PA can't properly compress empty folders!

[manuangi]

I found a similar thread…but my case is different.

I wanted to copy to another PC the folder structure of one of my drives of another PC
The command I used to create just the folder structure, via DOS prompt (I’m on XP), was:
xcopy k:\software. /T /E
And that worked great. The only way I can have you get those folders - so you can work with them and confirm the bug - is via a rar file…here it is: save via your mouse right button (if you use firefox and it says the archive is damaged, it’s firefox’s fault. use IE or a download manager)
Decompress it, you’ll see there are no files, but just empty folders (321 precisely)

Then I tried to compress the empty folders just created (to make it faster to copy them on a floppy disk), using PA. The archive is always created BUT:
7z -> I get a 1KB empty archive
cab -> PA says it’s not a valid archive and can’t open it
bh, lha, zip -> it does not contain all of the folders, just some
tar -> when trying to open it, PA HANGS and I have to kill it! :eek:

I think those above are really heavy bugs!!

ah, I was forgetting to say…I’m using PA 9.20.07

[TBGBe]

@manuangi:

I wanted to copy to another PC the folder structure of one of my drives of another PC. The command I used to create just the folder structure, via DOS prompt (I’m on XP), was:
xcopy k:\software. /T /E
…
Then I tried to compress the empty folders just created (to make it faster to copy them on a floppy disk), using PA.

Not related to the PA problem which I cannot check at the moment, but why didn’t you use the xcopy command to create the structure directly onto the floppy ?
e.g.
xcopy k:\software A: /T /E

I don’t see any benefit to compressing/decompressing “empty folders”?
Note: not sure if you would need a “root” directory on A: first (255 sub-directory limit) ?
i.e.
mkdir a:\Manuangi
xcopy k:\software A:\Manuangi /T /E

P.S. from the other thread, did you try playing with “Full Folder Info” and also “Misc. Options / use normal relative path” ?

[manuangi]

@TBGBe:

Not related to the PA problem which I cannot check at the moment, but why didn’t you use the xcopy command to create the structure directly onto the floppy ?
e.g.
xcopy k:\software A: /T /E

I don’t see any benefit to compressing/decompressing “empty folders”?

it’s just that the idea did not come to my mind…but thanks to that, I found this bug in PA!

[spwolf]

@manuangi:

it’s just that the idea did not come to my mind…but thanks to that, I found this bug in PA!

It is not an bug - problem is that you are not adding any files, so zip engine thinks it doesnt have anything to do. As long as there is one selected file among your selection, everything should work fine, right?

[manuangi]

@spwolf:

It is not an bug - problem is that you are not adding any files, so zip engine thinks it doesnt have anything to do. As long as there is one selected file among your selection, everything should work fine, right?

Forgive me, spwolf, but I think it is a bug…I might want, as in the described case, to compress just empty folders…and then PA wouldn’t be of use…it fails.
WinR** does that compression nice and smoothly…and that’s why the only thing I could link, on my 1st post here, was a rar file.

[spwolf]

@manuangi:

Forgive me, spwolf, but I think it is a bug…I might want, as in the described case, to compress just empty folders…and then PA wouldn’t be of use…it fails.
WinR** does that compression nice and smoothly…and that’s why the only thing I could link, on my 1st post here, was a rar file.

okie dokie.

[manuangi]

@spwolf:

okie dokie.

what does that mean? are you recognizing the bug …or yr answer was just a sop?

one more thing…the fact that PA hangs when it has to handle the TAR archive…can you reproduce it?

[TBGBe]

Alright, I now have a chance to try this.

Using PA 9.21 with the “empty_folders.rar” results:-

Shell Extension “Test” reports all files OK.
Open with PA (double click rar file) and folders are shown in Explorer View.

• Extract (inside PA) to new folder, creates new folder but it is empty.
• Shell Extension “extract to empty_folders” creates the subfolder but it is empty.

Finally, I used 7zip to extract - this created the subfolders correctly.
Use PA (shell extension) to compress to Zip.

• This seems to work OK
• Test Zip - all files OK
  -> extract to subfolder - directories/folders created (321).
  

However,
Use PA (shell extension) to compress to CAB.

• Open with PA => Error as Manuangi reported.
  Use PA (shell extension) to compress to TAR
• no tar file created.
  Use PA (shell extension) to compress to 7z.
• 7z created.
• Open with PA and no contents, even in explorer view.
• “extract to empty_folders” creates the subfolder but it is empty.

So it appears:-
RAR extraction has a problem, because PA handling should be same as 7zip.

TAR works as spwolf stated - no files so nothing created not even empty TAR file.
7z almost works as spwolf stated - no files so nothing created except empty 7z file.
CAB has a fault, creates “invalid” file.

Not sure what is happening with ZIP format. It seems to work in 9.21.
Has something changed between 9.20.07 and 9.21 ??

[manuangi]

thank you for confirming, TBGBe!

now let’s wait for spwolf to reply!

[spwolf]

I dont remember if anything was changed for 9.21 that would make it work - since we have been focused on 9.5 for a while now, but if it works then yes, it would seem that something was changed :-).

I do remember checking it out few months ago as well.

[manuangi]

@spwolf:

I dont remember if anything was changed for 9.21 that would make it work - since we have been focused on 9.5 for a while now, but if it works then yes, it would seem that something was changed :-).

I do remember checking it out few months ago as well.

are you going to do something for the bug?

[manuangi]

with 9.5b4

compressing some empty folders and then decompressing the created archive with:
TAR, LHZ, BH -> the archive will contain just some of the folders. if you doubleclick on it, PA window will not show the files on the right panel with explorer view, you’ll have to click on the “+” left to the archive name, in the left panel
ZIP -> the archive will contain just some of the folders. doubleclicking on it shows those on the right.
CAB -> if you doubleclick on the archive, PA will say it’s corrupted. If you extract to a path, an empty folder will be created. If you “extract here”, nothing will be created.and PA’s decompressing window has to be closed manually
7Z -> everything is ok

So…I guess bugs still to be fixed!

[TBGBe]

Not clear - Are you trying to compress ONLY empty folders?
Or multiple folders - some with files and some empty?

[spwolf]

@TBGBe:

Not clear - Are you trying to compress ONLY empty folders?
Or multiple folders - some with files and some empty?

I think she is trying to compress only folders, with no files in them…

[TBGBe]

@spwolf:

I think she is trying to compress only folders, with no files in them…

Yes, but then I wonder if this is a “real life” problem? It is certainly something I have never considered. Still …
@manuangi:

TAR, LHZ, BH … Zip -> the archive will contain just some of the folders.

I agree this is a problem. It should be consistent, either ALL or NONE.
@manuangi:

CAB -> if you doubleclick on the archive, PA will say it’s corrupted. If you extract to a path, an empty folder will be created. If you “extract here”, nothing will be created.and PA’s decompressing window has to be closed manually.

This is also a problem. PA should not create a corrupt archive.

[spwolf]

• CAB format does not support this at all.

As to the all or non - are you sure this is happening? This is probably just related how relative path is saved.

[manuangi]

@spwolf:

• CAB format does not support this at all.

As to the all or non - are you sure this is happening? This is probably just related how relative path is saved.

Yes, this IS happening, and it’s not related to the path, believe me.
And if you don’t, try yourself and you’ll see I’m right.

That behaviour is at least strange, isn’t it

[spwolf]

@manuangi:

Yes, this IS happenind, and it’s not related to the path, believe me.
And if you don’t, try yourself and you’ll see I’m right.

That behaviour is at least strange, isn’t it

I did try it and it works fine in my example. Please post more information on what exactly is happening.

thank you,

[manuangi]

download this:
http://ftp.7host.com/mix/Temp.7z (save rightclicking)
uncompress it, there are 35 empty folders in it.

then compress those with all the archive types PA supports. you will see that with:

TAR, LHZ, BH -> the archive will contain just some of the folders (18 out of 35). if you doubleclick on it, PA window will not show the files on the right panel with explorer view, you’ll have to click on the “+” left to the archive name, in the left panel

ZIP -> the archive will contain just some of the folders (18 out of 35) . doubleclicking on it shows those on the right.

CAB -> if you doubleclick on the archive, PA will say it’s corrupted. If you extract to a path, an empty folder will be created. If you “extract here”, nothing will be created.and PA’s decompressing window has to be closed manually

7Z -> everything is ok

[spwolf]

@manuangi:

download this:
http://ftp.7host.com/mix/Temp.7z (save rightclicking)
uncompress it, there are 35 empty folders in it.

then compress it with all the archive type PA supports. you will see that with:

That link does not work.

thanks,

[manuangi]

mmh…ok

try this one:
http://greg79.altervista.org/Temp.7z (always save via rightclicking)

that will work, I tried just now

[spwolf]

@manuangi:

mmh…ok

try this one:
http://greg79.altervista.org/Temp.7z (always save via rightclicking)

that will work, I tried just now

great, thanks, we will check it out.

[TBGBe]

@manuangi:

download this:
http://ftp.7host.com/mix/Temp.7z (save rightclicking)
…
http://greg79.altervista.org/Temp.7z (always save via rightclicking)

sorry - neither works for me
If spwolf has been able to access - we can leave it here.

Otherwise can you just confirm
@spwolf:

she is trying to compress only folders, with no files in them…

or is it something else?

[manuangi]

@TBGBe:

Otherwise can you just confirm

or is it something else?

Yes, this thread is about compressing EMPTY FOLDERS (no files in any of them)

[TBGBe]

@manuangi:

Yes, this thread is about compressing EMPTY FOLDERS (no files in any of them)

OK - my results:
Create Folder “Empty Folders”
Create subfolders as below-

Compress (right click) to “Empty Folders.xxx”

with 20 subfolders:
Zip, BH, LZH - all OK
TAR - only 19 subfolders (last folder, in name order, is not present)

with 30 subfolders:
Zip, BH, LZH, TAR - all OK

with 40 subfolders
Zip, BH, LZH - all OK
TAR - only 39 subfolders (last folder, in name order, is not present)

Same whether Use normal relative path - is checked or not except
when not checked, the “Empty Folder” itself is not stored,
when checked, the “Empty Folder” is also stored.

[TBGBe]

Reminded by thw wishlist thread :
http://www.powerarchiver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1371
@TBGBe:

with 35 subfolders:
Zip, BH, LZH, TAR - all OK

with 40 subfolders
Zip, BH, LZH - all OK
TAR - only 39 subfolders (last folder, in name order, is not present)

Note : All folders are empty (no files).
Checked compress via shell extension, for TAR I actually used TAR.GZ.
Problem (?) still in PA9.51.01