FIR is an archiver, files compresser, data encrypter and scrambler, and files converter.
FIR converts data files into ONE single graphics file or FIR archive file, with options to compress, encrypt, and scramble the data.
Supported output graphics formats are: BMP, GIF, ICO, PCX, and EXE, and an archive format: FIR.
Data files can be of any type, for example, DOC, SCR, EXE, PDF, MPEG, BMP, AVI, and HTM, etc.
The graphics files FIR generates are 8-bit graphics' which look like a stereo picture; they are no difference from any other graphics files which you may open them with graphics software to view; or use it as icon or to decorate your website or blog. However you use, you may always extract the data files stored in this graphics whenever you like.
Alternatively you may archive your data files as 'FIR' archive format for storage purpose, which has 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 application: unFIR, which ONLY extracts files created by FIR.
You may send the graphics files and archives created by FIR to anyone with unFIR, so that they can extract the files easily.
Archive files with options to compress, encrypt, and scramble the data.
No limit for the number of data files to convert.
Data files can be from various locations in the system.
Output is ONE single graphics file or FIR archive file for convenient storage, transmission, etc.
Add / View description to the converted file.
Run external application, execute command, display a message box with message, doing other tasks, or activate an installation process after extraction automatically.
Save data files drive path structure.
Hide sensitive messages and files from prying eyes or misusing.
Optionally with password and/or password file protection.
Optionally with CRC record.
Optionally to save files times.
All types of data files accepted.
Picture size can be defined.
Preview picture.
A number of built-in palettes to choose from.
User may create his / her own palette to use.
Support five graphics formats: BMP, GIF, ICO, PCX, and EXE, and one archive format: FIR.
System Requirements
Any 32-bit compatible Windows, which includes Windows 9x, 2000, NT, XP, 2003, Vista.
FIR has a new home
FIR has a new official home.
Click here to go now, and don't forget to bookmark the page.
History of FIR:
Version 1.1.0 (June 16 2009)
Fixed bug: On Vista, sometimes, the program crashed when opening unknown file type and FIR file type.
Fixed bug: FIR File Type Association and Set As Wallpaper didn't work on XP and Vista.
Fixed bug: Self-executable graphics should now be run and display on Vista.
Added support to GIMP palette format.
Version 1.0.9.a (May 24 2009)
Optimizations done in many parts of the program - they are mainly in the routines for compression, encryption, data confusion, and headers' data handling.
Fixed 2 minor bugs in the log file:
When 'Save Path but Drive' option checked during conversion, the drive letter in the 'To' field became a funny letter when the extraction action is logged.
When the converted file has a drive specified, it logged both the specified path and the current working path making it duplicated.
Added option to associate .fir type files, so that FIR will open and extract the files when a fir type file is double clicked.
Added Self-executable graphics (EXE) type support.
The Checksum will now be displayed when the function 'View CRC Report' is called.
Log also File Conversions activities from the Image menu.
Version 1.0.9 (January 21 2009)
The option 'Create Paths' removed, instead, 'Don't Extract With Drive' added. ('Create Paths' is now default action.)
Changed: 'Quiet' option is now default.
Added a few more palette files in a new subfolder: palettes
Multiple images in GIF file supported.
Fixed: When extracting file which is on other folder failed. (This problem existed only via command line operation.)
Added Preferences: Save / Load / Default Settings.
Added option 'Default Output Directory'
Two major changes that affect some converted files:
The routine for 'Use Password File' is upgraded. This upgrade not only makes the password file protection routine independent from other protection schemes, but also fills a security gap exploited by hackers.
Icon format changed to conform to the standard.
If users have files converted with 'Use Password File' selected, or have data files converted to ICO format, they need to upgrade them with this version.
Added 'Favorites' list
Added 'Log' feature
Added 'Drag and Drop' supported but only for extracting files; This effectively enables file types association with FIR.
Version 1.0.8 (November 12 2008)
Added 6 colors scales and 11 random color palettes making the number of the built-in palettes a total of 106.
Added options 'Import Palette' and 'Export Palette'. User may now create his/her own palette to use.
Compile all palette data to palettes.dll. This makes the core of the source code less burdensome, and thus the program should load faster.
Added option 'Save Files Times' (Requires the new fir_func.dll).
Added output graphics format PCX.
Added function 'Conversions' to convert amongst converted files.
Version 1.0.7 (October 17 2008)
Interface changed.
Icons are no more interactive, just as reminders.
The file 'f2bmp2f.exe' merged with 'fir10?.exe' and renamed to 'fir.exe', thus faster operation and smaller in size.
Program operations will be displayed in the status bar.
Added output graphics format Icon, with multiple images supported.
Added Wildcards support. (Undocumented)
Added Options:
'Create Password File'
'Use Password File'
'Add CRC Record'
'View CRC Report'
Split the option 'Save Paths' into 'Save Paths with drive' and 'Save Paths but drive'.
Drag and Drop files to the 'Files to convert / extract' field.
Added an option -m for 'Command to Execute After Extraction' to display a specified message in a message box.
The storing method for 'Command to Execute After Extraction' is changed. Previous converted files with this option implemented need update.
Fixed a problem that it couldn't restore files paths directory when the top-level folder already exists while the subfolders not.
Fixed opening file error when files to be converted exceed a certain number.
(The design of the subheader is complete with this version. This subheader is independent and flexible; with this subheader, everything is possible.)
Version 1.0.6 (September 6 2008)
Added: 8 4-color and 22 2-color palettes making it a total of 89 palettes.
Added: Option 'Send Description to Clipboard'
Added: Option 'Set As WallPaper' in the File menu.
Fixed: Problem when description contains Carriage-Return.
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:
Some computers don't respond to the click of the palette icon (next to the Ok button) to open the palette menu.
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:
It affects only the converted files of graphics types (BMP & GIF) with the 'Data Confusion' option checked, so
this bug doesn't affect the 'fir' type, nor the converted files without the 'Data Confusion' option checked.
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.
The bug exists only on the conversion side - which means if the converted file can be extracted correctly once, it's clean.
The bug is not lying in the Data Confusion function, only the function gives it a chance to come to life.
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
History of unFIR:
The lattest version of unFIR is 104a, details are in this new home.
Version 1.0.3 (November 21 2008)
Updated to support all the new features found in FIR version 107 and 109:
Support: Extraction of PCX and ICO formats.
Option: View CRC Report.
Support: Extraction of files protected with Password File.
Support: Extraction of files with timestamp. This function requires the file 'FIR_func.dll' in the package of FIR version 108.
Removed option 'Create Paths'. (Create Path is now default.)
Added 'Don't Extract with Drive'
Added wildcards support. (Undocumented.)
Added multi-image GIF support. (Will be documented in the next version of FIR.)
Added feature Drag and Drop files on to the 'File to extract' input field.
Version 1.0.2 (September 10 2008)
Updated to support new features in FIR versions 105 and 106:
Added: Option 'Send Description to Clipboard' in the File menu.
Added: Support level 3 confusion.
Added: Option 'Set As WallPaper'. This function requires the file 'fir_res.dll' in FIR106 or newer package.
Added: Option 'Always On Top',
Will prompt to input password when the drag-and-drop files have password protected.
Fixed: A logical bug when 'Don't execute command' is checked, the actions 'view command to execute' and 'execute command' won't work.
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 '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
If you like FIR..
If you like FIR, and you'd like to put FIR on your favorite freeware / shareware sites, here is a PAD file you can use:
http://fir.cjb.net/fir.xml or
http://users.cjb.net/fir/fir.xml
Download FIR and unFIR
The most updated version of FIR is 110, and of unFIR is 104a, they're both located in the new website. Earlier versions can still be downloaded from this site.
Note: From version 110, the help file is not distributed with the package but independently as a GIF graphics file.
