MS-DOS Batch File Compilers - Free software

The following is a list of free .BAT file compilers (MS-DOS Batch). They will convert/compile .BAT files to either .COM ("bat2com") or .EXE files ("bat2exe").

JPSoft Batch Compiler 1.0

Description:
JPSoft Batch Compiler 1.0 will create a Windows executable (.exe) from your batch file. Two different icons may be used for the executable. Files are not compatible with "DOS only", as they need Windows to run. If you wish to use another icon you need to use some kind of resource editor, I can recommend that you use a program such as Executable File Icons Changer (not free though). As Batch Compiler doesn't actually compile anything, but simply embeds the batch file in an exe, the produced EXE should be compatible with most post-Windows 3.1 versions (not including Windows 3.1), but not a pure DOS environment.

The author of Batch Compiler, JPSoft (Denmark), apparently doesn't exist anymore, and only a few download mirrors remain. Available in Danish and English.

Note: Compiled executables are poorly protected against reverse-engineering.

Download (English version)
Download (Danish version)

Update: New way to replace icon of the compiled exe! Read on...

Two updates:

• First of all, I've found out that using the "red installation" icon will produce a false positive virus warning, probably because AntiVirus-programs may recognize the icon as one often used in malicious software. Just don't use the "red installation" icon, and you won't get any virus warnings.
• Secondly, I've found a way to swap the icons of my compiled batch files. I did some research and found out that all batch-files compiled with JPSoft Batch Compiler are compressed with the "ASPack" algorithm, making the resulting executable file (EXE) smaller, and making it more difficult to swap/replace the icon. The workaround is as follows:
  1. Compile your batch file with the JPsoft compiler (you may have to add two blank lines in the beginning of the batch file if unpacking - as described in step 3 - corrupts the unpacked exe).
  2. Go to Exetools.com and download "UnASPack 1.0.9.1". Extract this archive once downloaded (use IZArc or WinZip).
  3. Open UnASPack and select the compiled batch file (i.e. your .EXE file). Click "Unpack".
  4. Now use the free ResHack program to open the uncompressed EXE and replace the icon with an icon of your choice.
  5. Done! If you wish, you could compress the resulting EXE once more using a tool from Exetools.com.

FreeBatchCompiler

Official description:
Compile your Batch file into executables (exe) so no one can change a line or nobody can even see your batch files.
Free Batch Compiler has an integrated editor to develop your bat files and compile it to run into visible or invisible mode so no DOS prompts when run. The resulting exe is 20 ks.

My notes:
This program is really easy to use. You can compile your batch file to run visibly or invisibly (all processes are invisible to the user). The program is not a true compiler though - but a wrapper/self-extractor. On runtime it extracts your original batch file to the same folder, and deletes this file once your EXE is exited. As a result, you're code is not safe from prying eyes. There are two ways to get the source code from a compiled EXE: 1) Launch the exe, and open the temporary batch file in a text editor, or 2) open the EXE in a text editor (like notepad) and scroll to the bottom.

On the upside, though you can't change the icon of the resulting EXE directly, this can be accomplished by using the free ResourceHacker tool by Angus Johnson.

In conclusion, this program provides a nice way to run batch programs from customizable executables (EXE), but if you want your source code to remain private, it is not the optimal choice. Compiled EXEs run in the Windows environment only.

Mirror 1: Download (WinSite)
Mirror 2: Download (Hollmen.dk)

Bat2exec 1.5

Description
This is a true batch file compiler, which compiles your batch files and produces .COM (MS-DOS Program) output. Compiled batch files are faster than big, slow batch files, and are more portable between various windows versions. However, because of its age (1991) it may be incompatible with some newer DOS commands. Furthermore, I don't think that it supports long file names (I may be wrong though...).

Download

BatLite 1.73

From the official description: "BatLite compiles a .BAT file into a .COM file. The .COM file loads and runs quickly, and has other advantages over a normal .BAT file: Repetitive texts are compressed. For big batch files the savings can reach 50% or more." Intended for MS-DOS only. Free for private use only.Other features:

• Repetitive texts are compressed. For big batch files the savings can reach 50% or more.
• BatLite compiles GOTOs into direct jumps. This is quite a bit faster than DOS's method of searching the batch file line by line starting at the beginning.
• The compiled batch file is tamper-proof. It resists casual examination and cannot be changed without the original source.
• The compiled batch file runs entirely from memory. This allows you to create an install batch file which loads from the first of several installation diskettes, then continues to run after the first diskette is removed. Impossible with a normal DOS batch file.

BatLite is compatible (at least) with DOS versions 2.11 through 6.2. Please refer to the documentation, to read about the software's limitations.

Download (FTP)

Appendix I: Commercial .BAT Compilers

Some commercial .BAT compilers do exist. The following compilers aren't free and may show nag screens etc.:

• TurboBat 5.01 by Hyperware (Shareware, with nagscreens)

• Quick Batch File Compiler 2.0.7 by AbyssMedia (Shareware, fully functional but adds nagscreen to output)

 Appendix II: Free GUIs etc.

•  Kissy Software BuildBatchFiles (GUI based on an obsolete version of Douglas Boling's compiler)

By Mikko Olesen