RAR vs Zip for downloading from GoolgeDocs

JSWolf · 11-19-2015, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Yup. Google is acting up. If I put the files on my own server, they cannot be downloaded with a very big warning because the file is not downloaded that much. Default action is delete. So, not very helpful. I tried to share it directly from Google Drive and it was blocked and had to be sent for review... So, also not helpful.

I now have changed to links to a dropbox share, see how long that will work...

I've found that RAR works with Google where ZIP fails. So RAR the files and it will work.

BetterRed · 11-19-2015, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've found that RAR works with Google where ZIP fails. So RAR the files and it will work.

A rar'd plugin - r u sure Sigil can handle that ?

DiapDealer · 11-19-2015, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've found that RAR works with Google where ZIP fails. So RAR the files and it will work.

Yes. That will work very well. Users would then only have to download the plugin, install RAR software, unrar the plugin, re-zip the plugin, and then install the properly zipped plugin into Sigil.

KevinH · 11-19-2015, 06:43 PM

You forgot to add that some Mac users may have to download a Rar binary from an "trusted" source just to start that process! ;-)

eschwartz · 11-19-2015, 08:51 PM

The obvious solution is of course to compress the binary inside with bzip2, then compress the zip with xz, so the googlebots can't figure out how to read it.
Then for good measure the zipfile itself should be password-protected, and the password should only be available on another site.

Since the necessary tools are already installed on a Mac, everyone wins!

JSWolf · 11-20-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Yes. That will work very well. Users would then only have to download the plugin, install RAR software, unrar the plugin, re-zip the plugin, and then install the properly zipped plugin into Sigil.

You RAR the ZIP file so you have the plugin ready to be installed after you unRAR.

KevinH · 11-20-2015, 04:14 PM

Again, after downloading some dodgey unrar binary since many Macs do not support rar at all. Not gonna work.

JSWolf · 11-20-2015, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinH

Again, after downloading some dodgey unrar binary since many Macs do not support rar at all. Not gonna work.

You can download the official RAR from http://http://rarlabs.com which is not some dodgy program. Also, 7zip is available. http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

So yes, there are options that are not dodgy and do work. Besides, there is no way to decompress RAR using what comes with Windows. Again, the same links will get you what you need for Windows. Linux as well.

eschwartz · 11-20-2015, 04:57 PM

No OS comes with RAR support builtin. That's because it is a non-free format.

The only reason ZIP as a format still exists is because it is ubiquitous and you are guaranteed that anyone can open it.
Using RAR downloads defeats that purpose, and in that case why not just rewrite Sigil to use RAR plugins?

If anything, bzip2 or xz (backed by tar) should be used, since at least both OSX and Linux have builtin support.
Windows users would have to fend for themselves either way...

AFAIK, Google doesn't mess around with either of those compression formats either.

I really don't understand why you are pushing so hard for the adoption of RAR, versus using a different download host.

eschwartz · 11-21-2015, 07:29 PM

Well, if someone with the power to do something about it would like to banish the frivolous RAR posts
and ancillary "let's-make-things-harder-for-people-not-as-smart-as-me" hobby-horsing
go right ahead.

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11-19-2015, 06:43 PM	#4
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,494 Karma: 5703586 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	You forgot to add that some Mac users may have to download a Rar binary from an "trusted" source just to start that process! ;-)

11-19-2015, 08:51 PM	#5
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The obvious solution is of course to compress the binary inside with bzip2, then compress the zip with xz, so the googlebots can't figure out how to read it. Then for good measure the zipfile itself should be password-protected, and the password should only be available on another site. Since the necessary tools are already installed on a Mac, everyone wins!

11-20-2015, 04:14 PM	#7
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,494 Karma: 5703586 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Again, after downloading some dodgey unrar binary since many Macs do not support rar at all. Not gonna work.

11-20-2015, 04:57 PM	#9
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	No OS comes with RAR support builtin. That's because it is a non-free format. The only reason ZIP as a format still exists is because it is ubiquitous and you are guaranteed that anyone can open it. Using RAR downloads defeats that purpose, and in that case why not just rewrite Sigil to use RAR plugins? If anything, bzip2 or xz (backed by tar) should be used, since at least both OSX and Linux have builtin support. Windows users would have to fend for themselves either way... AFAIK, Google doesn't mess around with either of those compression formats either. I really don't understand why you are pushing so hard for the adoption of RAR, versus using a different download host.

11-21-2015, 07:29 PM	#10
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Well, if someone with the power to do something about it would like to banish the frivolous RAR posts and ancillary "let's-make-things-harder-for-people-not-as-smart-as-me" hobby-horsing go right ahead.