Restorator

Restorator is a Windows resource editor.

Resource Editing

Restorator is an award-winning utility for editing Windows resources in applications and their components; e.g. files with .exe, .dll, .res, .rc, and .dcr, extensions (see PE files and RES files in the manual).
 

“And the really cool thing is: With Restorator you need NO technical knowledge of program’s internals to do it. The world SHOULD run like this.
3d2f.com

Overview

Restorator has been used for resource editing since 1997. Continuous development based on user feedback made this application the leader in application customization software.

“It’s a must have softie for anyone who has even a small amount of curiosity, and mainly creativity.
download3k.com

Resource Editing

Restorator is an award-winning utility for editing Windows resources in applications and their components; e.g. files with .exe, .dll, .res, .rc, and .dcr, extensions (see PE files and RES files in the manual).

Change, add, or remove resources such as text, images, icons, sounds, videos, version, dialogs and menus in almost all programs.

Restorator is used for translation/localization, customization, design improvement and development.

This resource editor comes with an intuitive user-interface, complete documentation with many examples and prompt user support in the discussion forums or via email.

Restorator is the first choice for translation and localization by Fortune 500 companies and thousands of individuals.

Feature List

With Restorator you can

• Translate existing applications (localization)
• Customize the look and feel of programs
• Replace logos and icons (branding)
• Enhance control over resource files in the software development process
• Hack into the inner workings of applications on your computer
• Detailed Feature List …

Look at the tutorials to see how easy your task has become.

What are Resources?

Restorator modifies resources. Resources are application-dependant data that the respective programmer includes in his program. Inside the program file they are separated from the program itself and therefore may be changed. This is the technical condition to create custom applications.

In the file, resources are organized in a tree : The first level defines the resource type (Bitmap, Icon, etc.) and the second level defines the name of the resource (”MainIcon”, “SplashScreen”, etc.).

Windows provides some standard resource types whereas other resource types may be defined by the programmer and are displayed by Restorator in upper case (e.g. resource type “AVI” – see the search tutorial ).

The .res file has been standardized, allowing you to save all resources in one file. Restorator includes full support for creating/editing/opening/saving res files.

It is possible for one resource to be stored multiple times for different languages. If this is the case, Restorator adds a level in the tree with the language. (For example, on my system the file “WinNTSystem32comctl32.dll” (NT/2000/XP) or “WindowsSystemcomctl32.dll” (95/98/ME) has Strings and Dialogs in different la

Features

Here is a selection of Restorator’s most important features.
[version history] [supported file formats]

• View and edit resources
  Browse through your resources and edit them either in Restorator itself, or using applications you can integrate into Restorator’s tool menu.[list of supported resource types]

• WYSIWYG dialog editing
  You can edit dialogs with your mouse on the screen. Move the dialog elements, resize and re-label them with immediate results and full control. Essential feature for translating applications. [screenshot] [tutorial]

• Add multilingual support to your applications
  You can add several languages to a single application. Your application will automatically start with the correct language, i.e. the default Windows language. Multilingual support can be added by just using Restorator. You can not only translate applications, but also add languages! [screenshot][tutorial]

• Release automated modifications – ResPatcher *)
  Using ResPatcher you can create a small executable file that will re-do your changes, enabling you to customize any application and share it with others. You can customize applications like Internet Explorer and AOL Instant Messenger and share the modifications with your friends. [screenshot][tutorial]

• Grab resources in PE files from anywhere on your hard drive *)
  Grab resources on your hard drive. This tool will find resources wherever they hide (for example, look for all cursors on your drive and save a lot of manual work). [screenshot][tutorial]

• Locating elements in resources
  Are you looking for a specific resource in a program? No problem — the resource finder will do it! [screenshot][tutorial]

• Edit and update resource files that are in use
  Restorator can cause files to be replaced at system boot time, allowing you to modify resources within files used by Windows. [screenshot]

• Link resource editing tools
  Define your own tools to edit sounds, images, and other resources. Easily launch your favorite image editor to edit a BMP image.

• Resource View Modes
  View resources in different modes. In the Default Mode you can listen to audio, look at images and find all resources that need translation. In Hexdump Mode you get access to the raw data. In the RC Resource Mode you see the resource entry in standard RC format.

• Adding resources
  Insert resources in .exe or .res files. Added resources are particularly useful for your created .res or .dcr files, or if you want to add custom resources to your own projects. This feature also allows you to add formats/resolutions to icons and cursors. [screenshot]

• Deleting resources
  Does your compiler creates useless resources? Want to strip debug information from the resources? Want to shrink the size of the executable file? Now you can: remove resources with Restorator!

• UPX support
  Open upx-compressed files seamlessly in Restorator: upon loading, the file is automatically uncompressed.

• Command line support
  With the command line parameters, you can execute Restorator conveniently from a batch program, for automated execution. It is also possible to incorporate Restorator or a ResPatch into installation programs (like InstallShield) to automate resource patching during installation. [see the parameter list in the manual]

• Extract all resources
  You can extract all resources of an application. [tutorial]

*) feature not available in trial version

Downloads

Current version: Restorator 2018

• build 1792, June 2018
• for Windows 98 and later
• [What’s New]
• [Restorator features]

Full version: download Restorator 2018:
Update now!

30 day Trial Version

English Version

MD5: 450a913b0207c106cb046e92ac37d017
Download

Limitations of the Trial Version

• Expires after 30 days.
• Adds texts (“Patched with Restorator” etc.) to MENU, DIALOG, and VERSION resources upon saving.
• Does not include ResPatcher or the Grab Resources tool.
• Limited user support.

Additional Features of the Full Version

• receive full user support
• release automated modifications (patches) with ResPatcher.
• extract resources in all files anywhere on your hard drive with Grab Resources.
• no startup reminder
• all latest features and enhancements included.
• turn off marking of modified resources
• unlimited free updates of all future Restorator releases

Purchase

• Price: € 60 (approx. US$ 63) incl. VAT, where it applies
• Order process is handled on our secure server
• After an online order, you will receive license key and download link by email

Add to cart

Updates

Please go to the Update and Upgrade page.

Screenshots

Support

We provide multiple levels of support for Restorator:

Tutorials

The Tutorials (Usage Examples) are examples of typical usage scenarios.
Step-by-step guides with annotated screenshots make it easy to follow them by yourself.

Documentation

The Documentation (Reference Manual) pprovides descriptions of all features and functions of Restorator.

FAQ

The Frequently Asked Questions section provides ansers to the most often encountered problems.

Discussion Forums

In the online discussion forum, users can interchange know-how, tricks and their experiences. This is the recommended way to get help for specific problems.
The Bome team is active in the forums and makes sure that everybody’s request will be satisfied.

Email Support

Still can’t solve your problem? Contact us by email with the contact form!
Email support is reserved for licensed users (i.e. only if you have purchased Restorator).

Testimonials

Here are some original statements that users made about Restorator.

[bome_show_all_testimonials prodid=”restorator” shuffle=0]

Version History

Restorator 2018

Fixes:

• support for icons with embedded PNG images
• Improved toolbar and icon display (thanks to Azza for working on this)
• easier String management: display string resources in just one resource
• limited support for 64-bit exe files (amd64, ia64)
• bugfix: handle 4 color bitmap resources (but cannot display them)
• bugfix: DlgItemTemplateEx has 32-bit ID and not only 16-bit
• bugfix: non-extended menus can have popup flags separated without comma
• bugfix: committing version resource multiple times would corrupt version resource
• bugfix: assigning from command line to a selected resource will not use it, but create a new one based on the filename
• bugfix: on save, cleanly remove an authenticate signature instead of rendering it defunct
• new command line parameter:
  -extract <resource> <file> [extract a resource to file]

• Improved command line parameters, specify as many operations at once.
• added new command line parameter: -extract
• removed explorer context menu (too many problems with wrong associations)
• fix display of 4-bit compressed Bitmap images (build 1791)
• fix version resource editing (build 1792)
• fix file viewer (build 1792)
• remove black bar on top of images (build 1792)
• fix freeze when deleting resource folder (build 1793)
• fix ResPatcher (build 1793)

Restorator 2007

New features:

• Improved command line parameters, specify as many operations at once.
  See the command line parameters in the reference manual for more info.

• support for 64-bit exe files (amd64, ia64)
• easier String management: display string resources in just one resource
• support for Vista-style icons

Bug fixes and new features in Version 2007 Update 2 (July 2007):

• new command line parameters for version resource editing:
  See the reference manual for more info.

• new command line parameter to add/replace manifest from command line with parameter -setManifestFromVersion
• option to show absolute offset (file offset) in hex viewer
• bugfix: access violation when deleting string resource
• bugfix: copy/paste/drag’n’drop of cursor resources caused "corrupt resource"
• bugfix: when running as user with limited rights, the exe association could be accidentally overwritten.
  See the forum thread for more info.

Bug fixes in Version 2007 Update 1 (February 2007):

• bugfix: Find Resources: when searching for a specific file extension, nothing is found
• bugfix: Find Resources: when searching in .rc files, error messages are displayed
• bugfix: in dialog resources, static controls with numeric text will not be parsed correctly
• bugfix: remember setting for using UPX packer
• bugfix: dialog resources without final padding are marked corrupt
• improve transparent display of PNG images
• bugfix: fix display of color depth for PNG images
• bugfix: some VIsta icons are not handled correctly
• bugfix: do not ask for folder if dragging or dropping resources
• bugfix: when adding bitmap resources from the command line, the type may be interpreted wrongly

Bug fixes in Version 2007:

• display icons and images in dialogs
• create default resources for new/added empty items (Version, Menu, Dialog, String)
• version editor: buttons to add a new version key and to delete keys
• allow to drag’n’drop multiple files (not only one) for assigning them
• added option to settings: select codepage for Unicode-to-8bit conversion
• added option to settings: have Restorator window always on top
• added option to settings: save Delphi/C++ Builder forms in old ANSI format
  if Delphi3 or earlier, force temporary setting of compatibility mode

• added option to settings: to ask for folder for Extract/Assign All Resources
• when extracting/assigning resources with an “Open File” dialog, the
  last used folder is remembered

• when importing strings, do not overwrite existing strings in the same block.
• in RES files, new resource items are inserted in alphabetical order
• fixed handling of �x00 characters in strings
• allow dialog RC resources with omitted text in control statements
• fixed RC parsing of empty STRINGTABLE and DIALOG statements
• fixed PE optional header handling with fewer than 16 data directories
• fixed IAE when deleting empty numbered resource
• fixed display of OS/2-type bitmaps
• fixed writing corrupt exe file (dvstreamer2.exe)
• fixed PE section header if rawdata includes padding after the resource section

Restorator 2006

Bug fixes:

• fix italics flag in DialogEx resources in RC mode

New features:

• extended RC file support: open RC files in left resource list.
  See RC Files in the reference manual for more info.

• opening multiple files with one OpenFileDialog

Bug fixes:

• fix MBCS support
• allow icons with > 255 pixels
• allow double quotes in RC files as an escaped quote sign
• some other minor fixes

Restorator 2005

Minor new features in Restorator 2005 Update 1:

• option to not show the splash screen
• added -infile and -outfile parameters to ResPatcher

Bug fixes:

• display bitmaps in .dll/.exe dialogs
• fix persistence of maximized window state
• prevent double SEPARATOR entry in MENUITEM declaration
• remove erronous display of SaveAs dialog in batch mode with -assignall parameter
• always run a batch process with -batchClose in an own instance

New Features and Bug Fixes in Restorator 2005

Main new functions:

• version editor
• new internal text editor:
  • shows line numbers
  • undo/redo
• support for UPX compressed files
• new look
• support for new resource types:
  • PNG images
  • GIF images
  • XML, HTML and Manifest resources
  • Delphi PackageInfo
• new tool to add an XP manifest
• Many new keyboard shortcuts

Minor new features in Restorator 2005:

• set font in resource viewer
• reduce explicit unicode (like #234) in Delphi RCData (option Convert Delphi Unicode string)
• support for .res files in Search In Files
• allow overwriting read-only files
• allow to paste arbitrary files on user-defined resources
• when adding resources, the tree will be opened to show the new resource
• when a delphi resource cannot be saved, the cursor is positioned
  at the error line

• Resource Viewer: added edit menu for copy/paste/etc.
• new look of settings dialog
• new option: allow multiple instances of Restorator
• new option: choose from 3 different internal text editors
• remember position/size of menu and dialog preview window
• updated dialog editor to add XP styles
• new icon and cursor viewer: show all icons/cursors at once
• add link to msdn in rc help texts
• remember cursor position in edit fields
• do not reset resource tree when saving
• save data that is appended to exe files (e.g. for Flash files)
• better support for usage with keyboard (many more keyboard shortcuts)
• back/forward keys/mouse buttons in file browser
• added support for the context menu key
• option to not mark modified resources (the small arrows) (not available in trial version)
• enable editing of the code page
• allow editing of the version resource also in trial version

Bug fixes in Restorator 2005:

• bug fix: problem when removing caption of edit field in dialog editor
• bug fix: non-quoted CLASS names
• bug fix: WAVE and AIFF playback
• bug fix: store width of resource tree
• bug fix: orphaned res viewer when cancelling Force File at Restart when closing Restorator with opened files
• bug fix: infinite “Do you want to Commit changes…” question when collapsing the Resource Tree and pressing Cancel
• bug fix: status bar displays information about last opened resource even after closing file.
• bug fix: Access violation in Res File|Save each resource
• bug fix: correct state of “Fixed System Font” and “Shell Font” in dialog editor
• bug fix: error message when saving exe files with a zero-sized pe section
• bug fix: Access violation on some computers when trial version is over
• bug fix: fixed parsing of corrupt .res files
• bug fix: parsing of rc menu files with an additional attribute for the POP statement
• bug fix: blank res viewer after deleting an item from the res viewer
• bug fix: handle PE sections with uninitialized data correctly
• bug fix: POPUP ID in MENUEX resources does not disappear anymore
• bug fix: tool tips are not shown, even if enabled in the settings
• bug fix: enforce that the name of String resources must be numeric
• bug fix: overwriting w/out backup does not work
• bug fix: ability to grab resources with backslash in name (like msinfo32.dll)
• bug fix: accelerator editing (if ANSI accelerator <32, was not displayed correctly)

Restorator 2007

New Features and Bug Fixes in Restorator 2004

Main new functions:

• new improved user interface
• graphical dialog editor
• add/delete/rename resources
• more compatible with Delphi resources
• creates more compliant files
• reference manual
• batch parameters for Restorator and ResPatchers
• highlighting of searched text

Bug fixes in Restorator 2004:

• cleaner extension type management
• allow editing of dcr files
• saving res or dcr files doesn’t change the name by default
• rename-in-place of items in res/dcr files (F2)
• “save as” is now always allowed for res _and_ dcr files
• text recognition for RCData and html types
• save all as a certain type
• Easy adding of a file to a res file: just drop it on it.
  (file type is recognized automatically). This works the same for assigning now.

• When extracting Delphi forms, icons are now better detected
• When extracting Delphi forms, included files are referenced with relative path
• Property dialog for files: added “Target Platform” info
• icon overlay for newly created resources
• added parameter -assignall and -batchclose
• fixed bug when sorting is handled differently in certain locales
• Fixed editing big RCData resources (Message “Text exceeds memo capacity”)
• fixed GPF when loading thousands of files
• “save only changed resources to res file” now also includes resources
  that have been changed in previous sessions.

• fixed bug when �01 appeared in a string resource
• fixed bug for non-separator empty menu items
• fixed abort of Find In Resources Dialog with “Corrupt Resource” message
  for encrypted/compressed exe files.

• improved internal architecture of ResPatchers
• New mode for saving resource folders: a dialog pops up and the user can
  make detailed decisions how the output file(s) will be

• fixed bug in Dialog rc editing
• changed GUI to a 2-window layout
• Resource Viewer cannot be made a toolwindow anymore
• added “default view mode” button
• file view mode is now one revolving button
• “New->res” file and “New->.dcr” menu and tool button
• changed name to Restorator 2004, version to 3.00
• remove proverbs in splash screen
• moved “Configure Tools” entry as last entry in menu
• type description includes “raw data” if no parsed/understood format
• save width of list columns in resource viewer for exe/folder display
• add GIF image file format to Find dialog
• GIF display of dimensions and color depth
• Property Dialog remembers position
• improved UNICODE searching on Windows NT/2000/XP (non case-sensitive)
• activated case-sensitive searching
• highlight/select the found text in text or hex display
• added “Language…” menu item to change the language of a resource or resource tree
• added FAQ menu item
• possibility to cancel changing to another resource when edits were made in edit (ab) mode
• in edit (ab) mode: F8 does not let the cursor jump to the beginning
• if an error occurs with F8 in edit (ab) mode, the cursor jumps to the error line
• Ctrl-A selects all
• moved bookmark menu in Browser menu
• moved Extract/Assign menus in context menu
• Added “Save” function
• remodeled help menu
• modified meaning of “ab” button: it is independent of the view mode buttons now
• allow overwriting version resource (still disabled in demo version)
• fixed bug: in dialogs, edit text shows “y” as text
• improved compatibility of dialog display. Now all dialogs are displayed.
• fixed problem where the Grab Resources tool would hang
• nicer display of progress in Find Resources and Grab Resources tools
• Dialog Editor