Author Topic: 7-zip (Read 6028 times)

Mr.Peanut · « **on:** 21 Jan 2008, 14:49:48 »

Please add 7-Zip to the file extension upload filter for the forums. i.e. *.7z

Planck · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Jan 2008, 15:46:40 »

Ummmm.......why?

Is plain old zip or rar not good enough?

Planck

Wolfrug · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Jan 2008, 19:30:39 »

I think it's because:

a) Lots of addon-hosting communities and such out there have started using 7zip because it compresses stuff a lot more efficiently.
b) Can still be opened with i.e. WinRAR.

In short, it's...cool?

Wolfrug out.

wcrvieira · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Jan 2008, 20:47:11 »

It is a nice format. It compresses more and better than usual *.rar and *.zip and it is from an open-source program

no need to install the proprietary software like winrar or winzip (even though they have trial period IIRC).
And yes many addon makers are now using .7z, so it would be a nice addition.

Mr.Peanut · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jan 2008, 17:13:22 »

7-zip is non-proprietary and easily allows splitting a large file into parts, something the windows shell zip does not do. I wanted to upload some sound files that were part of Gen Barron's Handsignals, but I can't because the only format for which I can freely provide split zips under the size limit, is 7-zip.

Baddo · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 Jan 2008, 21:11:33 »

The advantage of using ZIP is that it is supported by operating systems, so it is without the need to first find a place to download from, and then to download, a program which handles the <insert compression algorithm x here> format.

This is a comment to NBSVieiraPT which maybe didn't notice that for ZIP you need not to download anything if you use an operating system such as Microsoft Windows XP or newer (or Linux distros). This is not a comment against 7-zip, just a reminder what is ZIP's strongest point.

wcrvieira · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 Jan 2008, 21:26:02 »

Well Baddo by no means I wanted to refer 7zip format as a substitute for *.zip. It is specially for the feature you pinpointed that .zip should remain as the main file format to the upload system, however 7zip is a better substitute for the features described above.

So we can have some alternatives that don't pass through .rar.

Mr.Peanut · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Jan 2008, 17:16:17 »

Yes, zip is free with Windows XP. However, you can not produce split archives with it if your file size is over the attachment limit. This is the reason I brought this up. 7-zip can produce split archives and is free. WinRAR and WinZip are not.

edit: split 7-zip archives have the file extensions: *.7z.xxx
where xxx is 001,002,003 ...

Please enable this upload type.

Artak · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 Feb 2008, 11:12:55 »

Is it not possible to use WinZip or WinRAR or some other archiving software to produce split packages? Or is it not possible to use the 7-zip archiver to pack in RAR or Zip format?

h- · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 Feb 2008, 18:38:52 »

As far as I know you have to buy WinZIP or Rar to be able to split volumes.
I might be wrong though.

Mr.Peanut · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Feb 2008, 16:39:22 »

Quote

Is it not possible to use WinZip or WinRAR or some other archiving software to produce split packages? Or is it not possible to use the 7-zip archiver to pack in RAR or Zip format?

No

Quote

As far as I know you have to buy WinZIP or Rar to be able to split volumes.
I might be wrong though.

That has been my point this entire post. WinZip and WinRAR are not free, although you can use them indefinitely without registering. If you have the old DOS command line versions of RAR or PKZIP(and does anyone continue to maintain these?) you can do whatever you want, but if ease of use is important, 7-zip is a possible solution. All you have to do is add *.7z and *.7z.* to the upload filters. I really don't see what the fuss is all about.

Planck · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Feb 2008, 16:54:15 »

Maybe you can't see the problem, but I for one can.

The average member doesn't have 7zip and has probably never heard of it, so when he downloads said 7zip archive we are going to get multiple topics opened asking what the f*c* do they do with this 7zip thing as it doesn't work by popping it into the Addons folder.
When they are told that it is another utility for packing files up, they are going to ask why do they have to download and install yet another program in order to open them, why is winzip and/or winrar not good enough.

I realise the problem with the large sound files you have but 7zip is not a popular program used by the majority and would only serve to confuse those members that do not use it or indeed know that it exists.

Planck

wcrvieira · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Feb 2008, 22:31:13 »

I see what you mean. Well, you're right

I can see the mess in some newbies' minds.

Rommel92 · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 May 2008, 04:06:15 »

Quote from: Mr.Peanut on 22 Jan 2008, 17:13:22

7-zip is non-proprietary and easily allows splitting a large file into parts, something the windows shell zip does not do. I wanted to upload some sound files that were part of Gen Barron's Handsignals, but I can't because the only format for which I can freely provide split zips under the size limit, is 7-zip.

Pack them all in 7-zips, then pack those in WinRAR files to upload them, but in multiple files.

Mr.Peanut · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 May 2008, 17:36:00 »

Not going to happen. I do not have, nor do I want a RAR archiver. This site's adamant refusal to accept *.7z, which has become the open source archive format, aggravates me. A classic resource will be lost because I refuse to pirate winrar or winzip. Ease of use goes both ways. If it is "too confusing" for the average user to download, install, and use 7zip, it is "too confusing" for me to have to find, download, install pkzip and make split archives from the command line. It is also "too confusing" to have to rename file extensions from *.7z to *.zip to upload them, and much "too confusing" for a staff member to then rename and unpack them. Oh the horror of it all!

If anyone wants it, they can PM me and I will email it to them. Once my computer has a hard drive failure, they are gone forever.