How can I edit an exe's resources (File Description, Icon, etc.) using a command line utility?

Question

The whole story: I have created a fancy .NET program which has an installer created by the Visual Studio Installer (VSI). The VSI creates 2 files (setup.exe and MyProgramSetup.msi). I understand the reasons for both files being needed, however, I only want to distribute a SINGLE executable installer to users. I do not want them to see 2 files and have to choose between them.

In order to do this I have merged the 2 files into a self-extracting archive using IExpress (as seen in this answer: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/535966/merge-msi-and-exe). This works well, however, the self-extracting archive that gets created has an ugly icon and confusing file info (the File Description is "Win32 Cabinet Self-Extractor" with 43 blank spaces after it).

I need to replace the icon with my custom one and change some of the file properties like "Description", "Company", etc. I would like to have this automatically done as a build step so having a program which is a command line/console utility would be great.

I've searched for a while now and can only find one program which does exactly what I want (ResourceTuner Console: http://www.heaventools.com/command-line_resource_editor.htm) but it costs an arm and a leg and my budget is $0.

Does anyone know a better way to achieve what I want, or know of a program which can replace an executable's resources without having to use a GUI?

By the way, I have also tried "SiComponents' Resource Builder 3" which can't even open the executable, and "Julien Audo's ResEdit" which just crashes when I execute the command:

resedit.exe -convert "Modified Resources.rc" "MyProgramSetup.exe"

Answer 1

Visual Studio can edit them if you open the executable file. I'm not sure if there's a way to do it from the command line, though.

There is a decent CodeProject article that deals with icons (including saving them into exe files).

Company name, description, etc., are part of the Version resource. Another CodeProject article covers updating the Version resource, though I haven't looked at that one in depth.

Answer 2

Have you looked at 'reshacker' AKA 'resource hacker'? It's mainly promoted as a gui tool, but the help file says all its features can be accessed using command line scripting. I've used its gui form to change icons inside exe's, and it will let you at the other embedded resources too. Just google for 'resource hacker', current version looks to be 3.4.0