version 1.76 changes

Fixed a bug that manifested itself in some cases where not all exports were named.

version 1.74 changes

Minor tweaks and enhancements.

version 1.70 changes

Added new product update mechanism.
Fixed minor bugs.

version 1.69 changes

Minor fixes and enhancements.

version 1.68 changes

Support for Manifest resource types.
aPLib updated to v0.34.
Other minor bug fixes and enhancements.

version 1.67 changes

Encryption plug-in DLL now stays resident throughout compression.
Improved exception handling in the decompression procedure.

version 1.66 changes

Removed maximum section limit, thereby increasing compatibility with PEBundle'd excutables.
Created a new dialog box for plugin configuration.
Added ToolTips.

version 1.65 changes

Added support for configuration files. PECompact configurations may now be saved to and retrieved from files. New menu options are available to facilitate this feature, as well as a new command line switch '/$ConfigFile', that may be used to specify a configuration file on the command line.
Configuration is now preserved at program exit and loaded at program startup.
Added GetProcAddressHookPluginV2 documentation to manual.
Added C function prototypes for new plugin interface in manual and header file.
An assortment of other minor changes.

version 1.60 changes

Totally redesigned and more robust plug-in interface; it's a huge improvement. Unfortunately, this interface is not backwards compatible. See docs and pluginsv2.zip for details.
Rewrote and optimized several internal components, including the command line parser.
Added "/$UserData" command line parameter, see docs.
Added button to ExtraData plugin that invokes default external application for given extension.
New sample plugins (MASM) included to demonstrate the new interface, see pluginsv2.zip
Other misc. changes and enhancements.

version 1.56 changes
Added support for shared sections. These sections may now optionally be left in-tact (uncompressed) and therefore able to be shared across processes as normal.

Added optional checksumming on all compressed blocks and reconstructed code sections. The new '/#' switch facilitates the command line toggle for this.
Improved loader speed slightly.
Changed installer to NullSoft NSIS. Setup application now less than 100k. Users should be sure to uninstall any previous versions before installing this one.
Updated to JCALG1 r5.27.
Addresses of LoadLibrary and GetProcAddress now passed to the pre-operative plugin.

Updated to JCALG1 r5.25.
Added more version info in about box.
Included ExecWait utility to force win95/98/Me's batch interpreter to wait on PECompact.

Added /K switch to toggle relocation of export table.
Fixed a bug that could rarely cause the new fixups table to be 'cut off' from the last section of compressed DLLs, causing them to subsequently fail on load during a base collision.
Added checksum test of the code section at load time. If the checksum fails, the executable will display a message box indicating such, and exit the program. This makes certain, within the checksum probability of error, that the code of a compressed executable has been reconstructed by the PECompact loader correctly and that no external modifications have been introduced to the executable's code section.
Misc. changes.

A variety of minor tweaks and enhancements.

Added option to set stack reserve size of compressed executables.
Added ability to set all plugin files from command line.
Updated to JCALG1 r5.23.

Fixed problem with compression of executables compiled with Watcom C/C++.
Fixed some other bugs.

Fixed problem with compression of executables compiled with Intel's C++ compiler.
Fixed problem with compression of executables or DLLs that have an export table, but have no actual exports (such as Acrobat Reader 4.0). This problem only occured when the 'Relocate Export Table' option was active.

Added ability to relocate export table! This significantly improves compression of DLL/OCX/SCR, or any other PEs with exports. (beta 1)
Improved COM/OLE/ActiveX control compression support. (beta 1)
Fixed 'Create New Section' bug in Win9x when compressing. (beta 1)
Corrected a bug when resource restructuring turned off. (beta 1)
Corrected a bug with PECompact'ing some PEBundle'd applications. (beta 1)
Updated to JCALG1 r5.22; improved compresion ratios. (beta 2,3)
Added 'Remember Last Browsed Directory' toggle. (beta 3)
Optimized import table. (beta 5)
Optimized symbiotic code. (beta 5)
Fixed multiple-instance crash. (beta 5)
Fixed shared section bug. (beta 5)
Misc. bug fixes.

Added Pre-Operative plugin type.
Added compression toggle for TYPELIB resources (i.e. ActiveX controls).

Object table expanded accordingly to fit entire ExtraData plugin (max 512 bytes).
Updated to JCALG1 r5.11.
Fixed some bugs.

Added "Trim and Install Plugins" function.
Added Drag 'N Drop reception to main dialog.

Added ExtraData plugin to facilitate injection of text or other data into the compressed image verbatim.
Updated to aPLib v0.26 [XL]. Joergen Ibsen improved performance of his compression algorithm on larger data in this revision.
Prompts for removal of read-only attribute if it exist.
Nag message on unregistered versions displays 1 out 5 runs now, instead of every run.
Misc. bug fixes and enhancements.

Updated to JCALG1 r5.07 - improved compression ratio slightly. (beta 3)
Improved error message when DLL or API was not found. (beta 3)
Turned back on default compression of unknown resources. (beta 3)
Added /U switch to toggle compression of unknown resources. ( beta 3)
Redesigned advanced configuration dialog box some. (beta 3)
Improved support for 'Small Compiler v1.1' executables. (beta 3)
Message boxes will no longer be displayed with the auto-exit option. (beta 3)
Updated to Joergen Ibsen's aPLib v0.26b. (beta 2)
Improved compression ratio. (beta 1)
Added better support for compression of Active-X controls. (beta 1)
Misc. bug fixes and enhancements.

Added new GetProcAddressHook plugin to facilitate advanced API hooking.
Added screen saver (.SCR) support.
Misc. bug fixes and enhancements.

Updated to JCALG1 r5.04.

Added progress bar toggle and command line switch.
Increased maximum size of encryption/decryption plugins to 512 bytes.
Updated to JCALG1 r5.03.

DLL relocation broke under win9x in v1.24. Fixed.
Fixed some rare occurances of lost shell icons after compression.

Added GetProcAddress/LoadLibrary address passing to decryption plugin.
Sped up compression by as much as 30%.
DLLs are now loaded by the Windows loader.
Now waits for compressed program to terminate when tested.
Support for BPL files added.
Added process priority selection.
Fixed some progress bar display issues.
Significant internal changes.
Minor bug fixes and enhancements.

Improved compression ratio.
Added "Erase .BAK" menu option.
Fixed a few minor bugs.

Significantly improved the compression ratio of most executables.
Enhanced GUI considerably with tooltips.
Sped up, improved custom progress bar.
Added optional aPLib v0.22, (c) Joergen Ibsen, compression.
Fixed bug that would not allow use of the post-operative plugin without also using the encrypt/decrypt plugins. Also fixed bug when using the encrypt/decrypt plugins and not the post-operative plugin.
Added detection of more pre-compressed executables.
Update to JCALG1 fixes faults during compression in some cases.
Current directory preserved after returning from file browse.
Slightly improved documentation.
Added new "Beep after compression" and "One instance only" options (beta 2).
Fixed some DLL relocation issues under Win9x. (beta 3)
Encryption is now done after compression. (beta 3)
Relocated nag screen from compressed executables to the PECompact program. (beta 4)
Added DLL and OCX shell extensions. (beta 4)
Added /R[-] command line switch to register/unregister shell extensions. (beta 4)
Fixed bug in 'Save Configuration' menu option. (beta 4)
Updated to JCALG1 r5.01, which offers significantly improved compression and speed. (beta 5)
Added /0 through /9 command line switches to set the compression level. (beta 5)
Added /J[-] command line switch to toggle usage Joergen Ibsen's aPLib. (beta 5)
Fixed bug preventing the compression level from being properly saved and restored. (beta 5)
Added choice of small or fast decompression procedure.
Fixed bug causing fault when a required DLL or API not present (beta 6 fix - induced in earlier v1.10 beta).
Fixed compression and trimming of Clarion 5 executables. (beta 6)
The /T[rimonly] switch, when used, was not being properly reflected in the dialog. Fixed. (beta 6).
Recalls last browsed directory. (beta 6)
An assortment of internal changes. (beta 6)
SIGNIFICANTLY (really) improved compression on larger executables. A must see.
Improved load time. (beta 8+)
Improved docuemntation. (beta 8+)
Many other fixes, optimizations, and enhancements.
Improved error message when DLL or API missing.

Last section placeholder (for anti-virus avoidance) now occupies zero bytes in physical image.
Updated to JCALG1 r4.56.
Other misc. changes.

Fixed bugs in compression of executables with TLS directories, again.
Improved compression ratio with JCALG1 r4.55.
Other bug fixes and changes.

Fixed bugs in compression of executables with TLS directories.
Improved compression ratio and speed with JCALG1 r4.53.
Other bug fixes and changes.

Added new plugin type: post-operative.
Much better plugin support.
Improved section merging allows for better compression ratio.
Update to JCALG1 r4.50: Improves compression ratio.
Compressed executables require less additional memory. Static memory size increase of no more than 4096 bytes.
Other misc. optimizations, bug fixes, and changes.

Added encryption/decryption plugin support.
Fixed trim only bug which yielded invalid application errors in NT sometimes.
Fixed problems with some executables with TLS directories.
Fixed a section merging bug that caused a fault during compression of some executables.
Fixed "Number Of Shell Icons" decrementation bug.
Fixed dual operation setting after compression of a DLL then compression of an EXE.
Fixed "Register shell extension" unregistration bug.
Hopefully Fixed AVP false alarm.
Added symbiote flags options in Advanced Configuration dialog.
Implemented registration code system.

Redesigned GUI.
Switched to JCALG1 fast decompression, as a result decompression speed doubled.
Added "Create new section" option.
Fixed false alarm with central point anti-virus, and hopefully others. Please report any anti-virus false alarms to me so I can take care of them.
Fixed some DLL/OCX issues.
Fixed an assortment of other misc. bugs.
Many enhancements.

Fixed false alarm with central point anti-virus.

Redesigned GUI.

Switched to JCALG1 fast decompression, doubles decompression speed.
Made some changes to the symbiote, in a 'in-the-dark' attempt to correct false alarms with some anti-virus software.
Minor other changes.

Fixed another bug in JCALG1 which caused GPFs during decompresion.

Fixed critical bug in JCALG1 which caused GPFs during decompression in some circumstances.

Modularized more functions.

Added check and warning for overlays.

Added new 'Create new section' option. [pre2]
DLL re-entrancy fix. [pre2]
Relocation table alignment fix. [pre2]
Symbiote size decreased.
Added proper handling of shell icons and an option to set the number of shell icons to preserve.
Improved compression ratio, compression speed, and decompression speed.
Added check for executables with another symbiote already installed.
Updated to JCALG1 r4.45.
Fixed slider control lower boundary when using arrows.
Floating percentage is now current compression ratio.
Compress export table toggle now correctly defaults to off when a DLL is chosen.
GUI changes and bug fixes [pre2].
Lots of other misc. fixes.

Much faster compression.
Fixed numerous bugs.
Redesigned GUI.
New command line switches.
Many other enhancements and new features.

Some last minute changes to v0.95 broke compression of executables with TLS (thread local storage) sections as well as broke section merging! These critical bugs has been fixed.

Improved compression ratio with JCALG r4.2
Fixed bug in the compression of applications with more than 256 resources.
Fixed bug in the compression of extremly small PEs.
Decreased symbiote size.
Removed "Restore Resources" option.
Fixed right/left buttons on scrollbar.
Added "Use Windows DLL Loader" option.
Options now set to recommended values as user types in filename.
Removed dynamic allocation of memory at runtime.
Now correctly nulls debug and bound import data before compression.
Added "Trim Only" option.
Removed maximize, restore, and size options from sysmenu.
Now adds new relocation table.
Compression sped up a bit.
Merge section code removed from symbiote if section merging disabled.
Misc. other bug fixes and improvements.