Resource Spy

[Panda X]

If you don't know about this program already let me explain it to you.

What is it?
Right now, this is a tool to analyze and replace system resources you would normally replace using ResHacker, without actually modifying the files on disk.



On the left side there is a tree view which shows what files are loaded and the resource types that load them. You can view what loaded simply by selecting the file name. You can view a specific type by opening the tree and selecting what resource types have been loaded.

On the top right you have the resources that were loaded at what time, what dll, what type, and its replacement location.

On the bottom right you have a resource preview. Note that not all resources will display so if an image or something isn't shown, that doesn't mean it didn't load or the image is blank.

The clear button clears the resources (though leaving the files / types in the tree view still visible)


How to use:
In your C:\ drive create a folder called "replace". In that folder create a folder for each file you want to replace resources with. For example C:\replace\shell32.dll.



In C:\replace\shell32.dll create a new folder whose name reflects the resource type. Example: C:\replace\shell32.dll\UIFILE



In that folder goes the replacement files. These replacement files have to be named as they are in the dll itself with the extension .bin.




Notes:

UIFiles: UIFiles work as stated. Just rename as .bin

Images and other non-textual data:

This gets tricky. So follow carefully.

Grab a copy of Resource Hacker

Open a random dll file and save it to the desktop. We're going to use this as a dummy dll.

For this example we're going to use BaseBrd.dll and change an image.

After your dummy dll is saved you can now import images.



Right click on 1033 (if you have a non-English version of windows this number might be different) and select Replace Resource.



Click "Open file with new bitmap."

Browse for your file and select it.



Now click the replace button.

Once that's done save the dummy dll.

Now in the menu bar click Action and click Save Resource as binary file.



Save the file as its resource name with the extension .bin



Huzzah. Start resource spy and now you can use that image.

Alternatively you can watch the tutorial video here: http://www.screencast.com/users/ThePandaX/folders/Default/media/cc2e133f-fa0b-4151-9e53-f0eee1a2c08a

Double Note: I haven't been able to get Explorer and ExplorerFrame's bitmaps to replace properly I'm testing to see if there's a special way to make them load properly. Currently the just remove the image all together (making the button about 1x1px)

Credits go to Ave

Enjoy.

[Dave Senior]

Thanks very much for this

[Panda X]

Added a tutorial video per request. Though I'm sorry there's a black line in the middle of it.

[chiwou]

in the video I think I saw why you can't change the explorer etc.

the resource spy app has to run before the modified application, but the explorer is always one of the first apps
maybe if you could run resource spy as a service, you could modify the explorer.exe too...

ciao
-Chris

[Panda X]

in the video I think I saw why you can't change the explorer etc.

the resource spy app has to run before the modified application, but the explorer is always one of the first apps
maybe if you could run resource spy as a service, you could modify the explorer.exe too...

ciao
-Chris

It used to work though. For example each time you open an explorer window it would load the new resources. However with the EFrame it removes the previous image yet doesn't show the new one. I'll test every way possible again, maybe I missed something.

[bhast2]

awesome something for me to mess with now

[chiwou]

Okay I tested it and its great, explorer.exe works too, but only if you kill it, start resource spy and start explorer.exe again

great tool, now it needs an option to run as a service and starts automatically before login


//edit
or is there a command line option to start the app, then I could make a service myself


//edit2
and maybe disable the logging, after a few hours the app almost eats up over 200mib of Ram, when I click "clear" its back to 6mib

[Elmer BeFuddled]

Mmmmm! 

Nice. 

[3am]

Read 234 times.

Downloaded 12 times.

 

[Panda X]

Read 234 times.

Downloaded 12 times.

 

Read x times isn't a unique number.

[3am]

Read x times isn't a unique number.

You are missing the point.

I mean the sad difference between numbers of views and downloads.

[Panda X]

You are missing the point.

I mean the sad difference between numbers of views and downloads.

It's not like people are going to download it every time they come to the tread.

[3am]

I was saying that I was disappointed that only 12 people downloaded Resource Spy.

Am I wrong?

[Panda X]

I was saying that I was disappointed that only 12 people downloaded Resource Spy.

Am I wrong?

Then what were you implying with the Read x times?

[3am]

Then what were you implying with the Read x times?

I meant that out of over 200 people who read about Resource Spy only 12 of them bothered to even download it and that I thought that was pretty disappointing. Do you get it now?

[Panda X]

I meant that out of over 200 people who read about Resource Spy only 12 of them bothered to even download it and that I thought that was pretty disappointing. Do you get it now?

I doubt 200 people saw this thread. If I hit F5 for about an hour it'll say Read 1000 times.

[3am]

Then what the fuck does this mean?:        Topic: Resource Spy  (Read 248 times)

[Panda X]

Then what the fuck does this mean?:        Topic: Resource Spy  (Read 248 times)

That it's been read 248 times. Not that 248 people have read it. You've noticed that it's gone up 234 to 249 since this started. That doesn't mean that 15 people have read it.

[3am]

That it's been read 248 times. Not that 248 people have read it. You've noticed that it's gone up 234 to 249 since this started. That doesn't mean that 15 people have read it.

I always thought that number was how many people actually viewed and read the thread.

Still 12 downloads is kinda disappointing.

[bhast2]

Well it is not very disappointing in my mind cause not alot of people even mess dll files they just do msstyle files
they don't mess with uifile or anything of that matter so there really is no reason for them to use resource spy cause it really wouldn't do anything for them

[Panda X]

Well it is not very disappointing in my mind cause not alot of people even mess dll files they just do msstyle files
they don't mess with uifile or anything of that matter so there really is no reason for them to use resource spy cause it really wouldn't do anything for them

You can use it to replace icons, images, and what have you. Just not EFrame images.

[AndreasV]

It's an experimental tool for the hardcore modders Basically, everyone replying in this thread.

[bhast2]

You can use it to replace icons, images, and what have you. Just not EFrame images.

Yes I understand that too that is what I meant by the "anything"
I should have made it more clear but I don't see alot of people in deviantart replacing images in dll files they are using windows default

One themer told me that he does not mess with dll files just cause Microsoft updates dll files and than they would have to update those dll files as they are released
So say they release their VS and than SP1 comes out they would have to update their dll files so they are updated for SP1
Some find it a pain to do that

But I use this app every day just to test stuff out and try to make different things happen in a UIFILE

[bhast2]

doesn't this work on x86?
I keep getting
"The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running.  Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program. and then contact the software publisher."


soo???

[Panda X]

doesn't this work on x86?
I keep getting
"The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running.  Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program. and then contact the software publisher."


soo???

64 only.

[Mr GRiM]

I have used this tool a bit and it's really great for testing new mods but is there going to be any more development with it, it would be great if we could have this running as a service at startup so we could package it with custom themes and avoid having to change system files. Even better would be if it could run the modified files from the theme folder, so anywhere the current msstyles was being used is where the modded system files would be run from, that way if you select another theme it will change to the system files for that theme.

This would make installing and using themes an awesome leap forward I think, the only thing I am not sure of is the amount of memory it would require to have it for a large amount of modified system files.

[bhast2]

there is a way to run it in memory but I forget how to do it.
Panda-x showed me how
but that was long ago

[idas]

thanks Ave .
thanks Panda.

if it could work to x86  (32bit) systems that would be also great.

congratulations.
-------------------------

[Bongo]

Thank You Ave and Panda X just started using this
it is quite awesome makes things a little easier to get done
Jerry

[Bongo]

Made this program be passed on to others that do not belong to this forum?
Thank you
Jerry

[chiwou]

is there any progress on this tool? the memory leak (think it has something to do with the logging) has to be fixed and a few options for run as service etc. would be nice

[Panda X]

is there any progress on this tool? the memory leak (think it has something to do with the logging) has to be fixed and a few options for run as service etc. would be nice

I recently tried recompiling it with Visual Studio 11 and ended up breaking it, I'll see if I can fix it and update it.

[chiwou]

thx sounds promising

[PlumyRabbit]

Boarf, it doesn't works on Windows 8 Beta o_o

[Panda X]

Yeah in 8 it only loads ICON and BITMAP. It'll have to be updated.

[Mr GRiM]

Would love to have this working, I seem to be having lots of problems replacing anything in Windows 8 without it breaking something, sick of doing repairs and system restores, this tool just makes it simple to test changes.

We need Ave to come and make us some fresh tools for Windows 8, seems that Ave's Apps died with Vista, I know that Theme Resource changer was created by Ave as well looking in the dll file it mentions Aves Start Button Changer even though I have not been able to find it anywhere on the net.

Maybe we all need to get together and and start a donation pool to get him started on some new apps or maybe make some of his apps open source so we can get some fresh developers to take interest.

Anyway I appreciate all the work you have been doing Panda, I don't know what we would do without you and the other staff keeping things going.

[Panda X]

Resource Spy is Ave's Start Button Changer, it's just been updated to replace more than the start button.

[Robin]

thanks for the great work you guys do 

[chiwou]

there is a way to run it in memory but I forget how to do it.
Panda-x showed me how
but that was long ago

I hate to ask/request again, but if there is a command line to start the tool after launch/disable logging, it would be incredible useful

take care and Happy New Year
-Chris