Resource Tuner

<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2>
<p>Resource Tuner enables users to open executable files to browse, extract, add, or modify embedded resources.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> These resources define the <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface/wBlQFWDP">graphical user interface</a> and behavior of Windows applications, including <a href="/facts/Icon_(computing)/habCR8KJ">icons</a>, <a href="/facts/Cursor_(user_interface)/bGhgwPSq">cursors</a>, <a href="/facts/Dialog_box/VgWHgrE2">dialog boxes</a>, <a href="/facts/Menu_bar/g71cauUM">menus</a>, string tables, images, multimedia files, <a href="/facts/Accelerator_table/aFmCXkHy">keyboard shortcuts</a>, <a href="/facts/Manifest_file/h8PEdvVx">manifest files</a>, and version information blocks. Resource Tuner is commonly used as an auxiliary tool in <a href="/facts/Internationalization_and_localization/IGkl9VBM">software localization</a> and <a href="/facts/Static_program_analysis/b56nr6QM">static program analysis</a>, where access to resource files is essential. Editing and addition of resources are facilitated through built-in wizards for each resource type.
</p><p>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.
</p>
<h2 id="features">Features</h2>
<ul><li>Full <a href="/facts/Unicode/DDu3MfPV">Unicode</a> support.</li>
<li>One-click extraction of selected or all resources at once.</li>
<li>Batch replacement of icons in <a href="/facts/ICO_(file_format)/TR0B7fYH">ICO</a> and <a href="/facts/PNG/gj0685PR">PNG</a> formats.</li>
<li>Binary resources not suitable for direct editing can be replaced with external files.</li>
<li>Built-in filters to hide or display specific types of resources (e.g., only icons or image files); users can create custom filters.</li>
<li>Manifest wizard to insert application manifests specifying required privilege levels<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> and setting the scaling of applications when using <a href="/facts/4K_resolution/Ehhhg0rD">high definition</a> monitors.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li>
<li>Support for editing form properties in executables created with <a href="/facts/Delphi_(software)/sUFUXQ8r">Delphi</a> and <a href="/facts/C%252B%252B_Builder/293I0the">C++ Builder</a>.</li>
<li>Undo/redo functionality and backup creation for modified files.</li>
<li>Originally available in English, the software interface has since been expanded to a total of 16 languages.</li></ul>
<h3>Plugins</h3>
<p>Resource Tuner includes <a href="/facts/Plug-in_(computing)/351Du3Wu">plugins</a> for automatic unpacking of <a href="/facts/Executable_compression/rb9HnGG5">compressed</a> executable files. When a file is opened, the software determines whether it has been packed using common executable compression tools such as <a href="/facts/UPX/b2gMptNJ">UPX</a>. 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Command-line Edition</h3>
<p>A separate product, Resource Tuner Console, is available to support automated resource editing tasks.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> It provides a command-line interface and utilizes the <a href="/facts/Windows_Script_Host/xJ0qFfo9">Windows Script Host</a> (WSH) for script execution. <a href="/facts/VBScript/tg6VhSCk">VBScript</a> is the default <a href="/facts/Scripting_language/8pF4ajBL">scripting language</a>, although other WSH-compatible languages may also be used. This version is intended for use in <a href="/facts/Build_automation/gWwxNg5K">build automation</a> or mass resource replacement scenarios.
</p>
<h2 id="licensing">Licensing</h2>
<p>Resource Tuner is distributed as <a href="/facts/Shareware/TAhIvJXt">shareware</a>. A free trial version is available, with licensing required for continued use or access to the full feature set.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Resource_Hacker/A4T0yNK9">Resource Hacker</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Portable_Executable/pJy7AkuY">Portable Executable</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.heaventools.com/resource-tuner.htm">Resource Tuner homepage</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Preston Gralla (29 March 2005). Windows XP Hacks: Tips & Tools for Customizing and Optimizing Your OS. O'Reilly Media. p. 100. ISBN 978-0596009182. <a href="978-0596009182" target="_blank">978-0596009182</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Udai Pratap Rao; Andrea Visconti (2022). Security, Privacy and Data Analytics. Springer Nature. p. 112. ISBN 978-981-16-9088-4. <a href="978-981-16-9088-4" target="_blank">978-981-16-9088-4</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>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. <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/msdn-magazine/2004/february/new-stuff-resources-for-your-developer-toolbox" target="_blank">https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/msdn-magazine/2004/february/new-stuff-resources-for-your-developer-toolbox</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Christopher Duffy; Dave Mound (September 2016). Python Penetration Testing for Developers. Packt Publishing. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-78712-818-7. <a href="978-1-78712-818-7" target="_blank">978-1-78712-818-7</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Russell Smith (July 2010). Least Privilege Security for Windows 7, Vista and XP. Packt Publishing. pp. 200–203. ISBN 978-1-849680-04-2. <a href="978-1-849680-04-2" target="_blank">978-1-849680-04-2</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Daniel Langenhan (October 2016). VMware vRealize Orchestrator Cookbook. Packt Publishing. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-1-78646-278-7. <a href="978-1-78646-278-7" target="_blank">978-1-78646-278-7</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>"Resource Editor — UPX Unpacker unpacks Advanced UPX Scramblers". heaventools.com. Heaventools Software. Archived from the original on 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-05-06. <a href="https://www.heaventools.com/rt-tour-upx-unpacker.htm" target="_blank">https://www.heaventools.com/rt-tour-upx-unpacker.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>"Resource Tuner Console". restuner.com. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-21. <a href="https://www.restuner.com/tour-resource-tuner-console.htm" target="_blank">https://www.restuner.com/tour-resource-tuner-console.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Resource Tuner open-in-new

Resource Tuner