Is there any way to add a resource file or version number to a hex file

There's a Revision Number field as part of the standard Windows meta-data. (Right-mouse on a file, and see file Properties / Summary / Advanced.) You could set this field (a WSH script can no doubt do it, if only you can wade through the object model documentation to find out how to set a file property) Then find a shell extension to let you view it more easily than drilling down three clicks.

I poked around a bit in Google and found too many choices. The first one I looked at was in German; the next couple integrated version control directly into Windows Explorer. There's probably already one out there if you search.

There's a Revision Number field as part of the standard Windows meta-data. (Right-mouse on a file, and see file Properties / Summary / Advanced.) You could set this field (a WSH script can no doubt do it, if only you can wade through the object model documentation to find out how to set a file property) Then find a shell extension to let you view it more easily than drilling down three clicks.

I poked around a bit in Google and found too many choices. The first one I looked at was in German; the next couple integrated version control directly into Windows Explorer. There's probably already one out there if you search.

There's a Revision Number field as part of the standard Windows meta-data.

Close, but no cigar. Those meta-data only exist for files stored on NTFS drives. This means it's not really a standard Windows feature. Among other things, these meta-data get lost as soon as you transfer the file in any way that involves a non-NTFS file system, which severely limits their applicability to the problem at hand.

Thanks for all the replies folks.
Much appreciated.