Need some WINZIP wisdom

Forums › Microsoft Windows › Need some WINZIP wisdom

Plasmaglows

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#27558 30-Oct-2008 15:12

Hi guys

I've got a little situation with a winzip file and it has me stumped, so heres the situation.

I work in a photo store and we have some digital kiosks with software made by an Australian company, these kiosks can
produce photo gifts (photobooks, stubbie coolers etc.) which the kiosk then outputs as a pdf file.

This is where the problem starts, the pdf file is put into a zip file, a zip file that we have to pay $6 to get unzipped so we can
have the pdf file inside it. We payed $4000.00 a piece for the software so this seems a bit excessive.

When I try to open the zip file I get the following message:

"The Archive is either an unknown format or damaged"

Now I know with 100% certainty the archive is not damaged so my guess is that it is some wierd format or wierd encryption.

I have tried repairing the archive which does not work.

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers

The difference between an Expert and a Geek? The Expert gets paid!

eXDee

4033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1070

Trusted

#174636 30-Oct-2008 15:19

Try 7zip perhaps?

tchart

2396 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 577

ID Verified

Trusted

#174648 30-Oct-2008 16:02

Yeah dump Winzip and get 7-zip (www.7-zip.org) as it handles most formats (even ISO images!).

If 7-zip cant open it it may indeed be damaged (then again if they can open it maybe its not). Are you sure it isnt passowrd protected?

Anyway, its worth a try!

Plasmaglows

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#174799 31-Oct-2008 09:14

7-Zip returns the following error:

"Can not open file 'D:\Digital Images\JOB8751.zip' as archive"

Any ideas?

I'm starting to think its not a zip file at all and that it is just a renamed file extention

The difference between an Expert and a Geek? The Expert gets paid!

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#174809 31-Oct-2008 09:46

Plasmaglows: Hi guys

I've got a little situation with a winzip file and it has me stumped, so heres the situation.

I work in a photo store and we have some digital kiosks with software made by an Australian company, these kiosks can
produce photo gifts (photobooks, stubbie coolers etc.) which the kiosk then outputs as a pdf file.

This is where the problem starts, the pdf file is put into a zip file, a zip file that we have to pay $6 to get unzipped so we can
have the pdf file inside it. We payed $4000.00 a piece for the software so this seems a bit excessive.

When I try to open the zip file I get the following message:

"The Archive is either an unknown format or damaged"

Now I know with 100% certainty the archive is not damaged so my guess is that it is some wierd format or wierd encryption.

I have tried repairing the archive which does not work.

Any help would be much appreciated
Cheers

I would bet dollars to doughnuts that this is a propriety compression routine, ( maybe related to zip, maybe not), and they just affix .zip to indicate that is has been compressed,

I am assuming that the PDF is compressed as these kiosks may get installed remotely, and thus they want to save on the "phone home" bandwidth.

You are probably fairly restricted in your options ( ie you have none) by the fact that this compression is built into the kiosk software and is proprietory.

Plasmaglows

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#174880 31-Oct-2008 14:42

wellygary:
Plasmaglows: Hi guys

I've got a little situation with a winzip file and it has me stumped, so heres the situation.

I work in a photo store and we have some digital kiosks with software made by an Australian company, these kiosks can
produce photo gifts (photobooks, stubbie coolers etc.) which the kiosk then outputs as a pdf file.

This is where the problem starts, the pdf file is put into a zip file, a zip file that we have to pay $6 to get unzipped so we can
have the pdf file inside it. We payed $4000.00 a piece for the software so this seems a bit excessive.

When I try to open the zip file I get the following message:

"The Archive is either an unknown format or damaged"

Now I know with 100% certainty the archive is not damaged so my guess is that it is some wierd format or wierd encryption.

I have tried repairing the archive which does not work.

Any help would be much appreciated
Cheers

I would bet dollars to doughnuts that this is a propriety compression routine, ( maybe related to zip, maybe not), and they just affix .zip to indicate that is has been compressed,

I am assuming that the PDF is compressed as these kiosks may get installed remotely, and thus they want to save on the "phone home" bandwidth.

You are probably fairly restricted in your options ( ie you have none) by the fact that this compression is built into the kiosk software and is proprietory.

I managed to find one of the files we payed the $6 to get unzipped and the file extention has been changed from .zip to .uz
from memory .uz is an unreal tournament format, anyone know a program to uncompress .uz files?

The difference between an Expert and a Geek? The Expert gets paid!

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 267

Trusted

#174925 31-Oct-2008 16:41

I'm willing to be proved wrong, but I doubt it's Unreal Tournament format. I'd be looking at makeup of the file and seeing if you can reverse engineer it if you really want it for free. Not sure of the legality of that. Don't you charge the customers the $6 anyway?

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

Plasmaglows

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#174963 31-Oct-2008 19:10

bazzer: I'm willing to be proved wrong, but I doubt it's Unreal Tournament format. I'd be looking at makeup of the file and seeing if you can reverse engineer it if you really want it for free. Not sure of the legality of that. Don't you charge the customers the $6 anyway?

Yup I'd put money on it not being a UT file also and yes we do charge that $6 on to the customer but that $6 is part of our cost and then marked up so to the customer its more like $10.80.
Essentially I am trying to cut down a product that cost our customers $49.99 and make it $39.99. Saves us sending $6 to those aussies and saves the customer $10. It's a win - win situation.

I have no idea how to even begin reverse engineering the file, an ideas?

The difference between an Expert and a Geek? The Expert gets paid!

eXDee

4033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1070

Trusted

#174966 31-Oct-2008 19:57

If you could create a sample file and upload it (eg on mediafire) someone might be able to help you with identifying it. If someone knows how to reverse engineer it as such they could then flick you a PM if the legality is questionable.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41029

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#174986 31-Oct-2008 21:10

Plasmaglows: We payed $4000.00 a piece for the software so this seems a bit excessive.

Is it in the contract?

Plasmaglows: Essentially I am trying to cut down a product that cost our customers $49.99 and make it $39.99. Saves us sending $6 to those aussies and saves the customer $10. It's a win - win situation.

Would you be in breach of the contract by doing this?

And do how do you think the original owners of this technology will react if or when they find out that you have been undercuting them? Would you lose the rights for the product here?

It wouldn't be hard for them to find out - after a couple of months where you send them less money than the average from previous similar periods they would start wondering why...

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

bradi

137 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#175927 4-Nov-2008 22:57

PFFFFFFFFFFFT to the capitalist... lol, get a open solution that's not supported in 6 months, there's no support now and the developer sold out to a Multinational conglomerate 7 seconds after you hit the "BUY NOW" button.

Open Source for life! yea!... unless your not a programmer and don't want to spend the rest of your life patching the source to do what you want it to...

Stump up the cash and pay royalties for the rest of your life... but be warned with inflation, Cost of Living increases and profit margins (not to mention, the developers retirement fund) your $6/zip will likely become $60/zip... don't forget to include a tip for all their hard work :), but hey everyone accepts that inflation is a real thing... petrol really is worth $2.20/lt

tony0709

31 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#178919 19-Nov-2008 19:59

I recommendmaking copies of it before you damage the file

Try to winrar it, then try finding the correct zip opener or iso opener.

It will also be a good idea to ask the people you bought it from :)