Question / Help PK compat v6.3 - errors unpacking 0.12.1 portable zip files

Hello,

It looks like the 0.12.1 portable Windows release zip files were packed up with a newer .zip file utility. Neither WinRAR (older version I have) in Windows, nor the zip utility in Linux, are able to unpack all files from the .zip without errors. 571 files can't unpack. I didn't have this problem with the 0.12.0 release zip.

I see a lot of messages like these attempting to 'unrar -tv" the .zip archive in Linux (a recent distro):

Code:
skipping: obs-plugins/64bit/win-decklink.dll  need PK compat. v6.3 (can do v4.6)

Any recommendations on a Windows util (and version) that can definitely unpack the 0.12.1 release?

Thanks,
Tackmeister
 
Thanks for the replies. As it turns out Winzip 190 can unpack it properly. I am not a big fan of Winzip anymore and cringed when it asked if I wanted it to evaluate my PC's performance and scan for problems...

I think the version of WinRAR I'm using is a few years old. I'll take a look at 7zip also.

Thanks again.
 

sam686

Member
Looks like this zip file was compressed with "LZMA" which reduces compatibility, windows 7 built in zip extractor have errors or doesn't doesn't work on zip file with "LZMA" method. "Deflate" method is most compatible in zip file which works on windows 7 built in zip extractor.
 
I have to say that I find it rather DAFT that an open-source piece of software requires you to install a proprietary piece of software (winzip or winrar) to be able to unpack the installer files.

Had the installer files been packed with an older version of a zip utility, you could use *ANY* file archival utility that understands the standard .zip format (not just the latest version of winzip or winrar) to unpack it, including the unzip command line utility in Linux.

Call me a cheapskate if you like, but I really would rather not have to go buy a newer zip utility (have you seen how much these cost?) just to be able to unpack the installer file for ONE piece of software I use. It's stupid.

Please stop packing the OBS installer files with newer ZIP archival utliities that require you to BUY something to unpack it with. I am not interested in installing the eval version, by the time I need it for the next update version I want to install it will be expired and I will have to buy it.

In fact, it would be really nice to your users if you would remove and re-pack the existing 0.12.1 and 0.12.2 portable zips available for download using an older utility. I'll assume, probably safely, that the 0.12.3 and 0.12.4 zips are packed with this proprietary packer as well.


I realize this is a somewhat snarky post, and I apologize for that, but I think I have a valid point here.
 
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Update: Thank you Harold. The Linux 7z utility can unpack it without problem. In Fedora 21, the 2 packages you need to install are p7zip and p7zip-plugins.

I see there is a reply to my last post which has hit and which I haven't read yet. The point I am trying to make here is, by choosing to pack and distribute the installer files for the portable version of OBS-MP with a newer .ZIP utliity, you are going to create difficulties for at least some of your users. Sure, maybe just the "cheapskates" like me if that's the label you want to put on me, or others who have the same old file utilities that work for everybody else's software zips -- but guess what? Neither my wife nor I have this problem with any other software we use. Probably because those other software producers thought about packing in MOST COMPATIBLE FORMAT.

So if you are going to keep using whatever you're using to pack the portable version zip files, you need to document clearly (and I would suggest putting this right above the download links) which versions of winzip, winrar, etc. are going to be necessary to unpack it - to save your users the hassle of having to figure it out or post to the forums (or search and find this thread).

Also, for other cheapskates that would rather user a free, open-source utility to unpack with - the Linux 7z command syntax to unpack it is:

7z x FILENAME.ZIP

(x to preserve the directory structure within the archive while unpacking)

to unpack to the current directory.
 
yes Harold, it does. But without any information for the downloader of the .zip file to know what they need to use to unpack with, the potential is there for trouble. That's my point. Nothing more.

The files aren't named OBS-MP-0.12.2.Win.7z

That would be a lot more self-explanatory...
 
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