EXE-Combine
                  (C) 1994 Jeremy Lilley
                75060.2074@compuserve.com
                    All Rights Reserved

Please READ this first - it's only TWO (2!) pages short.


What exactly is this File ?!?

        This freeware program, EXE-Combine, allows you to combine both
a DOS program and a Windows program into one EXE. When you run a Windows 
program from DOS, it gives a message like "This program requires Windows" 
- right ? With this program, it is possible to replace that message with
a real program that you provide. If you had both a DOS version and a
Windows version of something, you could place both the main EXE's in one
file. Either that or you could add a more creative message than "This
program requires Windows" - something that tells the user *how* to type
"WIN" at the DOS prompt, etc. Cool, right ? 

        Try running many Windows programs from the DOS prompt. Most have
the *stupid*, standard "This program must be run under Microsoft Windows"
message. A few have better messages like Microsoft Word/Excel. If you like
somebody else's message better, simply specify the name of the Windows file
containing that message for the "DOS EXE" spot and EXE-Combine will extract
it from the Windows file for you! (Make sure you have permission, right?) 
There is even a check box if you want to have the extracted DOS EXE from 
the Windows EXE saved to disk so that you can use/modify it. 

        There is one limitation that isn't my fault (don't you hate it
when sentences start off like this?). The input DOS EXE must BE LESS THAN 
64K. The DOLTS who designed the Windows "New Executable" (its official 
name) file format only left a 16 bit pointer to the beginning of the 
Windows portion. The next 16 bits are left "reserved." Instead of using 
those extra 16 bits so that the DOS portion could be almost unlimited in 
length (up to 4 gigabytes), they left them unused. These are the same guys 
who brought us EDLIN and decided than 640k was all we needed, folks! This 
doesn't limit the Windows EXE's length, but the DOS EXE portion, again, can 
only be 64k. To get around that, you could right write a small program that 
would run the full-sized DOS EXE, but still....


How do I use it ???


        This is only a Windows program (it's free, so don't expect both
DOS and Windows versions), but you load it, and it will have blanks for
the 'DOS' and 'Windows' EXE's. For the Windows EXE, type in the name of
the Windows file that you want to use, and for the DOS EXE, type in the 
name of the EXE that contains the message (or program) that you want to
run when you run it from DOS. (That was difficult) Hit the 'Go' button
when you want to GO and the 'Quit' program when you want to QUIT. (Even
harder, right ?) For example:

Windows EXE: NOTEPAD.EXE_____
    DOS EXE: QEDIT.EXE_______

This will run NOTEPAD.EXE from Windows and QEDIT.EXE when run from DOS.

If you just wanted to add a message:

Windows EXE: MYPROG.EXE_______
    DOS EXE: COOL_MSG.EXE_____

This would run your Windows MYPROG.EXE program when you're in Windows and
COOL_MSG.EXE giving a cool "This Requires Windows" message from DOS.

Finally, supposed you thought that the DOS EXE message attached to Excel 
was way cool and you wanted to add it to your Windows program (assuming
Bill Gates lets you):

Windows EXE: WIN_PROG.EXE________
    DOS EXE: EXCEL.EXE___________

EXE-Combine would extract the DOS portion from EXCEL.EXE and add it to your
WIN_PROG!


Like, how does this work ?

        Every Windows EXE is basically a small DOS EXE that has a pointer
hidden in it to the Windows portion of the EXE. Unfortunately, a few 
things have to be tweaked in the Windows header for it to work when the
size is changed (actually, more than a few things have to be changed...).
EXE-Combine simply discards the old DOS portion of the Windows EXE and adds
the one that you specify to the beginning. After a few changes are made to
the headers, it should work flawlessly.


Legal Stuff:

        Make sure that you have the legal right or permission to modify
the files that you modify with EXE-Combine. You ran it, I didn't. There are
no warranties with EXE-Combine, and if it doesn't work or you hate it for
some reason, you can just delete it. At no time will the author be liable
for any damages or problems that result from the use or misuse of this
product. Warning: if you try to make this program fail - IT WILL most 
likely! Get along with it, and it will try to get along with your files.
Also, you may distribute this as you would shareware, but it's free. Just
don't leave out any of the files.


Finally, why did I write this and why is it freeware ?!!??

        I am the author of a DOS executable encryption and protection
program called Protect! EXE/COM, which is now v.5.0. I am ready to make
a Windows version - something that would encrypt and compress Windows
EXE's and check to see if the file has been modified. I used my Memorial
Day weekend this year to see if I could write something that manipulated
the Win-EXE format. I did, and that's why you get this for free. If you
can use it, great. If not, don't. If this has been uniquely helpful to 
you, please send me email or a postcard. Large gifts of cash are handy,
too. :-) If you are interested about Protect! EXE/COM v.5.0 for DOS, 
look for it on anything local to you and then tell me if you can't find
it. "WinProtect" might be done sometime near the end of summer, 1994.
Until then...

All materials to:

                Jeremy Lilley
                2711 Oak View Circle
                Medford, OR 97504
                Compuserve: 75060,2074
                Internet: 75060.2074@compuserve.com