Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a563
From: a563@mindlink.UUCP (Dave Kirsch)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Executrix info wanted
Message-ID: <4383@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jan 91 21:34:01 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 27

> kgowen@cie.uoregon.edu writes:
> One last note, I would not recommend using one [LZEXE, PKLITE, etc] of these
> compressors if your program uses overlays.

Actually, you can use it if you are using Microsoft Link style overlays.  You
can't compress the overlays, but you can compress the root EXE code.  What's
involved is after you link your application with MS link using overlays, you
have to run a program to split the root code and the overlays into seperate
files, then run something like LZEXE on the root code, then glue all the
overlays back together.

You can find the specification of the format for Microsoft EXE format with the
glued overlays to it in The MS-DOS Encyclopedia.  It's a simple matter to write
a small program to rip apart the EXE containing overlays, LZEXE the root, and
then put it back together.

I do this on my projects that contain overlays without any problems, it might
even work on other overlay linkers such as Plink and RTlink, but I can't be
sure.

--
--
/// Dave 'Zoid' Kirsch UUCP: {uunet,ubc-cs}!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a563
Voice: (604) 585-8844        a563@mindlink.UUCP
                             Zoid@cc.sfu.ca
                       Vancouver, British Columbia
"In-no-sense?  Nonsense!" - The Art Of Noise.