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Changing portable app names in menu

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jambog
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Changing portable app names in menu

I searched the forum and someone asked a similar question and the only response was that the next major release will have this ability.

I'm not much of a developer so bear with me. So far I figured out that I can use a freeware program called resource hacker to open the .exe file and I also figured out that the name in the portable apps menu is linked to the Version Info resource "product name" value as listed below in bold. As you can see I changed it from "ClamWin Portable" to "ClamWin Anti Virus" so me or anyone who is borrowing my flash drive can identify it as an anti virus program. When I do this and save the .exe file it will now show up in the portable apps menu as "ClamWin Anti Virus" but it will no longer launch the program. All that I changed in the exe file is the product name value. If I replace the modified exe with the original it will launch again fine. It just won't launch my modified exe even though I only changed the product name value. Is there any easy way to maybe change something in an .ini file or somewhere else that would allow me to change the product name value to whatever I want and still be able to launch the program? Thanks. below is the resource I changed with the changed string in bold.

"1 VERSIONINFO
FILEVERSION 1,5,6,0
PRODUCTVERSION 1,5,6,0
FILEOS 0x4
FILETYPE 0x1
{
BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
{
BLOCK "000004E4"
{
VALUE "Comments", "Allows ClamWin to be run from a removable drive. For additional details, visit PortableApps.com/ClamWinPortable"
VALUE "CompanyName", "PortableApps.com"
VALUE "FileDescription", "ClamWin Portable"
VALUE "FileVersion", "1.5.6.0"
VALUE "InternalName", "ClamWin Portable"
VALUE "LegalCopyright", "John T. Haller"
VALUE "LegalTrademarks", "PortableApps.com is a Trademark of Rare Ideas, LLC."
VALUE "OriginalFilename", "ClamWinPortable.exe"
VALUE "ProductName", "ClamWin Anti Virus"
VALUE "ProductVersion", "1.5.6.0"
}
}

BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
{
VALUE "Translation", 0x0000 0x04E4"

Tim Clark
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You say the following as if

You say the following as if you think it is minor or unimportant,

All that I changed in the exe file is the product name value

It just won't launch my modified exe even though I only changed the product name value.

It is not minor or unimportant.

The file is signed for security, you have altered it, the signature is no longer valid and the program will not run.

No, you can't do it via an .ini currently.
If you do not want to wait for a later version you will need to use one of the "mods", but they are not officially supported.

Tim

Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?

ZachHudock
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If you do not want to wait

If you do not want to wait for a later version you will need to use one of the "mods", but they are not officially supported.

Or he could change that defining section in the launcher source code and recompile the launcher

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Tim Clark
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O_o

Oh, yeah, like "I'm" going to suggest "That" Blum

Tim

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digitxp
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Not signed!

The file is signed for security, you have altered it, the signature is no longer valid and the program will not run.
There is no signature, it's a CRC which checks the MD5 Sum.
There would be absolutely no way to change the product name by ini because it's created at compile time, like the constants and runtime switches. (But of course you're not really a dev so you can ignore this :P.)

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Tim Clark
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True, i'm not a dev, But even I

True, I'm not a Dev,

But even I can read a digital signature Blum
See John's post below

ClamWinPortable.exe was signed by John on:
Monday, April 21, 2008 9:43:40 PM Chicago Time

Tim

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ZachHudock
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As Tim said, you can either

As Tim said, you can either use one of the menu mods, or wait, or as I said, recompile all the launchers you wish to change the information for.

Also, all applications released by PortableApps.com are digitally signed to ensure security, and to be sure that all official PortableApps.com products are safe to use.

Making ANY modification with ResHacker or similar programs will break the CRC check built into the launcher, causing the file to no longer be executable.

Welcome to PortableApps.com Smile Hope to have helped at least explain things.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

jambog
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Like I said I'm no developer

Like I said I'm no developer (although I think it would be fun to learn). Would recompiling a launcher be something even remotely possible for a complete novice?

I didn't think that changing the name was all that important. I changed it in CCleaner (which has a portable app release) and it shows up in the menu as the name I changed it too and still launches fine. I thought possibly it was something simple I could change in the Clamwin directory that would work. Way off on that one apparently...no idea that it would be so difficult to change a simple name, sorry. I didn't even know portable apps even existed until a week ago.

I found some of the menu mods and am experimenting with them, hopefully I'll find one that will do me until the new release.

Thanks for the welcome. Keep up the great work.

ZachHudock
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The digital signature is only

The digital signature is only applied to OFFICIAL applications from PortableApps.com, not apps in beta testing or apps from other sites.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

digitxp
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Jee.

Only the installer is signed. The launcher is not signed...

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John T. Haller
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Both

Both are signed. Check.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

digitxp
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how?

Security is not at all a problem for me, so I never looked into how.

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Tim Clark
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see my reply above

see my reply above:
https://portableapps.com/node/14858#comment-92515

I right clicked on the launcher, selected properties, and looked at the Digital Signatures tab.

Tim

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digitxp
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Huh

I guess you're using Vista or XP Pro.
idon't have one of those tabs.

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Tim Clark
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What Are you using?

What Are you using?

Of course, I'm using XP, what else would I be using?

Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?

Zach Thibeau
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Linux :P

Linux Blum

your friendly neighbourhood moderator Zach Thibeau

Tim Clark
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OH, I think I've heard of it

OH, I think I've heard of it?
That's some obscure OS like Unix isn't it?
I think it has about 0.90% usage right?
Even Mac usage is over 1%

He should try Windows XP, most people in the world use it Blum
He could use our apps on Unix, but then he'd have to whine,
i mean wine Blum

Tim

Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?

alanbcohen
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Uhh, Tim, wine can be used on

Uhh, Tim, wine can be used on Linux as well. I use many of the Portable apps on both WinXP and Linux. And, the measure of quality isn't how many people use something; it is a lot more complex than that.

Tim Clark
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ALL OF THE ABOVE WAS A JOKE

ALL OF THE ABOVE WAS A JOKE Blum

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Rexx72
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mmm ...

Ok Admittedly I don't know the side effects, but it worked to scan a dir (both as a .bat and a .exe) when I tried on my XP machine 10mins ago.

Make the following batch file.

REM ### ClamWin Anti Virus.bat ###
REN ClamWinPortable.exe.hide ClamWinPortable.exe
CALL ClamWinPortable.exe
REN ClamWinPortable.exe ClamWinPortable.exe.hide
EXIT

Convert the "ClamWin Anti Virus.bat" to "ClamWin Anti Virus.exe" with bat2exe. My settings = Ghost option (So there's no cmd window hanging around in the background) + get yourself an icon

Copy "ClamWin Anti Virus.exe" to your ClamWin Folder
Change your ClamWinPortable.exe to ClamWinPortable.exe.hide
Refresh your "Apps List"
Run "ClamWin Anti Virus" from PAM

Obviously "ClamWinPortable" will show up in PAM while it's running

Links to tools at the bottom of my post here

Anyone know why we shouldn't do this?

scribble scribble twirly bit scribble

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