FIR is an archiver, files compressor, data encryptor and scrambler, and files convertor.

FIR converts data files into ONE single BMP / GIF graphics file or FIR archive file, with options to compress, encrypt, and scramble the data.

Data files can be of any type, for example, DOC, SCR, EXE, PDF, MPEG, BMP, and HTM, etc.

The bitmap and GIF graphics files FIR generates are 8-bit graphics' which look like a stereo picture; they are no difference from any other bitmap and GIF files which you may open them with graphics software to view.

Alternatively you may simply archive your data files as 'FIR' archive files, which have the file extension '.fir'.

Here is a sample how the graphics file looks like:

The picture above, created by FIR 100, contains four files: the help files for FIR 100:  FIR_help.html and FIR_demo.gif, and the FIR_demo.gif in turn contains the program icon file:  fir48.ico and a readme.txt file.

There is also a standalone program: unFIR, which ONLY extracts files created by FIR.   You may distribute your graphics files and archives created by FIR to anyone with unFIR, so that they can extract the files easily.

1. Archive files with options to compress, encrypt, and scramble the data.
2. No limit for the number of data files to convert.
3. Add / View description to the converted file.
4. Run external application, execute command, doing other tasks, or activate an installation process after extraction automatically.
5. Save data files paths.
6. Output is ONE single bitmap, GIF graphics file or FIR archive file for convenient storage, transmission, etc.
7. Hide sensitive messages and files from prying eyes or misusing.
8. Optional with password protection.
9. May be used as an archiver.
10. All types of data files accepted.
11. Picture size can be defined.
12. Preview picture.
13. A number of built-in palettes to choose from.
14. Support two graphics formats: BMP and GIF, and one archive format: FIR.

Version 1.0.5(July 16 2008)

• Added: 29 plain color palettes making it a total of 59 palettes.
• Added: 13 options for ShellExecute.
• Added: 2 commands for executable and batch file.
• Allow No Input Data File for the conversion; but there must have either or both Description and Command to Execute After Extraction.
• Added: Option 'Don't Warn of No Input File'.
• Added: A choice to execute command after viewing it.
• Added: Action 'Execute Command'.
• Fixed: The program crashes when input file has 0 byte in size.
• Tried to fix (these need your feedback):
  1. Some computers don't respond to the click of the palette icon (next to the Ok button) to open the palette menu.
  2. A hitch when selecting Data Confusion scheme.

Version 1.0.4  (Special Build 1)  (July 8 2008)

• Fixed a bug that sometimes it cannot 'de-confuse' the data file correctly.
  Characteristics of the bug:
  1. It affects only the converted files of graphics types (BMP & GIF) with the 'Data Confusion' option checked, so
  2. this bug doesn't affect the 'fir' type, nor the converted files without the 'Data Confusion' option checked.
  3. The bug is not always present, it will appear in about 50% of the converted files.  During debugging, it appeared every three to four conversions.
  4. The bug exists only on the conversion side - which means if the converted file can be extracted correctly once, it's clean.
  5. The bug is not lying in the Data Confusion function, only the function gives it a chance to come to life.
  6. There's no way to predict the happening of this bug, it just comes by chance.
• Fixed a problem that the 'Description' doesn't display correctly in the mouse over tooltip if it contains carriage-return and when the users re-enter the description a second time.  However, this doesn't affect the function at all.
• Fixed a problem when the required file 'fir_res.dll' is missing, it enters into an endless loop that keep displaying a message: "'The function requires the file 'fir_res.dll'", again and again.

Version 1.0.4  (June 28 2008)

• Fixed: A false alarm: A 'File corruption report' will be fired if the file 'fir_res.dll' is placed in Windows / System[32] folders, while in fact it works normally.  (Thanks to Bandar who notified me this.)
• Changed: Password inputbox needs to be called from the 'File' menu.
• Added: Five interactive icons indicating users' current settings.
• Added: 'Action' to 'Add / View description'.
• Added: 'Action' to 'View Command to Execute After Extraction'.
• Added: Function 'Execute command after extraction'.
• Added: Option 'Don't Extract With Paths'.
• Added: Option 'Create Paths'.
• Added: Option 'Data confusion'.
• Added: Option 'Delete Files After Conversion'.
• Added: Option 'Save Description to File'.
• Added: Option 'Don't Execute Command After Extraction'.
• Added: Option 'Enable Beep'.
• Added: Option 'Report Operation Time'.
• 
  (This version is compatible with FIR 103 and all its Special Builds.   Which means files converted with version 103 can be extracted with this version and vice versa.)

Version 1.0.3  (Special Build 5)  (June 19 2008)

Minor fixes and updates.

• Fixed: Save Data Files Paths always on even the option is not checked.  (Thanks to Julio.)
• Added: Data corruption checks in several places.
• Added: List files with more info, such as sizes, compression, etc.
• Added: 'Cancel' option on top of just 'Yes' or 'No' when asking the File Overwrite question.
• Changed: Two other required files: f2bmp2f.exe and fir_res.dll may be placed in the Windows or System folder.
• Updated: The core component of the application: f2bmp2f.exe is updated.

Version 1.0.3  (Special Build 4)  (June 12 2008)

... problem fixed, this special build version works.  (Thanks to Anthony for his patient testing.)

Version 1.0.3  (Special Build 3)  (June 9 2008)

Not giving up yet to tackle the problem.

Version 1.0.3  (Special Build 2)  (June 7 2008)

Still trying to tackle the problem.

Version 1.0.3  (Special Build 1)  (June 2 2008)

This patch is trying to fix a problem on XP.
(Thanks to the users telling me about this problem.)

Version 1.0.3  (May 27 2008)

• Added: Option not to encrypt data files.
• Added: New output format with extension .FIR .
• Added: Option Save Data Files Paths.
• Added: Multiple extracts.
• Added: Overwrite mode.
• Added: Auto detection of supported file types.
• Changed: Number of data files to convert is now unlimited!  (It was 255 files.)
• Changed: Maximum individual data file size to convert is 1 GB.  (It was 16 MB.)
• Changed: Maximum width and height for the output graphics users can define is 1800 x 1800.  (It was 1200 x 1200.)
• Changed: Configuration file format changed to conform to Unix style.  (This feature is undocumented.)
• Improved: Data security when listing files.
• 
  (The design of the header is complete with this version; so I hope future versions will be compatible with this one.)

Version 1.0.2  (October 20 2007)

• Improved password hashing and protection.
• Changed compression behaviour - it compresses a bit better, and tiny bit faster.
• Added a number of pre-defined palettes.
• Added: User may abort the operation by pressing F12 key.
• Fixed switching off the compression had no effect.  (i.e. FIR101 always compressed.)

Version 1.0.1  (September 28 2007)

• Improved password protection.
• Better compression.
• Improved speed of the program.
• GIF format supported.
• Length of file name no more limited to 24 characters - it's unlimited now.
• Spaces are also allowed in the file names.
• Increase maximum number of data files from 127 to 255.

Version 1.0.0  (September 3 2007)

Initial release

Version 1.0.1  (July 1 2008)

• Added: Option 'View Command to Execute After Extraction',
• Added: Option 'Do Not Execute Command',
• Added: Option 'Save Description to File' in the File menu,
• Added: Mulitiple files Drag and Drop extraction,
• Improved: Better information in the statusbar,
• Updated: The list files information to support FIR version 104's new features,
• Fixed: Auto-detection of supported file types doesn't work with file of 'fir' type.
• Fixed: A future bug that will not be able to extract files containing a 'command' to execute after extraction,
• Fixed: A future bug that will not be able to extract files with description.

Version 1.0.0  (June 15 2008)

Initial release

Both FIR and unFIR run on all Windows.

Thanks for coming to this section!

Sometimes I don't have enough time, or I don't have the knowledge to do everything all alone.

If you like, here are the things you could do to help me:

1. Upload FIR to freeware sites, or place FIR in your website.
2. Design icons for use with FIR and / or unFIR.
3. Translate help files into your language.
4. Share interesting ways to use FIR with others.
5. Report bugs.
6. ...
7. And many more I could not think out now yet..

FIR

version: FIR 105 (485 KB)

version: FIR 104 (Special Build 1) (474 KB)

version: FIR 103 (Special Build 5) (439 KB)

version: FIR 103 (Special Build 4) (434 KB)

version: FIR 103 (428 KB)

version: FIR 100

unFIR

version: unFIR 101 (127 KB)

FIR and unFIR icons

Here are the icons I designed for FIR and unFIR, you may use them however you like.

Icons v1.0 (10.2 KB) for FIR and unFIR