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FXPacker v2.0 - A Data Protector for InnoSetup

FXPacker API

Introduction:

FXPacker started as a side project to 'FMXInno', primarily dedicated to safeguarding various data types, such as (graphical content: images, music, text, etc.), used in the installer from unauthorized access.

Changes:

This is Version 2. Let's review the changes it introduces.

Code:

1. Improved speed and reliability compared to previous versions.

   -- Note: This may cause compatibility issues with previous versions.



2. Now supports larger files.

   -- Please ensure that the total size of the files remains below 800 MB. 

      (Total_File_Size * 2 + Extra should be less than 2 GB)



3. Added new events: 

   -- OnProgress, OnDataSaving, OnItemUnpack, OnEncrypt, OnDecrypt.



4. Introduced additional functions.

   -- For a better understanding of how to use these functions, 

      refer to the examples provided in the attachment.

Simple Example:

Code:

Pack:



var

  FXOk: Boolean;

  BufferA: AnsiString;

  BufferW: WideString;

  Count: Cardinal;

  FSize: Integer;

  LPtr: Longint;



begin

  FXOk := FXPckrInit('@#123_Test', ExpandConstant('{src}\MySetup.exe'), False);



  if FXOk then

  begin

    // Img1

    FXPckrAddFile(ExpandConstant('{src}\Files\Img1.png'));

 

    // Img2

    FileSize(ExpandConstant('{src}\Files\Img2.png'), FSize);

    SetLength(BufferA, FSize);

    FXFileToBuffer1A(ExpandConstant('{src}\Files\Img2.png'), BufferA);

    FXPckrAddFromBuffer1A('Img2.png', BufferA);



    // Save

    FXPckrSave(ExpandConstant('{src}\Setup.dat'));

  end;





  { CleanUp }

  FXPckrFree;

end;

Code:

Unpack:



var

  FXOk: Boolean;

  BufferA: AnsiString;

  BufferW: WideString;

  Count: Cardinal;

  FSize: Integer;

  LPtr: Longint;



begin

  FXOk := FXUnPckrInit(ExpandConstant('{src}\Setup.dat'), '@#123_Test');



  if not FXOk then

  begin

    ShowErr('Failed to initialize the setup. The installation process cannot continue.');

  end else

  begin

    // Img1

    FXUnPckrExtract('Img1.png', ExpandConstant('{src}'));



    // Img2

    FSize := FXUnPckrExtractFileSize('Img2.png');

    SetLength(BufferA, FSize);

    FXUnPckrExtractToBuffer1A('Img2.png', BufferA);

  end;





  { CleanUp }

  FXUnPckrFree;

end;

Functions / Methods:

Code:

{ Pckr }

function FXPckrInit(const Password, ExeFile: WideString; DebugMode: Boolean): Boolean;

function FXPckrAddFile(const FileName: WideString): Boolean;

function FXPckrAddFromStream(const DisplayFilename: WideString; Source: TStream): Boolean;

function FXPckrAddFromBuffer1A(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: AnsiString): Boolean;

function FXPckrAddFromBuffer1W(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: WideString): Boolean;

function FXPckrAddFromBuffer2A(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: PAnsiChar; const Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

function FXPckrAddFromBuffer2W(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: PWideChar; const Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

function FXPckrAddFromBuffer3AW(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: Longint; const Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

procedure FXPckrSave(const DestPackfile: WideString);

procedure FXPckrFree;



{ Unpckr }

function FXUnPckrInit(const PackFile, Password: WideString): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrFileExist(const DisplayFilename: WideString): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtract(const DisplayFilename, DestPath: WideString): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtractToStream(const DisplayFilename: WideString; Dest: TStream): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtractToBuffer1A(const DisplayFilename: WideString; var Buffer: AnsiString): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtractToBuffer1W(const DisplayFilename: WideString; var Buffer: WideString): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtractToBuffer2A(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: PAnsiChar; var Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtractToBuffer2W(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: PWideChar; var Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtractToBuffer3AW(const DisplayFilename: WideString; const Buffer: Longint; var Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

function FXUnPckrExtractFileSize(const DisplayFilename: WideString): Cardinal;

procedure FXUnPckrFree;

Code:

{ Extra }

function FXBufferToFile1A(const Buffer: AnsiString; const OutFile: WideString): Boolean;

function FXBufferToFile1W(const Buffer: WideString; const OutFile: WideString): Boolean;

function FXBufferToFile2A(const Buffer: PAnsiChar; const Count: Cardinal; const OutFile: WideString): Boolean;

function FXBufferToFile2W(const Buffer: PWideChar; const Count: Cardinal; const OutFile: WideString): Boolean;

function FXBufferToFile3AW(const Buffer: Longint; const Count: Cardinal; const OutFile: WideString): Boolean;



function FXFileToBuffer1A(const FileName: WideString; var Buffer: AnsiString): Boolean;

function FXFileToBuffer1W(const FileName: WideString; var Buffer: WideString): Boolean;

function FXFileToBuffer2A(const FileName: WideString; const Buffer: PAnsiChar; var Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

function FXFileToBuffer2W(const FileName: WideString; const Buffer: PWideChar; var Count: Cardinal): Boolean;

function FXFileToBuffer3AW(const FileName: WideString; const Buffer: Longint; var Count: Cardinal): Boolean;



function FXCastStringToIntegerA(var S: AnsiString): LongInt;

function FXCastStringToIntegerW(var S: WideString): LongInt;

function FXCastIntegerToStringA(const L: LongInt): AnsiString;

function FXCastIntegerToStringW(const L: LongInt): WideString;

function FXAnsiBufferToStr(const ABuffer: AnsiString): WideString;



function FXFreeBufferA(const Buffer: PAnsiChar): Integer;

function FXFreeBufferW(const Buffer: PWideChar): Integer;



{ Events }

procedure FXArchiveOnProgress(Callback: TArchiveOnProg);

procedure FXArchiveOnSaving(Callback: TArchiveOnProg);

procedure FXPackItemOnProgress(Callback: TItemOnProg);

procedure FXUnpackItemOnProgress(Callback: TItemOnProg);

procedure FXEncryptOnProgress(Callback: TCryptOnProg);

procedure FXDecryptOnProgress(Callback: TCryptOnProg);

Code:

* Added missing event 'FXPackItemOnProgress'.

  -- procedure FXPackItemOnProgress(Callback: TItemOnProg);

Optional Update:

Code:

* Included FastMM for improved memory management. 

    -- FastMM - Github

* Reduced the file size for enhanced performance and efficiency. 

    -- 211kb  >>  139kb

FXPackerApi - Updates

Updates available! - [2023-Oct-15]

Code:

FXPackerApi v2.0:



* Now supports threading.

  -- It'll no longer affect the main thread of the client app (setup.exe) 

     and will run in its own thread, preventing client app freezing.



* Added a new function.

  -- function FXGetItemFileName(const Item: Longint): WideString;





FXPacker GUI v2.0:



* Updated to FXPackerApi v2.0.

* Added the ability to include entire directories, including subdirectories.

* Now you can remove multiple items at once.

* Added a feature to prevent adding duplicate items.

@BLACKFIRE69, Thank you very much for the updates.
Maybe you can include an additional function...
function FXPckrAddFileList(const FileList: WideString): Boolean;

Usage like this:

Code:

StrList := TStringList.Create;

try

    StrList.LoadFromFile(ExpandConatant('{src}\FileList.txt'));

    FXPckrAddFileList(StrList.Text);

finally

   StrList.Free;

end;

You could also store files with a folder structure inside Data.dat.
To do this, use the character "|" as an option to inform the destination path in the internal structure of Data.dat. If "|" does not exist, add as a file without a subfolder in the internal structure of the items.

Code:

FXPckrAddFile('C:\my_test\filetest.txt|my_test\file_name.txt');

This would allow using files with the same names for different cases.
Thanks!

FXPacker API Interface
======================

Secure archive handling library designed for integration with Inno Setup.
Provides multi-layered protection with password-based access control (AES-256),
executable binding verification, Runtime executable state matching and
Host-state coupling synchronization.

Code:

> Support:

- Supports both standard distribution (external data file) and

  Single-EXE distribution (data file embedded directly inside the installer).



> Compatibility:

- Inno Setup v6.0 or later (Required)

- Inno Setup v6.5 or later (Required for Partial Safe Mode)



> Specifications:

- Version       : 3.0.0.0

- Author        : BLACKFIRE69

- Build         : 699CEA00

- Compatibility        : Inno Setup v6.x, v6.5 or later

- License       : Proprietary (See LICENSE file for details)



> Distribution:

- FXPackerAPI.dll — Core API library. Exposes all packing and unpacking

                    functions for direct integration into Inno Setup

                    pascal scripts.



- FXPackerCLI.exe — Command-line interface. Provides full packing

                    functionality via terminal commands. Suitable for

                    build pipeline and automation integration.



- FXPackerGUI.exe — Graphical interface. Provides full packing

                    functionality via a visual interface. Suitable for

                    manual archive creation and workflow configuration.

Code:

> Protection Layers:

- Layer 1 — Password-based access control (AES-256)

- Layer 2 — Executable binding verification

- Layer 3 — Runtime executable state matching and Host-state coupling synchronization.



> Modes:

- Safe Mode         : Full protection — all 3 layers active.

                      Standard distribution with an external data file.



- Partial Safe Mode : Embedded distribution — Designed to allow the data

                      file to be embedded directly into the installer (Single-EXE)

                      via Inno Setup compilation.



- Unsafe Mode       : Layer 1 only — password protection exclusively.

                      Anyone with the correct password can extract the

                      data file. Intended for initial template creation

                      in the Partial Safe workflow and debugging purposes only.

Code:

> Important:

- Safe and Partial Safe modes require the exact same executable that was

  present during the packing process. The correct password alone is not

  sufficient to extract the data file — the executable identity must also

  match. Only Unsafe mode allows extraction with the password alone.



> Features:

- Standard and Single-EXE (embedded) distribution modes

- Detailed logging support (API, CLI, and GUI)

- Automatic protection mode detection on extraction

- Inno Setup credential storage and retrieval

- Buffer, stream, and file input/output support

- Progress tracking for packing, extraction, and processing

- Detailed error reporting via FXGetLastError

- Cross-platform pointer and type conversion utilities

* Basic DataFile Creation

Code:

1. Open `Example.iss` and compile it (`MySetup.exe`). 



2. Generate Data File:



FXPackerCLI.exe ^

        -e:".\MySetup.exe" ^

        -p:"Secret123" ^

        -i:"inno_key_here" ^

        ".\Resources\*" ^

        ".\Img\*.png"

- innosetup-unpacking -

Code:

[Setup]

// Encryption

Encryption=True

Password=inno_key_here

//

Code:



function InitializeSetup(): Boolean;

begin

  Result := FXUnpackInit(ExpandConstant('{src}\Setup.dat'), 'Secret123');



  if not Result then

    ShowErr('Failed to initialize the setup. Error: ' + FXGetLastError());

end;



function CheckPassword(Password: String): Boolean;

begin

  Result := (Password = FXUnpackRefineStr(FXUnpackGetStoredInnoEncryptionKey));

end;



procedure CurPageChanged(CurPageID: Integer);

begin

  if CurPageID = wpPassword then

    WizardForm.PasswordEdit.Text := FXUnpackRefineStr(FXUnpackGetStoredInnoEncryptionKey)

  else

    WizardForm.PasswordEdit.Text := '';

end;



procedure InitializeWizard();

var

  Res: Boolean;

begin

  Res := FXUnpackExtractFile('button.png', ExpandConstant('{src}\_OutImg'));

end;



procedure DeinitializeSetup();

begin

  FXUnpackReleaseResources;

end;

* Partial Secure (Embedded Mode) - 3 Pass Workflow:

This mode allows the data file to be embedded directly into the installer (Single-EXE) via Inno Setup compilation.

Step-by-Step Workflow

# Pass 1: The Initial Template

Code:

1. Create Initial Archive: Open `FXPacker.exe`. Add your files and set a password. 

2. Enable 'Unsafe Mode': This allows the initial archive to be created without an EXE target.

3. Generate Data: Click 'Create Archive'. This creates your initial `Setup.dat`.

4. Compile Setup: Open `Example.iss` and compile it. 

   > Result: You now have a "Template EXE" (`MySetup.exe`).



code:

FXPackerCLI.exe ^

        --unsafe ^

        -p="@#123_Test"  ^

        -i="Jrsoftware"  ^

        ".\Files\Img\*"

# Pass 2: Binding Step 1

Code:

5. Configure Packer: 

   - In `FXPacker.exe`, select the `MySetup.exe` you just created as the Target EXE.

   - Set the `Setup.dat` from Pass 1 as the Parent File.

6. Disable 'Unsafe Mode': Security must be active for this step.

7. Enable 'Partial Secure': This triggers the internal identity-binding logic.

8. Select 'Partial Step 1': Required for the first binding pass.

9. Update Data: Click 'Create Archive' to overwrite `Setup.dat`.

10. Compile Setup: Go back to Inno Setup and compile the script again.



code:

FXPackerCLI.exe ^

        --psafe  ^

        -s=1  ^

        -e="MySetup.exe"  ^

        -o="Setup.dat"  ^

        -p="@#123_Test"  ^

        -i="Jrsoftware"  ^

        ".\Files\Img\*"

# Pass 3: Binding Step 2 (Final)

Code:

11. Configure Packer: 

    - Keep `MySetup.exe` as the Target EXE.

    - Use the updated `Setup.dat` from Pass 2 as the Parent File.

12. Select 'Partial Step 2': This performs the final verification wrap.

13. Finalize Data: Click 'Create Archive' to overwrite `Setup.dat` one last time.

14. Re-Compile: Go back to Inno Setup and compile the script for the final build.



code:

FXPackerCLI.exe ^

        --psafe  ^

        -s=2  ^

        -e="MySetup.exe"  ^

        -o="Setup.dat"  ^

        -p="@#123_Test"  ^

        -i="Jrsoftware"  ^

        ".\Files\Img\*"

- innosetup-unpacking -

Code:

- Same as the 'Basic DataFile Creation'.

Code:

* Result:



You can now distribute just `MySetup.exe`. 

It contains the finalized, calibrated `Setup.dat` embedded internally. 

No external data file is needed!



* Security Note: 



If you change your installer script (code, icons, or version), 

you must repeat the binding steps to ensure the security handshake remains valid.