One needs to create a DIAMOND DIRECTIVE FILE (*.DDF) which is used as a configuration file by makecab.exe to set the runtime environment as defined in the .ddf file.
Example:
Source Folder contents to be compress:
PS C:> Get-ChildItem C:TempSkype -Recurse | Where {!$_.PsIsContainer} | Select-Object -Property FullName
FullName
——–
C:TempSkypeAppsloginindex.html
C:TempSkypeAppslogincsslogin.css
C:TempSkypeAppslogincssplatformmac.css
C:TempSkypeAppslogincssplatformwin.css
C:TempSkypeAppslogincssretinalogin.css
C:TempSkypeAppsloginimagesbackground.png
C:TempSkypeAppsloginjslogin.js
C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguagesar.js
C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguagesvi.js
C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguageszh-hans.js
C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguageszh-hant.js
C:TempSkype{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msiPS C:>
DDF file:
If you do NOT specify the MaxDiskSize it’s uses 1.4M and creates multiple .cab files of 1.4MB till all the files in the source folder are converted into .cab files.
You can specify CabinetNameTemplate with value to be used as .cab file names instead of default numeric names for .cab files.
;*** MakeCAB Directive file
;.Set FailOnMissingSource=On
.Set MaxErrors=1
.Set UniqueFiles=Off
.Set CompressionType=LZX
.Set CompressionMemory=21
.Set DiskDirectoryTemplate=.
.Set MaxDiskSize=2147483136 ; File Size of
.Set CabinetNameTemplate=Compressed-Skype.cab ; Name for the compressed outfile file
.Set Cabinet=On
.Set Compress=On
.Set SourceDir="C:TempSkype";** The list of files are stored, compressed, in cabinet files
"Appslogincsslogin.css" "Appslogincsslogin.css"
"Appslogincssplatformmac.css" "Appslogincssplatformmac.css"
"Appslogincssplatformwin.css" "Appslogincssplatformwin.css"
"Appslogincssretinalogin.css" "Appslogincssretinalogin.css"
"Appsloginimagesbackground.png" "Appsloginimagesbackground.png"
"Appsloginindex.html" "Appsloginindex.html"
"Appsloginjslogin.js" "Appsloginjslogin.js"
"Appsloginlanguagesar.js" "Appsloginlanguagesar.js"
"Appsloginlanguagesvi.js" "Appsloginlanguagesvi.js"
"Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js" "Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js"
"Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js" "Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js"
"{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi" "{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi";… ; Many more files
;*** <the end> ; That’s it
Compressing and Creating the .Cab file using the makecab command:
C:Temp>makecab /f C:TempCompress-Skype.ddf
Cabinet Maker – Lossless Data Compression Tool20,868,956 bytes in 12 files
Total files: 12
Bytes before: 20,868,956
Bytes after: 19,365,480
After/Before: 92.80% compression
Time: 23.79 seconds ( 0 hr 0 min 23.79 sec)
Throughput: 856.51 Kb/secondC:Temp>dir Compressed-Skype.cab
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 6E64-B572Directory of C:Temp
30-10-2013 03:48 PM 19,371,178 Compressed-Skype.cab
1 File(s) 19,371,178 bytes
0 Dir(s) 193,638,236,160 bytes freeC:Temp>
You can use a detailed logging by specifying /V3 option to MakeCab file as shown below:
C:Temp>makecab /f C:TempCompress-Skype.ddf /V3 > Compressed-Skype-Makecab-verbose-Output.txt
C:Temp>
Notes:
- It is important to filter out folders from the collection because MakeCab.exe is not able to compress folders.
- By Default makecab creates multiple .cab files as the .cab file size exceeds 1.4 kb
Resources:
Microsoft MakeCAB User’s Guide
You can use the tool called CABPACK.
Getting things done in PowerShell scripting: Creating CAB Files with Windows PowerShell
FTR,
PowerShell to get the list of ONLY files with full name recursively from the source folder that need to be compressed into .cab file.
PS C:> Get-ChildItem C:TempSkype -Recurse | Where {!$_.PsIsContainer} | Select-Object -Property FullName | wc -l
17
PS C:> `
Sample Verbose output:
Cabinet Maker – Lossless Data Compression Tool
PASS
1: Checking directive file(s)
———————————-
1: ;*** MakeCAB Directive file
2: ;
3:
4: .Set FailOnMissingSource=On
==> Setting variable FailOnMissingSource to ‘On’
5: .Set MaxErrors=1
==> Setting variable MaxErrors to ‘1’
6: .Set UniqueFiles=Off
==> Setting variable UniqueFiles to ‘Off’
7: .Set CompressionType=LZX
==> Setting variable CompressionType to ‘LZX’
8: .Set CompressionMemory=21
==> Setting variable CompressionMemory to ’21’
9: .Set DiskDirectoryTemplate=.
==> Setting variable DiskDirectoryTemplate to ‘.’
10: .Set MaxDiskSize=2147483136 ; File Size of
==> Setting variable MaxDiskSize to ‘2147483136’
11: .Set CabinetNameTemplate=Compressed-Skype.cab ; Name for the compressed outfile file
==> Setting variable CabinetNameTemplate to ‘Compressed-Skype.cab’
12: .Set Cabinet=On
==> Setting variable Cabinet to ‘On’
13: .Set Compress=On
==> Setting variable Compress to ‘On’
14: .Set SourceDir="C:TempSkype"
==> Setting variable SourceDir to ‘C:TempSkype’
15:
16:
17: ;** The list of files are stored, compressed, in cabinet files
18: "Appslogincsslogin.css" "Appslogincsslogin.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincsslogin.css dst=Appslogincsslogin.css
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppslogincsslogin.css to Appslogincsslogin.css
19: "Appslogincssplatformmac.css" "Appslogincssplatformmac.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincssplatformmac.css dst=Appslogincssplatformmac.css
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppslogincssplatformmac.css to Appslogincssplatformmac.css
20: "Appslogincssplatformwin.css" "Appslogincssplatformwin.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincssplatformwin.css dst=Appslogincssplatformwin.css
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppslogincssplatformwin.css to Appslogincssplatformwin.css
21: "Appslogincssretinalogin.css" "Appslogincssretinalogin.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincssretinalogin.css dst=Appslogincssretinalogin.css
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppslogincssretinalogin.css to Appslogincssretinalogin.css
22: "Appsloginimagesbackground.png" "Appsloginimagesbackground.png"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginimagesbackground.png dst=Appsloginimagesbackground.png
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppsloginimagesbackground.png to Appsloginimagesbackground.png
23: "Appsloginindex.html" "Appsloginindex.html"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginindex.html dst=Appsloginindex.html
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppsloginindex.html to Appsloginindex.html
24: "Appsloginjslogin.js" "Appsloginjslogin.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginjslogin.js dst=Appsloginjslogin.js
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppsloginjslogin.js to Appsloginjslogin.js
25: "Appsloginlanguagesar.js" "Appsloginlanguagesar.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguagesar.js dst=Appsloginlanguagesar.js
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguagesar.js to Appsloginlanguagesar.js
26: "Appsloginlanguagesvi.js" "Appsloginlanguagesvi.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguagesvi.js dst=Appsloginlanguagesvi.js
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguagesvi.js to Appsloginlanguagesvi.js
27: "Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js" "Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js dst=Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguageszh-hans.js to Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js
28: "Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js" "Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js dst=Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js
CopyCommand: C:TempSkypeAppsloginlanguageszh-hant.js to Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js
29: "{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi" "{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi"
==> FileSpec src={4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi dst={4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi
CopyCommand: C:TempSkype{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi to {4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi
30:
31:
32:
33: ;… ; Many more files
34: ;*** <the end> ; That’s it
35:
PASS 2: Processing directive file(s)
————————————
1: ;*** MakeCAB Directive file
2: ;
3:
4: .Set FailOnMissingSource=On
==> Setting variable FailOnMissingSource to ‘On’
5: .Set MaxErrors=1
==> Setting variable MaxErrors to ‘1’
6: .Set UniqueFiles=Off
==> Setting variable UniqueFiles to ‘Off’
7: .Set CompressionType=LZX
==> Setting variable CompressionType to ‘LZX’
8: .Set CompressionMemory=21
==> Setting variable CompressionMemory to ’21’
9: .Set DiskDirectoryTemplate=.
==> Setting variable DiskDirectoryTemplate to ‘.’
10: .Set MaxDiskSize=2147483136 ; File Size of
==> Setting variable MaxDiskSize to ‘2147483136’
11: .Set CabinetNameTemplate=Compressed-Skype.cab ; Name for the compressed outfile file
==> Setting variable CabinetNameTemplate to ‘Compressed-Skype.cab’
12: .Set Cabinet=On
==> Setting variable Cabinet to ‘On’
13: .Set Compress=On
==> Setting variable Compress to ‘On’
14: .Set SourceDir="C:TempSkype"
==> Setting variable SourceDir to ‘C:TempSkype’
15:
16:
17: ;** The list of files are stored, compressed, in cabinet files
18: "Appslogincsslogin.css" "Appslogincsslogin.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincsslogin.css dst=Appslogincsslogin.css
0.00% – raw=0 compressed=0
19: "Appslogincssplatformmac.css" "Appslogincssplatformmac.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincssplatformmac.css dst=Appslogincssplatformmac.css
0.00% – raw=0 compressed=0
20: "Appslogincssplatformwin.css" "Appslogincssplatformwin.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincssplatformwin.css dst=Appslogincssplatformwin.css
0.00% – raw=0 c
ompressed=0
21: "Appslogincssretinalogin.css" "Appslogincssretinalogin.css"
==> FileSpec src=Appslogincssretinalogin.css dst=Appslogincssretinalogin.css
0.00% – raw=0 compressed=0
22: "Appsloginimagesbackground.png" "Appsloginimagesbackground.png"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginimagesbackground.png dst=Appsloginimagesbackground.png
0.00% – raw=0 compressed=0
0.16% – raw=32,768 compressed=0
23: "Appsloginindex.html" "Appsloginindex.html"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginindex.html dst=Appsloginindex.html
0.16% – raw=32,768 compressed=0
24: "Appsloginjslogin.js" "Appsloginjslogin.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginjslogin.js dst=Appsloginjslogin.js
0.16% – raw=32,768 compressed=0
0.31% – raw=65,536 compressed=0
0.47% – raw=98,304 compressed=0
0.63% – raw=131,072 compressed=0
0.79% – raw=163,840 compressed=0
0.94% – raw=196,608 compressed=0
25: "Appsloginlanguagesar.js" "Appsloginlanguagesar.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguagesar.js dst=Appsloginlanguagesar.js
0.94% – raw=196,608 compressed=0
1.10% – raw=229,376 compressed=0
26: "Appsloginlanguagesvi.js" "Appsloginlanguagesvi.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguagesvi.js dst=Appsloginlanguagesvi.js
1.10% – raw=229,376 compressed=0
27: "Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js" "Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js dst=Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js
1.10% – raw=229,376 compressed=0
1.26% – raw=262,144 compressed=0
28: "Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js" "Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js"
==> FileSpec src=Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js dst=Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js
1.26% – raw=262,144 compressed=0
29: "{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi" "{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi"
==> FileSpec src={4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi dst={4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi
1.26% – raw=262,144 compressed=0
1.41% – raw=294,912 compressed=0
1.57% – raw=327,680 compressed=0
1.57% – raw=327,680 compressed=10,856
1.57% – raw=327,680 compressed=23,960
22.14% – raw=4,620,288 compressed=3,834,89357.94% – raw=12,091,392 compressed=11,340,637
99.71% – raw=20,807,680 compressed=19,306,008
99.86% – raw=20,840,448 compressed=19,306,008
30:
31:
32:
33: ;… ; Many more files
34: ;*** <the end> ; That’s it
35:
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,306,008
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,312,972
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,318,654
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,324,494
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,329,374
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,336,142
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,343,014
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,350,424
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,358,864
100.00% – raw=20,868,956 compressed=19,365,480
0.00% [flushing current folder]
0.06% [flushing current folder]
0.12% [flushing current folder]
0.18% [flushing current folder]
0.23% [flushing current folder]
0.28% [flushing current folder]
99.78% [flushing current folder]
99.82% [flushing current folder]
99.85% [flushing current folder]
99.89% [flushing current folder]
99.94% [flushing current folder]
99.97% [flushing current folder]
** Appslogincsslogin.css placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appslogincssplatformmac.css placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appslogincssplatformwin.css placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appslogincssretinalogin.css placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appsloginimagesbackground.png placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appsloginindex.html placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appsloginjslogin.js placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appsloginlanguagesar.js placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appsloginlanguagesvi.js placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appsloginlanguageszh-hans.js placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** Appsloginlanguageszh-hant.js placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
** {4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}Skype.msi placed in cabinet Compressed-Skype.cab(1) on disk Disk 1
0.00% [flushing current folder]
0.17% [flushing current folder]
0.34% [flushing current folder]
0.51% [flushing current folder]
1.69% [flushing current folder]59.72% [flushing current folder]
59.89% [flushing current folder]
60.05% [flushing current folder]
60.22% [flushing current folder]
60.39% [flushing current folder]
60.56% [flushing current folder]
60.73% [flushing current folder]
60.90% [flushing current folder]99.47% [flushing current folder]
99.64% [flushing current folder]
99.81% [flushing current folder]
99.98% [flushing current folder]
100.00% [flushing current folder]
Total files: 12
Bytes before: 20,868,956
Bytes after: 19,365,480
After/Before: 92.80% compression
Time: 16.33 seconds ( 0 hr 0 min 16.33 sec)
Throughput: 1247.92 Kb/second
