Tool to convert data file to executable

[Radertified]

Can anyone recommend a tool that can take a data file and turn it into an Amiga executable? It would load the data into an absolute address and JMP to another address.

The kicker is I don't want the data compressed/crunched. Crunchers can compress the data and do all of the above, but I can't find a cruncher that omits the crunchy crunch part.

I'm sure I can assemble something that'll do this but I'd prefer something premade where I can pop in a file and get an executable in a few seconds.
I know I've used something that did this years ago but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. It was probably something really common but my brain is being stupid (as usual).

[AMIGASYSTEM]

There is an application that makes an image executable, for text files you just need to insert the Flag "S"

[Radertified]

Thanks AMIGASYSTEM but by data file, I meant a raw memory dump, and then being able to jump to a specific part of code within that dump.

[jotd]

if nothing exists, I could write one in no time in SAS/C.

[Radertified]

I'm sure it exists because I recall using one back in the day, but I can't figure out what it was called.

It's a simple loader to write so if you're down for it jotd, no objections from me. And if you decide not to, no sweat!

[Galahad/FLT]

Originally Posted by Radertified

I'm sure it exists because I recall using one back in the day, but I can't figure out what it was called.

It's a simple loader to write so if you're down for it jotd, no objections from me. And if you decide not to, no sweat!

It would be a very simple piece of asm code to achieve what you want, you would just include the file at assembly time and done.

[Radertified]

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

It would be a very simple piece of asm code to achieve what you want, you would just include the file at assembly time and done.

Exactly. I've done it a few times in the past, but I'd prefer something generic. A quick tool where I pass in some parameters and it's done.

Don't underestimate my laziness!

[phx]

Originally Posted by Radertified

I'd prefer something generic. A quick tool where I pass in some parameters and it's done.

Which parameters would you like to pass? Just the load-address, or also the binary file name? Not sure if jotd wants to work on it now, but such a program can be written by many people here in less than an hour. The most complex part would be command line parsing.

Although I still don't see the advantage of a "generic" tool. You can even make it generic with an assembler. For example by defining a symbol on the command line with "-Dloadaddr=$1234".

[chip]

This simple tool convert a binary data file to Amiga exe


http://grandis.nu/eabsearch/search.p...xclude=&limit=

[Radertified]

Originally Posted by phx

Which parameters would you like to pass? Just the load-address, or also the binary file name? Not sure if jotd wants to work on it now, but such a program can be written by many people here in less than an hour. The most complex part would be command line parsing.

Although I still don't see the advantage of a "generic" tool. You can even make it generic with an assembler. For example by defining a symbol on the command line with "-Dloadaddr=$1234".

Generally whenever I write a loader I need to give a load address and a JMP address. At times I might have to set registers or the stack, but not too often. So a simple command line might be something like:

bin2exe FILE=rawdata LOAD=1000 JMP=30000

As I said, I know something like this already exists but I guess it was something obscure. I think I might write a generic converter myself when I find the time. As you said, it's super simple. I'm just being lazy.

Originally Posted by chip

This simple tool convert a binary data file to Amiga exe
http://grandis.nu/eabsearch/search.p...xclude=&limit=

Unfortunately I just tried it and it didn't work. I gave it and infile and outfile and it just crashes, probably because I couldn't define all of the required details. Thanks for trying though!

[chip]

I am also interested in this kind of tool, if it takes a load and jump address ....... thanks !

[chip]

But i have a question, since i am not an expert

The load and the jump address can be freely chosen or must be determined ?

[Radertified]

Generally you have to determine these addresses. A lot of games loaded their data to specific memory addresses and then jumped to the game at another address. For example, it might have loaded the game data into $100 and later jumped to $4000 to start the game. If you don't have these details, the game almost certainly won't work.

A well written title will load the title to any memory address and jump to an address relative to that. For example, it might load into an address which is then stored into register A1. Later a jump to the address in A1 is done instead of somewhere specific.

I hope that's not too confusing.

[chip]

It's not confusing, thanks for the infos

[phx]

Originally Posted by Radertified

For example, it might have loaded the game data into $100 and later jumped to $4000 to start the game.

Hmm. Then you probably want to disable the OS, before letting the loader do the copy operation? But can you always be sure the launched program doesn't need it later? Different games might expect a different state of the system when launched.

A well written title will load the title to any memory address and jump to an address relative to that.

So it is relocatable, like a hunk-format executable?

[Thomas Richter]

Originally Posted by Radertified

Can anyone recommend a tool that can take a data file and turn it into an Amiga executable?

There are plenty tools that convert a data file to ASM directives or C tables, such as:


http://aminet.net/dev/asm/2b_Bin2Asm.lha


or



http://aminet.net/dev/c/2b_Bin2C.lha


To name two I found immediately on aminet. This way, the data file can be part of your code. Once assembled or compiled, it becomes part of the executable, i.e. your project.

Originally Posted by Radertified

It would load the data into an absolute address and JMP to another address.

*puke*. DO not do that. Absoute addresses are in absolute use, and an absolute no-go in a multi-tasking system. To get an address data can go into, use AllocMem(), or the system loader aka "LoadSeg()".

[kamelito]

A packer like bytekiller do that.

[Frog]

Originally Posted by kamelito

A packer like bytekiller do that.

i'm agree, there's several packer that can do the job

[Galahad/FLT]

Originally Posted by Frog

i'm agree, there's several packer that can do the job

Originally Posted by kamelito

A packer like bytekiller do that.

Originally Posted by Radertified

Can anyone recommend a tool that can take a data file and turn it into an Amiga executable? It would load the data into an absolute address and JMP to another address.

The kicker is I don't want the data compressed/crunched. Crunchers can compress the data and do all of the above, but I can't find a cruncher that omits the crunchy crunch part.

I'm sure I can assemble something that'll do this but I'd prefer something premade where I can pop in a file and get an executable in a few seconds.
I know I've used something that did this years ago but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. It was probably something really common but my brain is being stupid (as usual).

Ahem....

[Galahad/FLT]

Originally Posted by Thomas Richter

There are plenty tools that convert a data file to ASM directives or C tables, such as:


http://aminet.net/dev/asm/2b_Bin2Asm.lha


or



http://aminet.net/dev/c/2b_Bin2C.lha


To name two I found immediately on aminet. This way, the data file can be part of your code. Once assembled or compiled, it becomes part of the executable, i.e. your project.



*puke*. DO not do that. Absoute addresses are in absolute use, and an absolute no-go in a multi-tasking system. To get an address data can go into, use AllocMem(), or the system loader aka "LoadSeg()".

If they are already dealing with data that is already set to an absolute address, they don't have many options but to be constrained by that.