Resource Tuner
 Resource Tuner screenshot | |
| Developer(s) | Heaventools Software |
|---|---|
| Initial release | November 15, 2001 |
| Stable release | 2.25
/ March 21, 2025 |
| Written in | Delphi |
| Operating system | Windows (XP and later) |
| Size | 11 MB (after installation) |
| Available in | 16 languages[1] |
List of languages Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish | |
| Type | Resource editor |
| License | Shareware |
| Website | www |
Resource Tuner is a shareware application developed by Heaventools Software for viewing and editing resources in executable files of the PE (Portable Executable) format, such as .exe and .dll, which are used in 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems.[2][3]
Overview
[edit]Resource Tuner enables users to open executable files to browse, extract, add, or modify embedded resources.[4][5] These resources define the graphical user interface and behavior of Windows applications, including icons, cursors, dialog boxes, menus, string tables, images, multimedia files, keyboard shortcuts, manifest files, and version information blocks. Resource Tuner is commonly used as an auxiliary tool in software localization and static program analysis, where access to resource files is essential. Editing and addition of resources are facilitated through built-in wizards for each resource type.
When operating in search mode, the application scans the resource sections of executable files within specified directories and extracts resources based on search criteria configured by the user.
Features
[edit]- Full Unicode support.
- One-click extraction of selected or all resources at once.
- Batch replacement of icons in ICO and PNG formats.
- Binary resources not suitable for direct editing can be replaced with external files.
- Built-in filters to hide or display specific types of resources (e.g., only icons or image files); users can create custom filters.
- Manifest wizard to insert application manifests specifying required privilege levels[6] and setting the scaling of applications when using high definition monitors.[7]
- Support for editing form properties in executables created with Delphi and C++ Builder.
- Undo/redo functionality and backup creation for modified files.
- Originally available in English, the software interface has since been expanded to a total of 16 languages.
Plugins
[edit]Resource Tuner includes plugins for automatic unpacking of compressed executable files. When a file is opened, the software determines whether it has been packed using common executable compression tools such as UPX. If so, the file is automatically unpacked for resource editing. Repacking operations are not supported. An API is provided for users to develop custom plugins.[8]
Command-line Edition
[edit]A separate product, Resource Tuner Console, is available to support automated resource editing tasks.[9] It provides a command-line interface and utilizes the Windows Script Host (WSH) for script execution. VBScript is the default scripting language, although other WSH-compatible languages may also be used. This version is intended for use in build automation or mass resource replacement scenarios.
Licensing
[edit]Resource Tuner is distributed as shareware. A free trial version is available, with licensing required for continued use or access to the full feature set.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Resource Tuner download page". heaventools.com. Heaventools Software. Archived from the original on 2025-04-15. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
- ^ Preston Gralla (29 March 2005). Windows XP Hacks: Tips & Tools for Customizing and Optimizing Your OS. O'Reilly Media. p. 100. ISBN 978-0596009182.
- ^ Udai Pratap Rao; Andrea Visconti (2022). Security, Privacy and Data Analytics. Springer Nature. p. 112. ISBN 978-981-16-9088-4.
- ^ Carey, Theresa W. "New Stuff: Resources for Your Developer Toolbox". learn.microsoft.com. MSDN Magazine. Archived from the original on 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
- ^ Christopher Duffy; Dave Mound (September 2016). Python Penetration Testing for Developers. Packt Publishing. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-78712-818-7.
- ^ Russell Smith (July 2010). Least Privilege Security for Windows 7, Vista and XP. Packt Publishing. pp. 200–203. ISBN 978-1-849680-04-2.
- ^ Daniel Langenhan (October 2016). VMware vRealize Orchestrator Cookbook. Packt Publishing. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-1-78646-278-7.
- ^ "Resource Editor — UPX Unpacker unpacks Advanced UPX Scramblers". heaventools.com. Heaventools Software. Archived from the original on 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
- ^ "Resource Tuner Console". restuner.com. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-21.