Standardized downloadable formats

[spirithiker]

Winzip is used by almost everyone on these forums (possibly 99% of creators and therefore those of us who download). Please let me know if I am wrong, although I'm sure someone will, Thank you very much.

Someone uploaded a file with the extention .RAR which WinZip doesn't recognize. This was, at first, a minor nuisance in that I needed to download a seond file extractor, WinRar, in order to unzip this unit. Now, the minor inconvenience has become exclusory since the trial period for WinRar has expired and I can no longer unzip files with this extention. I can't justify paying $30 to register WinRar since I already have a "very popular" and "very acceptable" extractor. The price becomes even more unacceptable given the fact that very few creators use WinRar which makes the 'software cost to download ratio' very high.

Now, to make matters more complicated, I came across a unit with yet another file extention, .ACE, and have learned that I would need to download yet another file extractor to unzip it since, apparently, WinZip won't read this file extention either. And yes, this software maker is pushing me to buy this one as well.

This situation is very frustrating. Why upload a file that requires users to purchase additional software to download your units (or not download at all)?

As stated, I believe approx 99% of us already use WinZip, and I have not yet learned of any debilitating restrictions in using WinZip.

Can't someone make a decision to have creators use WinZip exclusively so that "all of us" can have access to the great units and scenarios available in these forums?

Please don't force us to buy duplicate software or exclude us from downloading certain files because they can't be unzipped.

I vote that we take this step towards standardization as soon as possible. Thank you.

 

[Rita Poon]

Why upload a file that requires users to purchase additional software to download your units (or not download at all)?

WinRar & WinAce get better compression.

PS-WinRar is capable of handling Winzip & Winace files. Get WinZip off your computer.

PPS-There are freeware/spyware versions of WinRar & WinAce available.

 

[Supa]

WinRAR is free. I use it for years without spending a dime for it.

 

[Supa]

Plus, WinRAR and WinACE aren't very heavy to download. I doubt you'd have more than 10 mb to get.

If a standardization is needed, I should be a step forward. Definitly not zip.

 

[spirithiker]

WinRar & WinAce get better compression..

I didn't realize the better compression factor. Thank you.

PPS-There are freeware/spyware versions of WinRar & WinAce available.

The version I have won't allow me to use it after its 40 day eval period. Where can I find a freeware version, please?

 

[Anarki]

Yar. I only have a few days before my WinAce Program expires.

 

[Zeekater]

Mine has expired months ago, the only thing it does is tell me every now and then to register, I just ignore it.

 

[MarineCorps]

Yeah you can still use it after the eval period ends. It just bugs you to pay a small fee to register it. I have had winrar since October and haven't paid a dime for it, Winace does the same thing.

 

[MarineCorps]

As stated, I believe approx 99% of us already use WinZip, and I have not yet learned of any debilitating restrictions in using WinZip.

You sure on that one? And BTW winrar is multi extention, it can open just about any type of compression file out there. Including winace.

Someone uploaded a file with the extention .RAR which WinZip doesn't recognize.
.ACE, and have learned that I would need to download yet another file extractor to unzip it since, apparently, WinZip won't read this file extention either. And yes, this software maker is pushing me to buy this one as well.