How Can I Decompress .ace Files In The 21st Century?

[Quintillus]

Quintillus, I downloaded the latest version of Winace from the web archive (the link was found on wikipedia).

https://web.archive.org/web/20110121225116/http://www.winace.net/files/wace269i.exe

Virustotal.com almost does not swear at her (1/69). Of course, when using it, it is better to take some precautions (VM with network disconnection, etc.)

Have you tried to unpack ace with the "unace-nonfree" program for linux?

Good idea using the Internet Archive cache of the official site. I can confirm that this does work, although it expires after 30 days.

I haven't tried unace-nonfree; but I wonder if that's what @WildWeazel already tried?

If I ever drag myself away from C7 development, de-ace-ifying archived files sounds like a good project. Between the Python script, the command-line options for WinAce, and potentially unace-nonfree, in theory it shouldn't be too difficult to automate a conversion.

 

[WildWeazel]

I had only tried the (free) 'unace' package but 'unace-nonfree' worked!

unace e gilgamesh.ace

UNACE v2.5     Copyright by ACE Compression Software       Jun 18 2017 19:18:45
                                                                          
processing archive /..avis/Downloads/gilgamesh.ace                       
Working: Creating listfile. Please wait.                                 
Working: Reading archive. Please wait.                                   
  extracting cuneiform.pcx                                 CRC OK         
  extracting gilgamesh.pcx                                 CRC OK         
  extracting gilgameshsm.pcx                               CRC OK         
  extracting gilgamesh_bld.pcx                             CRC OK         
  extracting gilgamesh_bld_sm.pcx                          CRC OK         
                                                                          
extracted: 5 files, totaling 191.163 bytes (compressed 98.892)

 

[Ozymandias]

All Ye Gents:

 

[Quintillus]

Since this is a question that comes up every few years, and it a problem that we now know how to solve (but which would not be easy to discover the solution to if you just stumbled across an ACE file and didn't know about this thread), I plan to address this by converting all the known ACE files to a commonly-supported format, either ZIP or 7z.

All the ACE files are also only linked via HTTP, and thus won't download by default in Chrome-based browsers, so this will take out two issues with one stone.

This post is to list the known ACE files. The format is post URL, tab, post number (some posts/threads feature multiple Ace files). No known ACE files have been lost to link rot.

De-Ace-Ified

https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/coritani-archer-march-27th-2006.164941/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/damons-unit_32-collection.30809/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/damons-unit_32-collection.30809/ 12
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/engineer-c-p-11-7-04.93597/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/engineer-c-p-11-7-04.93597/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/engineer-c-p-11-7-04.93597/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/era-specific-scientific-leaders-1-7-04.92765/ 3

To Do
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/iceni-units.160907/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/iceni-units.160907/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/iceni-units.160907/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/kulades-first-unit-not-the-kulade-man.101161/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/new-sw-unit-superstardestroyer.125506/ 1
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/new-sw-unit-superstardestroyer.125506/ 8
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/new-unit-stephen-hawking.96555/ 1

One they are moved to the De-Ace-Ified list, you can go ahead and download them in a format you can use, and add them to your collection.

----------

There are likely more ACE files I haven't discovered! Most notably, in the Downloads Database, but I believe I may have only run this check on the Unit Graphics forum, so there may be some in other forums as well. If you know of any, please reply with a link so they can be converted!

 

[Jorsalfare]

Found more of Rob's leaderheads in .ace format - amongst other places, here. I'm sharing and adding links below without checking wheather or not they have already been converted/listed, so bear with me.

To Quintillus: Since I need your "Moderator-powers" to correct the author entry - and to connect the download page and the thread, I just leave the converted and uploaded files listed in the "Awaiting corrections of download page" section. I'm not going to be pestering you with requests every time I've finished a resource. When you've found time and energy to correct these entries, I'll update this post and declare the conversion as "Finished". I noticed that I got an alert when you made changes to the downoad page, so there's no need to ping me when you've fixed an entry.

FINISHED:
Sojourner Truth - 3D animated, era specific. - OK!
Nzinga of Matamba - 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - OK!

CONVERTED - AWAITING CORRECTIONS OF DOWNLOAD PAGE:
President Urho Kekkonen of Finland: 3D animated, era specific leaderhead. (zip uploaded to the database)
A set of eight 3D animated african leaderheads, single era. (uploaded as .7z to the database) (.zip file was too large)
Queen Teuta of Illyria : 3D animated, era specific leaderhead - updated 23.08.04 (version 2) - (zip uploaded to database)
Dinga Cisse of Ghana: 3D animated, era specific leaderhead. - (zip uploaded to the database)
Robert Menzies of Australia: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - (zip uploaded to database)
King David of Israel: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - (zip uploaded to database)
Yacoub Al Mansour of Morocco: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - (zip uploaded to database)
Mansa Musa of Mali: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - (zip uploaded to database)
Attila the Hun: 3D animated, era specific leaderhead. - (zip uploaded)
Douglas Nicholls of the Koori: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Moshoeshoe of Basutoland: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Gundahar of Burgundy: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Owain Ddantwyn of the Celts: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Justinian of Byzantium: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Napoleon of France: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Malcolm II of Scotland: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Leopold I of Belgium: 3d animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Uther Pendragon of Cornwall: 3D animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Ancient era leaderhead pack - a set of ten single-era leaderheads from R8XFT 18.01.05 - zip files uploaded
Suriyothai of Siam: 3d animated era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Pochahontas of the Powhatan: 3D animated era specific leaderhead - zip uploaded
Jasmine de Launay : 3D animated, era specific leaderhead - zip uploaded
A set of twelve 3D animated 5th century leaderheads (single era with pcx). - zip files (3 parts) uploaded
Inegrid of Sweden : 3D animated, era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Hector of Troy : 3D animated, era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
R8XFT's D&D leaderheads (unfinished set) - zip uploaded
Boudicca of the Iceni : 3D animated, era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded
Cartimandua of Brigantia : 3D animated, era specific leaderhead. - zip uploaded

Other graphics from Rob:
A set of buildings - zip uploaded.
Iceni units - zip uploaded

TO BE CONVERTED:
---- Finished ----

PS:I didn't find any of these in the database.
If I later find .ace files from other creators in here, should I just add them to this post, or make a new post?

Regards
Sigurd

 

[Jorsalfare]

I have located some .ace files created by Rufus T. Firefly:

FINISHED:
Already on Quintillus' list: Engineer C&P (11/7/04) Completed
New eras splashes - zip version already made and linked in the thread (in post #19).
New resource: terrace - Already "zipified" by civclub in post #3

CONVERTED - AWAITING CORRECTIONS OF DOWNLOAD PAGE:
Improved Conquests Graphics (multiple files) - zip uploaded
RAR graphic patch - Zips (2) uploaded
Gilgamesh's epic - zip uploaded
Kinboat's trenches as industrial fortress/barricade - zip uploaded
New culture cities groups - zip uploaded
Some interface improvements (in posts #1, #15 and #20) - zip uploaded
Orwell's 1984 Miniluv - Wonder splash (in post #18) - zip uploaded
Victorian stamps interface - zip uploaded
SDI animation correction - zip uploaded
GW: Alcazar - zip uploaded

TO BE CONVERTED:
---- Finished ----

I could not find any graphics by Rufus in the database...

 

[Quintillus]

That's a great list, Jorsalfare! Clearly I guessed incorrectly that most of the ace files would be in the Units area. I'd lean towards a post if you find a significant number (or if they're all updated to a modern format and you find more), but if you just find one more by Rufus or Rob, you can add it at the end of the list.

I've converted four more ACE files... might be a while before I am fully caught up, but now at least we know there are a significant number of them.

 

[Vuldacon]

Quintillus... Good of you to convert the ace files

 

[Jorsalfare]

That's a great list, Jorsalfare! Clearly I guessed incorrectly that most of the ace files would be in the Units area. I'd lean towards a post if you find a significant number (or if they're all updated to a modern format and you find more), but if you just find one more by Rufus or Rob, you can add it at the end of the list.

I've converted four more ACE files... might be a while before I am fully caught up, but now at least we know there are a significant number of them.

I've just converted and uploaded one of Rob's leaderheads (Sojourner Truth). Since you're an "almighty" moderator: Could you maybe add a link to the .zip-file in Rob's original thread?
I'll mark the entry in my list as completed once the links are OK and people can find it. Also, the download page incorrectly credits me as the creator. Is it possible to correct that?
If you think my upload looks OK, I could give you some assistance in the "conversion-business"...

 

[Quintillus]

I've just converted and uploaded one of Rob's leaderheads (Sojourner Truth). Since you're an "almighty" moderator: Could you maybe add a link to the .zip-file in Rob's original thread?
I'll mark the entry in my list as completed once the links are OK and people can find it. Also, the download page incorrectly credits me as the creator. Is it possible to correct that?
If you think my upload looks OK, I could give you some assistance in the "conversion-business"...

All linked up! Including using the XenForo tools to assign the thread to the resource. You might be able to do that as well, it's the "Change Discussion Thread" option in the "..." menu at the upper-right of the resource. I know you can use that option, what I'm not sure is if you can assign a thread that you didn't start.

But that looks great, my Platonic ideal of how things will wind up is everything in formats that are readily usable in 2022, with threads linked up to Downloads Database entries assigned to the proper creator so things can be searched by creator easily. That's a bit pie in the sky since there are probably thousands of resources that are in threads but not in the Downloads Database, but one can dream, and now we're one step closer.

And that definitely would help in the conversion business! Especially since you've done such a good job of it, making it one download - my best guess is it was split up due to forum upload size limitations back in 2004 - and including the preview image and description. That'll save me a significant amount of time, especially for those leaderheads that have nine different ACE files to combine.

 

[Jorsalfare]

All linked up! Including using the XenForo tools to assign the thread to the resource.

Thanks! I'll try and see if I'm allowed to "connect" the resource and the thread like you did. Nice feature.

...my Platonic ideal of how things will wind up is everything in formats that are readily usable in 2022, with threads linked up to Downloads Database entries assigned to the proper creator so things can be searched by creator easily.

I totally agree. Anything that can make it easier to browse, find and use resources is an improvement.


More .ace to .zip conversion candidates:

Rita Poon:

FINISHED:

CONVERTED - AWAITING CORRECTIONS OF DOWNLOAD PAGE:
Kongolese Leaderhead-Afonso, animated 3D era specific. - zip uploaded
Jayavarman VII (Khmer) 3D animated leaderhead (flics in post #1 and #99 (updatet ANC era), pcx in post #43 (.zip) and #47 (.ace) - zip uploaded
Ronald Reagan 3D animated leaderhead (era specific) - zip uploaded

TO BE CONVERTED:
---- Finished ----

 

[Jorsalfare]

You might be able to do that as well, it's the "Change Discussion Thread" option in the "..." menu at the upper-right of the resource. I know you can use that option, what I'm not sure is if you can assign a thread that you didn't start.

I uploaded Nzinga, and tried to connect the thread and the resource, but the option you're describing wasn't available in the drop-down menu (I got 3 options in the "..." menu: Edit resource, Edit resource icon, Change resource type). Instead, I added the thread to the "More information" button. Looks like I'll need your help to link thread and resource together - and of course to fix the author entry.

 

[Quintillus]

I uploaded Nzinga, and tried to connect the thread and the resource, but the option you're describing wasn't available in the drop-down menu (I got 3 options in the "..." menu: Edit resource, Edit resource icon, Change resource type). Instead, I added the thread to the "More information" button. Looks like I'll need your help to link thread and resource together - and of course to fix the author entry.

Bummer! I know it used to be possible in XenForo 1.x, as I wrote a guide for it a year and a half ago. But you're looking in the right place, it must have changed with the upgrade.

Nzinga is now fully updated as well.

 

[Ozymandias]

Quintillus... Good of you to convert the ace files

What he said

 

[Jorsalfare]

Bummer! I know it used to be possible in XenForo 1.x, as I wrote a guide for it a year and a half ago. But you're looking in the right place, it must have changed with the upgrade.

No problem. Less "work" for me...

Nzinga is now fully updated as well.

Thank you! I just move the links in my post to keep you updated on my progress. Do your "moderator magic" with the download pages whenever you like, and I'll try to keep my post up-to-date.

A tought: When you are de-linking Rob's original posts, maybe you should leave the text intact, since it can aid modders in figuring out which file is which (ancient, medieval,industrial and modern eras)? The filenames themselves doesn't really give a clue to which era they belong, so Rob's original lineup of downloads could make it a little bit easier. In the last conversion of mine (Attila) I included a readme file with Rob's original file list and some info that wasn't present in the thread.

Sigurd