How to extract installers/which archive type is it?

[Lexjuh 0]

I want to extract the *.exe installers of various plugins found on the STEX/LEX to some folder and organize the contents from there. But I cannot determine the archive filetype. Does anyone know which one it is or a program to extract a whole bunch of them at once? Preferably a package name for Linux, but a small portable Windows executable will do too.

Edit: I am talking about the Clickteam "Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)" Installers.....

  Edited September 25, 2012 by Lexjuh  

[Xyloxadoria 1,098]

You dont extract thoose you just double click them to run them and they extract for you.

[Lexjuh 0]

I can affirm that I know how an executable installer works. But that is not what I want to know.

I want to unpack the contents of multiple installers at once to a convenient location. From there I want to sort out the files I want/need and organize them. Because I would not like to suffer from RSI I wish to circumvent clicking a few thousand times "next" and flipping my mouse constantly back and forth between buttons, pop-up windows & readme's. With the end-result that I have an unwieldy blob of non-standardized directories and files. I'd rather do it right from the beginning.

[Wiecher 192]

If you can find a computer with an Apple operating system, you can use file juicer to extract all the exe's at once. Sadly, there is no file juicer for windows or linux.

Also, I never understand why uploaders put an installer in a zip or rar-file... What's the point?

[astronelson 339]

The STEX does not allow the direct uploading of exes. The allowed file types are bmp, dat, hqx, jpeg, jpg, rar, sc4, SC4Desc, SC4Lot, SC4M, and zip.

[Wiecher 192]

But why don't they just put their files in the rar or zip, like most downloads on the stex, and skip the installer completely.

Now it's just a lot of files within files within files, that's very user-unfriendly.

[AcmeSigns 97]

But why don't they just put their files in the rar or zip, like most downloads on the stex, and skip the installer completely.

Now it's just a lot of files within files within files, that's very user-unfriendly.

Installers are probably made, by some, to avoid all of the 'where do I put the files?' questions you see from the newbies who don't bother to read any of the 'Read Me' files.

It's an attempt to make it easier.

Me, I just designate where I want the files installed during the installer run (not necessarily their default destination) so I can comb through them.

And, if you're honestly concerned about RSI (I find that hard to take seriously), break your installing sessions down. There's no real practical reason that anyone just has to install/break down the files as soon as they get them. They'll still be there when you get to them. Less urgency=more pleasure.