Upcoming Ahk2Exe Changes (2024)

[TAC109]

Installation

This new Ahk2Exe 1.1.37.02a0 version includes bug fixes to the version included with AutoHotkey v1.1.37.02 (see 'Updates' below).

If updating from a version earlier than v1.1.34.04b please check the important bug fix for v1.1.34.04b (see 'Updates' below).

If you have Ahk2Exe version 1.1.34.03c or later installed, run Ahk2Exe and go to 'Help' -> 'Check for Updates'. You can update directly from there.

Otherwise, download from this location. Next, unblock the downloaded .zip file by right-clicking it, selecting 'Properties', and ticking or pressing 'Unblock' (near the bottom). 'OK' out. Install by copying the Ahk2Exe.exe file from the downloaded zip to the Compiler sub-directory under where AutoHotkey has been installed (Usually C:\Program Files\AutoHotkey\Compiler\).

Note that the download may be flagged as containing a virus, but rest assured that it does not. Users can help with this by notifying their anti-virus provider that this Ahk2Exe download is being flagged as a false positive. See this post for details of how to do this for a number of popular anti-virus providers. Thanks.

Note that updates to BinMod are also reported here. BinMod is used to implement part of the ScriptGuard package, which can be used to protect compiled scripts from decompilation.

Bugs

Please report any problems to this thread. (Also report successful use as well!)

Updates:-


1.1.37.02a0, 17 May 2024

• Get Mpress more reliably in the Updater.
• Fix addition of new base file in the GUI.

1.1.37.01c1, 16 March 2024

• Send parameter errors to stdout/stderr if in /Silent mode.
• Prevent compression when compiling Ahk2Exe.

1.1.37.01c0, 12 February 2024

• Rationalise detection of major AHK version.
• Enhance for MS Store version.

1.1.37.01c, 30 September 2023

• Fix Base compiler directive not fully expanding built-in variables.
• Fix "Save script as' for v1 & v2.
• Add diagnostics to 'Syntax check' error message.

1.1.37.01b, 21 August 2023

• Fix: compile of new .exe failed in 1.1.37.01a.

1.1.37.01a, 20 August 2023

• Avoid copying compiled .exe permissions from temp.
• Fix 'Save script as' when Base compiler directive selected.
• Local help now shows v2 if Base compiler directive selected.

1.1.37.00a, 05 July 2023

• Ahk2Exe: Add sub-version check for base file *.exe allowed. (Compile v2.1 scripts correctly.)
  Edit: Fixed download link.

1.1.36.02f2, 05 June 2023

• Ahk2Exe: (No changes).
• BinMod: Fix error message.

1.1.36.02f1, 31 May 2023

• Ahk2Exe: (No changes).
• BinMod: Add new parameter /ScriptGuard2pss ('Permit /script switch').

1.1.36.02f, 30 April 2023

• Ahk2Exe: Allows 64-bit interpreter use on 64-bit Windows.

1.1.36.02e3, 02 Apr 2023

• (Ahk2Exe: no changes.)
• BinMod: Align mcode for faster processing.

1.1.36.02e2, 29 Mar 2023

• (Ahk2Exe: no changes.)
• BinMod: File handling is now fully Unicode compatible.

1.1.36.02e1, 14 Feb 2023

• (Ahk2Exe: no changes.)
• BinMod: Ensure ScriptGuard2 handles big .exe's.

1.1.36.02e, 12 Feb 2023

• Ahk2Exe: Avoid compressing BinMod.
• BinMod: Use default icon.
• BinMod: Save and restore optional registers.

1.1.36.02d, 30 Jan 2023

• Ahk2Exe has not changed since Ahk2Exe v1.1.36.02c.
• BinMod has been updated.

1.1.36.02c, 23 Dec 2022

• Fix @Ahk2Exe-Keep, broken by last commit.

1.1.36.02b, 22 Dec 2022

• Only skip */ if within a block comment.
• Accept FileInstall names containing commas.
• Show warning if compression fails.

1.1.36.02a, 09 Dec 2022

• PostExec: added 'Program not found' error message.

1.1.36.01, 04 Dec 2022

• Remove default CompanyName from generated .exe.

1.1.34.04c, 30 Oct 2022

• Fixed quoted #Include for v2.

1.1.34.04b, 17 Oct 2022

• Fixed the Ahk2Exe updater ('Check for Updates' menu option) assigning incorrect permissions to updated programs.
  To fix any existing incorrect permissions:
  • It is first necessary to use the Ahk2Exe updater to update Ahk2Exe to version 1.1.34.04b or later.
  • Then use the Ahk2Exe updater to re-update Ahk2Exe, plus any other programs in the list which have been updated or installed by a version of the updater earlier than 1.1.34.04b.
  • (Apologies for the inconvenience.)
• Ahk2Exe updater help button now opens this Ahk2Exe forum post to allow browsing of updates, etc.
• Changed how sub-version is set for local compiles of Ahk2Exe.
• Improved comma handling in the 'Debug' directive.
• A directive reference to 'A_PriorLine' just after '#Include' now sees the last line of the included file.
• The 'Cont' directive can now be 'Nop'ed.
• Added the directive variable 'A_BasePath'.
• Included a higher resolution logo.

(Older fixes)

1.1.34.04a, 08 Sep 2022

• Fix AHK Std lib when compiling 32-bit.

1.1.34.04, 24 Aug 2022

• Add 'File' menu item 'Refresh Windows Icons'.
• AddResource scripts must have extension = .ahk.

1.1.34.03g, 10 Aug 2022

• Eliminates occasional Ahk2Exe zombie processes.

1.1.34.03f, 08 Aug 2022

• Allow '\base AutoHotkey.exe' parameter.
• Improve the method for showing local help.

1.1.34.03e, 05 Aug 2022

• Remove temp\update directory correctly.
• Integrate Update with V2 UX.
• Handle update failure correctly.

(There was no official 1.1.34.03d.)

1.1.34.03c, 30 July 2022

• Help is now 'local' or 'online'
• Implement 'Check for Updates' (on 'Help' menu)

1.1.34.03b, 05 July 2022

• Skip duplicate Base files by default.

1.1.34.03a, 04 July 2022

• AutoHotkey Version Info is removed from compiled .exe.
• Apparently invalid Base files may optionally be used.

1.1.34.00a, 06 May 2022

• Allows Source, Destination, and Icon fields to be scrolled and copied.
• 'Save' button also preserves window width.
• Remembers Icon directory for later use.

1.1.34.00_Beta_9c, 02 May 2022

• Excludes _UIA.exe files from the Base file list.
• Help file is removed from download, as updates are now in v1.1.33.11+.

1.1.34.00_Beta_9b, 09 February 2022

• Ensure work files are deleted in all environments.
• Format status line for FileInstall correctly.

1.1.34.00_Beta_9a, 08 February 2022

• Fixed bug with FileInstall of ahk script.

1.1.34.00_Beta_9, 14 December 2021

• Shows early status events in GUI.
• Shows that the '(default)' base file is a .bin in GUI.

1.1.34.00_Beta_8, 10 October 2021

• Fixes GUI Base defaults handling.
• Fixes /gui /in can get blank entry in Base files list.

1.1.34.00_Beta_7, 30 September 2021

• Naked Bin file should be relative to Compiler folder.

1.1.34.00_Beta_6, 29 September 2021

• Fixed dropped destination on GUI not recognised.
• Fixed format of completion message.

1.1.34.00_Beta_5, 17 September 2021

• Include Ahk2Exe in 'Base file' list if relevant.

1.1.34.00_Beta_4, 12 September 2021

• Fixes bug in AddResource introduced in Beta_3

1.1.34.00_Beta_3, 11 September 2021

• Fixes 'FileInstall' when a path is specified.

1.1.34.00_Beta_2, 09 September 2021

• Make start-up search for qualifying .bin's & .exe's more efficient.
• Improve CLI error checking and error messages.

1.1.33.10, 29 August 2021

• Added optional '/Silent' parameter to redirect all CLI error messages to stderr or stdout.
• Added optional '/ResourceID' parameter and ';@Ahk2Exe-ResourceID' compiler directive.
• Added optional 'Embedded Resource ID' field to the Gui (see 'Embedded Scripts' in the help for more information).
• Added ability to include additional scripts as separate resources in the generated .exe using the ';@Ahk2Exe-AddResource' compiler directive.

1.1.34.00_Beta_1, 26 July 2021

• Add preliminary support for using AutoHotkey executables as Base files.
• AutoHotkey version used (as a utility) is selected to match the Base file version used.
• Changed handling of defaults; priority now is:-
  1. CLI/GUI
  2. Compiler Directives
  3. Saved Defaults

1.1.33.09_Beta_1, 1 May 2021

• Gui - Last .bin file used is now remembered.
• Gui - Default .bin in drop-down now shows type.

1.1.33.03_Beta_2, 26 January 2021 -

• Clarifies an anti-virus warning message.
• Fixes a possible spurious '#Warn Unreachable' message.

1.1.33.03_Beta_1, 6 September 2020 -

• Adds parameters to the PostExec directive.
• Stops Auto-Includes being executed directly by fall-through.
• Uses installation 'Default to UTF-8' setting.
• Allows multiple Bin directive Codepage parameters.
• Sets default V2 script encoding to UTF-8.
• Stops confusing error message when /exe path has '/' instead of '\'.
• Warning messages now include 'Press OK to continue, Cancel to abandon' advice.
• Uses correct AutoHotkey*.exe for V2 compiles.

Beta_9f 25 June 2020 -

• Fixed starting directory for #Include.
• Implemented a more robust Unicode detection method.

Beta_9e 23 June 2020 -

• Changed parameter /inGui to be two parameters; /gui /in.
• Changed the included regedit file to reflect this.
• Fixed an error when creating the default AutoHotkeySC.bin file for v2.0.

Beta_9d 16 June 2020 -

• Fixed 2 problems when compiling itself.
• Fixed possible problem when running multiple compiles in parallel.

Beta_9c 10 June 2020 -

• Fixed /inGui parameter so that the Gui is not closed after a compile error.
• Updated help to use the AutoHotkey 'house style' (thanks Ragnar_F).

Beta_9b 30 May 2020 -

• Fixed 'busy cursor' not shown while .exe being moved to final destination.
• Add option to show GUI from context menu - see updated documentation.
• (Use the included .reg file to create a 'Compile Script (GUI)' context menu shortcut - requires admin privilege to setup.)

Beta_9a 01 May 2020 -

• Allows retrying from the error "Error opening the destination file" - This can be caused by automatic anti-virus checking.
• Remembers previous script and icon folders in repeated GUI use.

Updated help file 30 January 2020 -

• The Compiler Directives information has been merged into the latest AutoHotkey version 1.1.32.00 help.

Beta_9, 20 November 2019 -

• UpdateManifest directive now supports 'highestAvailable' execution level, and setting UIAccess=true.
• Shows warning message if MPRESS/UPX requested but not found when compiling.

Beta_8, 8 November 2019 -

• GUI is now resizable.
• Changed GUI 'Compress' to DDL.
• Fixed GUI 'Default destination'.
• Improved CLI parameter error messages.
• Implemented PostExec directive 'when' parameter.
• Added 'BinMod.ahk', a simple fast binary editor which can be called by 'PostExec'.
• Compiler Directives documentation is now in draft AutoHotkey.chm help file (included).

Beta_7, 8 October 2019 -

• A leading 'U_' (without quotes) is now accepted in the 'name' parameter of 'Let' and 'Obey' directives.

Beta_6, 29 September 2019 -

• Implement the CLI /ahk parameter to specify the path\name of AutoHotkey.exe if non-standard.
  (Used during the compilation process.)
• Fixed bug when the path to AutoHotkey.exe contains spaces.
• Fixed to allow concurrent compiles to work better.

Beta_5, 31 August 2019 -

• Added optional 'Exe_path\Name', and 'Codepage' parameters to 'Bin' directive.
• Added 'Cont' directive (for continuation lines to any directive).
• Added optional 'Extra' parameter to the 'Obey' directive.
• Changed 'UpdateManifest' directive to always require the first parameter.
• Allow drag 'n drop of a non-standard *.bin file to the GUI.
• Warn if UPX/MPRESS.exe are missing when cycling the 'Compress exe with' checkbox on the GUI.

See the updated documentation in the .zip for more information.


Beta_4, 22 August 2019 -

• Changed 'Obey' internals to use work files.
• 'Obey'ing an invalid command will now show an error message.
• Added 'SetFileVersion', 'SetInternalName', 'SetProductName', and 'SetProductVersion' directives.

See the updated documentation in the .zip for more information.


Beta_3, 20 August 2019 -

• Fix 'Set FileVersion' and 'Set ProductVersion'.
• Implement 'Save Script Settings as' on File menu.
• Implement new directives 'Bin', 'ExeName' and 'Obey'.
• Handle unloading and reloading for the generated .exe.

See the updated documentation in the .zip for more information.


Beta_2, 10 August 2019 -

• The command line parameter /mpress has been changed to /compress. (/mpress is still accepted, though.)
• Directive parameters can reference the various 'A_' built-in variables as listed under the #Include directive.
• In addition the new 'A_WorkFileName' variable contains the temporary name of the processed .exe file.
• The new 'A_PriorLine' variable contains the source code line immediately preceding the current compiler directive.
• The value returned from variables can be manipulated using regex code.
• The new 'Let' directive enables the creation of special 'U_<name>' variables.
• Other new directives are 'SetLanguage', 'Set', 'UpdateManifest', and 'Debug'.

See the updated documentation in the .zip for more information.
Also included in the .zip are 2 demonstration script groups which show how the directives can be used.


Beta_1, 08 June 2019-

• Added 'LegalTrademarks' property.
• Added UPX .exe compression option.
• Cleanup a temp file left behind.

[joedf]

Great work!
I think I'll add a directive for Compression (MPress and maybe UPX) which will do nothing if they are unavailable.
Also, perhaps we can put this under ahkscript/ or autohotkey/

[elModo7]

I had one for this purpose but this seems like an upgrade to that one.
Thanks for posting!

[Delta Pythagorean]

Oh! I've been waiting for this kind of thing for a while now!
So, does this require the script to be compiled via command line? Or can the executables work through the compiler nonetheless?

[JoeWinograd]

Hi TAC109,

I just tested it with these directives:

;@Ahk2Exe-SetName
;@Ahk2Exe-SetDescription
;@Ahk2Exe-SetVersion
;@Ahk2Exe-SetOrigFilename
;@Ahk2Exe-SetCompanyName
;@Ahk2Exe-SetCopyright

Worked perfectly...great job! Thanks for your efforts on this...much appreciated! Regards, Joe

[JoeWinograd]

Hi Delta,

> So, does this require the script to be compiled via command line? Or can the executables work through the compiler nonetheless?

Works fine through the GUI compiler as long as you've copied the new Ahk2Exe.exe file to the Compiler subfolder (which is C:\Program Files\AutoHotkey\Compiler for a standard install). Regards, Joe

[JoeWinograd]

Hi joedf,

> a directive for Compression (MPress and maybe UPX) which will do nothing if they are unavailable

Nice idea! Another possibility on the same front is to change the Use MPRESS check-box to three radio buttons: Use MPRESS, Use UPX, Do not compress. That way, both compressors can be in the Compiler folder and it is a single mouse click to set which way to go on any particular compile. Or maybe a Compress drop-down (like the Base File one) with the three choices. Regards, Joe

[JoeWinograd]

Hi TAC109,
There's one other field in Properties that I set in my NSIS installers that would be a nice addition to your compiler Directives: LegalTrademarks. Thanks, Joe

[robodesign]

Very nice work!

I hope to see UPX added as well. I like it.

[TAC109]

Hi TAC109,
There's one other field in Properties that I set in my NSIS installers that would be a nice addition to your compiler Directives: LegalTrademarks. Thanks, Joe

I’ll look at adding this over the next few days.

Also the Mpress/Upx options on the Gui.

Cheers

[guest3456]

so the new changes are in the 'edge' branch?

[TAC109]

Yes, under TAC109 on GitHub. My plan is to test it here and add some small enhancements I have in mind before merging into Master in the near future.

[joedf]

Good ideas... I'll let TAC109 do his thing, i'll fork it later, possibly under ahkscript or authotkey and add some of those features.

[TAC109]

@joedf Cheers!

[tmplinshi]

Thanks!

[Randy31416]

The compiler leaves behind a scratch file in the user temp directory. The file name is of the form "~temp82727923.tmp" with the number changing on each compile. This scratch file is actually the compiled program -- it is identical to the compiled program created in the directory with the source. Since I make many many errors, and therefore recompile and recompile and recompile, thereby creating many many many versions of these temp files in the temp directory, it would be nice if the compiler cleaned it up before closing. (There would then be less evidence of my errors.)

[TAC109]

@Randy31416 Thanks for your report. I’ll fix this in the next beta version.

[joedf]

Sorry, my bad...
I made that commit a long time ago...
https://github.com/TAC109/Ahk2Exe/commit/50946cf75e1e0f98aa49be96d76bb090ab82df5c
simple fix: https://github.com/TAC109/Ahk2Exe/pull/2/commits/1e7dbf799c7286cd9942a257eb6fe0be3aec416a

EDIT:
@@TAC109 I made a pull request!

[TAC109]

Update 08 June 2019-

• Added 'LegalTrademarks' property.
• Added UPX .exe compression option.
• Cleanup a temp file left behind.

[TAC109]

@joedf No worries, Joe.