BetterZip displays this message box when the file name extension suggests that this is an archive while the file actually isn't, at least not a format that BetterZip recognizes.

What archive types do you try to open? How do you open the archives (e.g., double-clicking in Finder, using the open command from the file menu, ...)? What version of Mac OS X do you run?

Hi Robert. Standard zip files from different sources (the same files/sources worked fine before the beta update).

I've tried double-click, file/open and dragging in.

I'm using Leopard - and again, before the update the other day, all was well.

I could probably revert, but thought I'd check in here first.

Before you revert to the last version, can you please try this once again and send me the output from the transcript drawer. To get to this point, click "Cancel" in the password dialog and "Add" in the Matryoshka archives message box after going through the cycle once.

And what is the exact path to BetterZip.app on your Mac? I don't see the reason for this bug, but I suspect a problem with the paths of either BetterZip or the archives. I can't reproduce the bug on my own machines, but I have changed some low-level routines that deal with paths and filename encodings. So, that might be the root of the problem.

Hi Robert, I just updated to 1.6b from 1.5.6 and am seeing the same thing. Nothing in transcript except "Loading archive...". Would it be to do with the new determining type by analysis feature? [edit] Wait, that wasn't in 1.5.7 so I guess it can't be that.

This problem has been fixed in version 1.6.

Hi, I just registered BetterZip and upgraded. Haven't tried upgrade yet, but noted the reference for a bug fix in version 1.6. Since I am using Leopard, I figured I'd better check. When I went to "About BetterZip," nothing opened. Not sure whether I should be posting to a new thread, but would like to know which version I am using. P.S. I like your style :-)

Thanks, Renee! The about box is not displayed when you select "About BetterZip" in the menu? That's strange. Do you have a multi-monitor setup? Can you open the BetterZip preferences window?

You can select BetterZip in the Finder and select "Get Info" from the File menu. The version is displayed in the info window. Alternatively, you can look in the Read me file that accompanied BetterZip.

Thanks for speedy reply! No, I don't have a multi-monitor setup. (I have an iMac). Yes, I can open the Prefs window. (I haven't changed anything.) -- Weird, I just checked About Better Zip again and it opened. (I have 1.6.1.) Maybe I had to shut down and restart? In any case, it works. Sorry for the false alarm.

Okay, glad it works now.

Looks like nice software. Unfortunately, it keeps asking me for a non-existent password each time I attempt to use it. Frustrating? VERY. Back to the drawing boards guys?

Roger, this is indeed bad. Can you provide me with some details about your setup? For instance, the version of Mac OS X you use, the version of BetterZip, whether you use an Intel based or a PPC based Mac, and the exact path where BetterZip is installed. That would be helpful for tracking down this pesky problem that pops up every now and then.

Hi,

I am having the non-existent password issue too. I am having the problem with multi-part ZIP archives created from a single large QuickTime source (about 1.2GB split into 300MByte segments). The Multi-part archives were created in BetterZIP 1.7.3. No password was set. On the machine they are created on they decompress fine. No password is needed. I then transfer the ZIPs to AmazonS3 using Transmit 3.6.6. On my remote workstation I Remote Access in, download the segmented ZIPs and suddenly the files require a non-existent password to open (and therefore can't be opened). I have tested and replicated this issue on a 2004 PowerMac G5 (2x2Ghz) and a 2007 Mac Pro (2xdaul core 2.66Ghz Xeon). Have tested compressing and decompressing on each one. Both machines run OS X 10.5.5.

I am only evaluating the BetterZip software now (demo mode) but I really do have a need for creating multi-part archives and if this issue is fixed would buy licenses asap.

Thanks,
Daniel

Do you use version 1.7.3 on all these machines, especially on those on which you try to extract the archive? Can you reproduce the effect with smaller archives, e.g. 3 MB? Does this happen when you download the archive to your original Mac to another folder? I have recreated your workflow, but can't reproduce the behavior.

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the reply. All machines are running v1.7.3. I ran the tests you mentioned...

TEST 1
Encoding on Mac, uploading to AmazonS3, downloading again to the same Mac...I tried this and it worked for one of my two problematic large archive sets. The one encoded on a PowerMac G5 worked when downloaded to the PowerMacG5 (it wouldn't with two different Mac Pro machines). The one encoded on a Mac Pro asked for a non-existant password when downloaded to the original Mac Pro.

TEST 2
Doing the original process but with a smaller file - original 14.7MByte PSD file encoded into a 3MByte and 2.3MByte archive...encoded on MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.4Ghz Core2Duo, summer 2007), uploaded to AmazonS3, downloaded on PowerMac G5 and Mac Pro...success on both PowerMac G5 & Mac Pro.

If you like, I can e-mail you links to the component files of one of the two large problem archives (the more problematic one encoded originally on the Mac Pro has sensitive data unfortunately).

Thanks,
Daniel

Yes, please do mail me the links. It doesn't sound very likely, but maybe the files are corrupted after downloading? We'll see.