jStrip

Overview

jStrip is a free tool to reduce the file size of JPEG images without sacrificing image quality. High-traffic websites with many JPEG images can benefit from decreased bandwidth costs. Less hard disk space will be used by image collectors.

jStrip works by removing unneeded data from JPEG files. This data is unused by web browsers and image viewing software. jStrip does not re-compress an image, so there is no image quality loss.

Features

jStrip removes the following from JPEG files:

Comments (optionally)
EXIF Data (optionally)
JFIF Header (optionally)
Photoshop Image Resource Block (optionally)
ICC color profile
Adobe APP14 tag (optionally)
XMP data (optionally)
Extra bytes at end of file
Extra bytes or header at beginning of file
Extra bytes between JPEG blocks
Application-specific APPx blocks
Photoshop thumbnails
Any other unknown blocks in the JPEG files

jStrip also has the following features:

Option to retain original time-stamp of modified files
Ability to process a single file, or batch processing, including recursing a folder tree
Option to attempt to clear read-only bit
Includes a full help file
Allows browsing and processing of UNC paths
A command line version for batch processing
Can change case of filenames, and change %20 and underscores to spaces in filenames

Supported Operating Systems

Windows 95 with Internet Explorer 4
Windows NT4 with Service Pack 6a and Internet Explorer 4
Windows 98
Windows 2000 Professional or Server
Windows ME
Windows XP Home or Professional
Windows Server 2003

* Windows 95 and NT4 require IE 4 or greater for the HTML help to work correctly.

Version History

Version 3.3 - May 21, 2006

Fixed "classic mode" so that it works again

Version 3.2 - January 29, 2006

Separated the option to change %20 and underscores to spaces to seperate options
Added option to trim leading and trailing spaces from portion of filename before the extension
Log files is deleted when processing is complete
Log file is now random, so that two instances won't overwrite the log file
Now compiled with VB6

Version 3.1 - September 21, 2005

jStrip is now freeware - and the registration reminders have been removed

Version 3.0 - March 5, 2005

Added option to check for updates on startup
Added option to change case on filenames
Added option to convert "%20" and underscores to spaces in filenames
By default, jStrip will no longer follow a subdirectory that is a junction point
Installing JSCL.EXE, the command line version, is now optional
Installing the "Start jStrip Here" context menu item is now optional
Removed image view functionality
Fixed another minor JSCL path parsing bug
Changed available JSCL options
Improved options dialog

Version 2.9 - January 24, 2005

Fixed problem where unsupported jpeg types were being reported as invalid jpeg files
Fixed JSCL calculating paths improperly
VB runtime files now included in the install (Microsoft is no longer including the VB5 runtime with Windows Server 2003)

Version 2.8 - January 6, 2005

A bug causing some unnecessary data to be left in a jpeg file was introduced in v 2.7 This has been fixed. Simply re-process the files to remove the data.

Version 2.7 - January 2, 2005

Removing XMP data is now optional
Performance enhancements
Errors in help file fixed

Version 2.6 - November 20, 2004

Added XP theme support
Better detection of invalid JPEG files
JSCL command line client included again
Mousewheel now works in the treeview
Cosmetic improvements
Removing Photoshop Image Resource Block is now optional
Removing Adobe APP14 tag is now optional
Removing ICC profile is now optional

Version 2.5 - December 14, 2002

Added - 'Remember last folder' option
Bug fix - This release should finally fix the 'could not write file' error

Version 2.4 - December 8, 2002

Bug fix - Possible problem when using 'Clear read-only bit' option with NTFS file systems fixed
Bug fix - Minor cosmetic bug displaying pathnames fixed
Change - Removed the 'second chance queue' that was added in 2.3. the problem was due to the 'clear read only' bug listed above

Version 2.3 - December 1, 2002

Added - Most of the logging options that were removed in 2.2 are back
Added - A 'second-chance queue' for files that could not be written has been added -- This allows files that are temporarily locked to be written later
Change - Improved options dialog

Version 2.2 - November 28, 2002

Added - 'Start jStrip Here' item added to folder context menu
Added - Option to remove EXIF data added, it was always removed before
Change - New registration keys are needed for this version. Registered users should see the website for instructions on obtaining a new key
Change - Settings are now stored in an .ini file, rather than the registry
Change - All settings and license information is on a per-user basis, and will work with roaming profiles
Change - Option to add comments has been removed
Change - Stripping a JPEG file will never make it larger
Change - HTML logging has been removed
Change - Built-in JPEG viewer replaces the 'open' menu item
Change - Nag screen re-appears after every 500 files stripped until jStrip is registered
Change - The command line version has been removed. It will be available as a freeware product soon
Change - Help file converted to HTML help format
Change - The 30 day limit is no longer enforced

Version 2.11 - October 2, 2000

Change - Nag screen no longer requires a ten second wait
Change - Updated pricing and purchasing information
Change - Minor help file improvements

Version 2.1 - June 16, 2000

Added - New menu item allows opening of the selected file(s) with the default viewer
Bug fix - Processing can no longer be started on an empty drive
Bug fix - Processor usage no longer stays at 100% after processing complete
Bug fix - Better invalid path detection under Windows 2000
Bug fix - Fixed expiration problem under NT and Win 2000
Bug fix - Admin priveleges are now required (for NT and Win 2000) for installation & registration
Bug fix - Much better dialog sizing when large fonts are used
Change - Eliminated dependencies on DC5UTIL.DLL and DC5FPICK.OCX
Change - Folderview now spans entire width of window
Change - Path display in main window now displays better with paths longer than width of window
Change - Improved splash, about, and registration dialogs
Change - I've now matched the version numbers between JSCL and jStrip
Change - Several code optimizations and fixes
Change - Registration code is no longer displayed on the about box, to prevent theft
Change - I'm no longer distributing a full install with VB5 runtimes. They are available separately
Change - JSCL now has a new icon - Certain windows versions were displaying the default VB icon
Change - jStrip now has a 48x48 icon for those using "large icons"