FreeExtractor is the easiest way to create self-extracting archives for Windows from existing ZIP files. It is an excellent open-source solution for packaging software programs and for distributing files to friends and colleagues over the Internet.

Features Include

• User friendly
  
  With a Windows 2000-style wizard-based user interface, end users will find FreeExtractor-created archives intuitive, fast and easy to use. Self-extractor authors follow a simple 4-step wizard which guides them through the process.

  [Screenshot #1]   [Screenshot #2]   [Screenshot #3]   [Screenshot #4]

  
  
• Free and Open Source
  
  FreeExtractor is free for all uses, and is released under a zLib-style license. It is unencumbered by restrictive licensing agreements. Developers have the added flexibility and freedom of modifying the source code to suit their application.
  
  
  
  
• Customizable
  
  Authors have fine-grained control over archive settings and can tailor their self-extractors to suit their application. Authors can specify such options as an embedded URL, introduction text, shortcut creation and a custom icon.

  With the optional command line utility, MakeSFX.exe, advanced authors can automate the creation of GUI self extractors via a batch file.
  
  
  

• Compatible
  
  FreeExtractor runs on all 32-bit versions of Windows (Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP). Advanced end-users have the flexibility of extracting archive contents with third party programs like WinZip and WinRAR.
  
  
  
• Compact
  
  As tested, FreeExtractor produces the smallest self-extracting archives of any competing product, by up to 10kb. In addition, the FreeExtractor Wizard (used to create self extracting archives) is only 40kb in size - the smallest SFX generator for Windows we are aware of.
  

  FreeExtractor Install Package, v1.44 (103 kb)

  FreeExtractor Source Code, v1.44 (303 kb)

  MakeSFX.exe - Optional Command Line Version, v1.44 (30 kb)

Revision History

License

This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the author(s) be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software. Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose, including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it freely, subject to the following restrictions:

1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be appreciated but is not required.

2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be misrepresented as being the original software.

3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.

Code Copyright (C) 2000-3 Andrew Fawcett (andrewfawcett @ users.sourceforge.net)

FreeExtractor contains portions of (or derivatives of) Mark Adler and Jean-Loup Gailly's zLib and Gilles Vollant's MiniUnzip. Thanks to them, and thanks to SourceForge for hosting.

Thanks to all the testers and contributors who have given invaluable feedback.

Contact

For bug submissions and additional help, try the Bug Tracking Tool and the Support Forums. Otherwise, direct comments and questions to Andrew Fawcett.

[Screenshot #1]
FreeExtractor Wizard: Splash Screen

[Screenshot #2]
FreeExtractor Wizard: Archive Options

[Screenshot #3]
FreeExtractor Wizard: Adding Shortcuts

[Screenshot #4]
FreeExtractor Wizard: Changing Icons