Suggestion to ALL UPLOADERS

Uzi

Uzi

May I suggest anyone who is uploading mods to please encapsulate your work
in a archive format, such as ZIP (it is the most common of course there are others).

Reason.
Primary: It ensures if there is some corruption of the file during download or upload or
just on storage on the server, it will be immediately evident to anyone trying to open the
archive. Any errors will cause the archive to fail to open. THis is insurance.
If you do not archive, if the file becomes corrupt, it can cause all sorts of grief to later users.
The xtbl (ascii text) isn't going to have a red flag waving 'I've lost data ". The zip will when
a bad zip is opened.

Yes, it is possible to lose just one bit. The internet isn't perfect. Packets can be misordered.
Text based files almost always arrive okay, however not always. Servers can drop data
when shuffling stuff around on the hardrive. Stuff happens.


Secondary reason: It allows you to include a readme.txt for example, to maybe explain some
details for people, put your handle (name) in there for fame. It also allows you to name your xtbl (or whatever mod) to a name that conveys what the mod is to users.
It also allows you to easily increment versions so older versions can be found if someone wants to.

If you have no tools to make archives I suggest a free one, called 7zip. It can both make
zips and 7zip formats among some others.
There are other free tools around but IMO 7zip is probably the best for Windows users giving
it's cost and function.
 
Uzi said:
May I suggest anyone who is uploading mods to please encapsulate your work
in a archive format, such as ZIP (it is the most common of course there are others).

Reason.
Primary: It ensures if there is some corruption of the file during download or upload or
just on storage on the server, it will be immediately evident to anyone trying to open the
archive. Any errors will cause the archive to fail to open. THis is insurance.
If you do not archive, if the file becomes corrupt, it can cause all sorts of grief to later users.
The xtbl (ascii text) isn't going to have a red flag waving 'I've lost data ". The zip will when
a bad zip is opened.

Yes, it is possible to lose just one bit. The internet isn't perfect. Packets can be misordered.
Text based files almost always arrive okay, however not always. Servers can drop data
when shuffling stuff around on the hardrive. Stuff happens.


Secondary reason: It allows you to include a readme.txt for example, to maybe explain some
details for people, put your handle (name) in there for fame. It also allows you to name your xtbl (or whatever mod) to a name that conveys what the mod is to users.
It also allows you to easily increment versions so older versions can be found if someone wants to.

If you have no tools to make archives I suggest a free one, called 7zip. It can both make
zips and 7zip formats among some others.
There are other free tools around but IMO 7zip is probably the best for Windows users giving
it's cost and function.
Click to expand...
+1!
I, like Uzi, use 7-zip - http://www.7-zip.org/.
 
And rather poor compression ratios. I guess that's not a problem when you're packing up an xtbl, but if we ever get to the point of making radio packs or something (I have a personal love of old jazz, and a lot is now public domain so I could probably resend files of it) or even models and textures it'll start to have an impact.
I do concede the built-in zip is better integrated. After all, with 7-zip it's so hard. You right click on the archive, go 7zip-extract to (here / .\archive-name\* / open the manager to enter a destination) and you're done. As opposed to double-clicking and opening the archive and then extracting files with drag-and-drop to the directory window, or maybe adding ones in instead with the opposite into the manager window... oh, wait, I'm still thinking 7-zip, aren't I? :P

I think at this point the only reason to use the integrated zip functionality is the same reason people never bother to even try another browser than the one that comes with the system.. because it comes with the OS and they're too lazydon't see a reason to get another one.
 
Gondar said:
And rather poor compression ratios. I guess that's not a problem when you're packing up an xtbl, but if we ever get to the point of making radio packs or something (I have a personal love of old jazz, and a lot is now public domain so I could probably resend files of it) or even models and textures it'll start to have an impact.
Click to expand...
Yes and no.
Music in SR:TT is already compressed so changing from zip to 7z won't make much difference - compressed data compresses badly. Same with textures, most are DXT compressed.

Gondar said:
I do concede the built-in zip is better integrated. After all, with 7-zip it's so hard. You right click on the archive, go 7zip-extract to (here / .\archive-name\* / open the manager to enter a destination) and you're done. As opposed to double-clicking and opening the archive and then extracting files with drag-and-drop to the directory window, or maybe adding ones in instead with the opposite into the manager window... oh, wait, I'm still thinking 7-zip, aren't I? :P

I think at this point the only reason to use the integrated zip functionality is the same reason people never bother to even try another browser than the one that comes with the system.. because it comes with the OS and they're too lazydon't see a reason to get another one.
Click to expand...
+1 on this though ;)
 
Sorry about my first post being in a two month old topic, but I have another reason not to use the integrated zip function. Back when I used Vista (I know, I know) it would sometimes produce zip files other people could never open, no matter how many times they tried to download it, and occasionally, a completely empty archive.
 
SkyNinja said:
Sorry about my first post being in a two month old topic, but I have another reason not to use the integrated zip function. Back when I used Vista (I know, I know) it would sometimes produce zip files other people could never open, no matter how many times they tried to download it, and occasionally, a completely empty archive.
Click to expand...
As we've said, we recommend 7-zip :)
 
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