Spanned Zip Files, HOW TO INSTALL

[jdtrainman]

The reason that we're now using spanned files is so dial-up users can still get the big routes easily. Even so the GM&O Route is 355 MB ZIPPED!! It unzips to over 2 GB.....

The other reason for spanned zip files is the change in RouteRiter which goes back several months now. Originally the file splitter produced plain old zip files.

To address the repeating concern you have regarding software to take care of this, you DO have it....

PKZIP (not sure of current version), WinZIP (8.1 or later) and WinRAR ALL handle this type of spanning.

I'd LOVE to use an auto-installer unfortunately if I did that there would be ONE massive 355MB file that NOBODY would be downloading. Ultimately it would save the problems generated by the < 5% (+ or -) of the users that don't bother to read the installation directions even when they're posted on the message forums and having to explain the required add-ons, procedures to install, etc. etc.

JBD

[buzzbenz]

> I'd LOVE to use an auto-installer unfortunately if I did that there
> would be ONE massive 355MB file that NOBODY would be downloading.

I would!! :)

----------- BUZZ -----------
[Link Expired]

[jdtrainman]

<BIG GRIN>

Thanks, Buzz! Nice vote of confidence!

JBD

[gp18]

I use E-press Easy Office, Slimbrowser ( Mozilla). Easy office contains Easy.zip which I use to unzip, for it lets me read the howto before I install. I have no problems except for some my own mistakes. There is one route it will not install, but I have no intention of installing anything where I am required to have just one program for installing. If a route cannot be built to allow all to install it without loading in more software that is needed or desired, then it is not worth my time.

[charlie]

>...I have no intention of installing anything
>where I am required to have just one program for installing.

Just one program? We already have at least three. Does your "Easy.zip" handle spanned zip files? If so, then perhaps we can now have four...

>If a route cannot be built to allow all to install it
>without loading in more software that is needed or desired,
>then it is not worth my time.

If your "Easy.zip" doesn't handle spanned zip files, then I hope you don't go hungry in future.

regards,
charlie

[al1218]

Charlie,
Thanks for your tutorial on opening up spanned zip files. i did as you said and isolated the zip files for Marceline Sub. I'm using Winzip 9.0 and no luck. It apparantly opens the initial zip file but while extracting, it gives an initial error message "error:invalid compressed data to inflate", this is immediately followed by the message "error in file #3616: bad zip file offset (error local header signature not found): disk #6 offset: 11572288". And so on..and so on..with the remaining files. I've downloaded the files for this route several times thinking that I'd gotten a bad file during the download. Any suggestions?

al1218

[jdtrainman]

Make sure that the spanned files do NOT have a ".zip" appended to them....

There should only be ONE .zip file. The rest should have extensions of .z01, .z02, etc. SOME browsers, if configured incorrectly, will append a .zip to spanned zip files.

Without better information, though, I'm afraid I can't help either... Looks like a possible problem in downloading. Are you possibly using a download accelerator to speed a dial-up connection???? If so, disable it....

If all else fails I DO offer CD-by-mail service....

JBD

[al1218]

Jim,
I'm using a broadband connection thru Earthlink. I just checked where I had the isolated files and they don't show a .zip extension but do show as .z01, etc. The only thing I can think of is that I'm using an evaluation version of Winzip 9.0. If not that, then I'll have to resort to buying the CD from you. Please contact me off forum at allenevans@earthlink.net. Thanks.

[sinclair97]

Allen,

You need to get this problem sorted out as soon as possible, and I'll tell you for why: if you are getting problems downloading other spanned zip files then you may need to get Winrar, as winrar will actually repair the files if corrupted. The free demo version of Winrar will open spanned zip files as well as repairing them.

I suspect that the procedure you using is not right as I had this problem before I got the hang of things. If you try my step by step method using Winrar, there should be no reason for you to have any problems--safe but sure!

Mike :)

[charlie]

Allen,

You should have only one file with a .zip extension. The other pieces are supposed to have ".z01, etc".

This is a nine piece download. You must have all 9 pieces in one place. You need "gmonlv10.zip" and then "gmonlv10.z01" through "gmonlv10.z08". In Winzip 9.0, just select "gmonlv10.zip" and unzip. That's all, just leave the other files alone.

Despite what Michael has said about his favorite unzipper, the evaluation version of Winzip, as well a recent versions of RouteRiter work just fine.

regards,
charlie