How to pack and protect your application

Your program can be moleboxed in 3 easy steps:

• Step 1: Select an application file and choose project options
• Step 2: Add data files (Configure packages in Pro version)
• Step 3: Click the "Pack to box" button to start processing.

Step 1: Select an application file and choose project options

Select an exe-file from a list of recently used files or by pressing "Browse" button. In the "Pack to..." field type in a name for destination file. By default, this name is set by adding ".exe" to source executable name.

Set project options (see Setting project options fo details).

Step 2: Add data files (Configure packages in Pro version)

If you're running Pro version, create as many additional data packages as you need and set compression and encryption options for each of them if necessary (see Configuring packages).

Add data files you want to pack. Each package has an associated files list. To manage package files list, first select the package in the dropdown menu. Files list will be shown in the area below. You can switch between tree and flat mode for displaying files list.

To add data files to the package, press "Add" button. You can also use Drag-n-Drop technology, dragging files and folders directly from Windows Explorer. To add a whole directory, use Drag-n-Drop. Press "Explore" button to open box root folder (the directory where your source executable is stored).

Step 3: Click the "Pack to box" button to start processing.

A dialog window "Select packages" will be shown. You can select packages to process. Click "Pack selected" when you're done.

A dialog box showing packing progress will appear. Packer log is duplicated to <program-name>.exe.txt file. After finishing this process, you can test packed application clicking the "Execute" button.

Comments

Notice for RAD tools users.
Some RAD (Rapid Application Development) tools, including, but not limited to: Visual FoxPro, WinDev, 3D GameStudio, Macromedia Director, create with specific data sections which are not present in standard exe files. This data section is used stores your project data, and is read in runtime. To pack such a projector, you need to add it to the package twice: first time as a source executable, and second time as a data file.

Limitations related to additional packed files.

• Only files from root application folder or lower folders can be moleboxed.
• Packed files may not be modified.
• ONLY your moleboxed applications will be able to access moleboxed data. However, you shouldn't pack .chm and .hlp help files until you're using your own functions to access them from your program.
• If you have sound files played with winmm!PlaySound() function (this is not PlaySound command from Blitz Basic), do not molebox them. That's because Win9X OS requires such files to be unchanged to play them.
• It is not recommended to pack Windows system components, like oleaut32.dll: since these components are loaded on Windows startup, packed application uses already loaded version of the component from the client PC.