
But I Dont Understand Why Would U Want To Extract The *.CAB File Wont That Effect The Game File Structure.

Also The Game Wont Work When The CAB Files Are Extracted Anyways.

[santi_evil]

yes, but I want replace original files with new patch...

and I can´t open them with ixcomp...

[AZZiDO]

I recommend Installshield 11.5. It has a tool called InstallShield Cabinet File Viewer which lets you extract files from Installshield cabs. I used this on my Rainbow Six Vegas DVD to get the original EXE back so I could patch it.

http://www.macrovision.com/products/...ld/index.shtml

[nordi]

I´m making it with a modified BartPE file...

Bart Lagerweij

Put all files (after changing your wallpapers and so on) in the "Setup"-folder inside the "source"-folder.
- Autorun Folder
- Background Folder
- Setup Folder
- Font.ttf
- Music.mp3
... and so on

Start "make.bat"

The ready cab-file is then in Folder "cabs"

Thx and have a nice day....