switching from zip to rar

**kryton9** · 11-03-2007, 01:08

Guys, it would be nice to switch from zip to rar on the forums.
I did a test on the same 2 files in both formats.

First an executeable.
Original exe: 449 KB
Zip: 225 KB
Rar: 181 KB

Original wmv: 12.5 MB
Zip: 11.3 MB
Rar: 7.9 MB

What do you think?

**Michael Hartlef** · 11-03-2007, 09:03

It's good, I know that rar can produce smaller files.

**kryton9** · 12-03-2007, 01:43

I don't know if SMF will allow rar uploads? It will be nice to switch to that and save time for everyone and space

**ErosOlmi** · 12-03-2007, 21:44

Hi Ken,

SMF accepts the file extensions admin configure.
I've added .rar extesion so you can now attach RAR files too.

Just one thing: .zip files are handled directly from WinXP OS without the need to install any application, while to manage .RAR files you need to install an additional application.

Just to let people know.

Ciao
Eros

**kryton9** · 12-03-2007, 22:04

Thanks Eros. If using Rar will be a problem for anyone let us know and can always put it up in zip too then, if needed.

**ErosOlmi** · 12-03-2007, 22:18

OK Ken.

I think it will be a user by user matter.

Ciao
Eros

**ISAWHIM** · 27-11-2008, 11:08

Just a note...

Those results look like you have not selected any compression, or standard compression. RAR and ZIP are comparatively close, when you select maximum compression. By default, ZIP uses normal, as it is faster to process. The "Windows" {Zip Folder} does not compress to maximum, as per the rights to WinZip which have stipulated use limitations. That is why they still sell WinZip. This also goes for any other "Free Zip" format program. (Which is just windows ZipFolder function.)

ZIP also zips each individual file separately, RAR zips the entire contents. (Does not matter on small files, but on large files, the whole RAR must be unzipped to extract any mid-item from the file, before it can display it. ZIP will just copy the portion needed, and unzip just that file.)

You can also go to any folder, in windows, turn it into a ZIP folder, and read/write to it like any other folder. (Though you can not alter the internal files contents inside the actual file. They must be replaced with altered content since the folder is actually a file of files.)

I still get ugly corruption with RAR, and there is no hope of file extraction on a corrupted RAR. (Unless you use the compression that is fixable, which is bulkier than any ZIP format.)