On Mon, 2005-12-12 at 18:51 -0800, Steve Lamb wrote: > Alex Malinovich wrote: --snip-- > > I don't know, maybe I'm just dense or something, but explain to me why > > you would WANT to put that information in the archive itself? > > What, the checksums? Uh, so the reference is where you need it, with the > archive. No need to go external. Also since the checksums are on a > per-file-inside-the-archive basis you can see what files are corrupt and > extract around that. Something tar, esp. split tars, is utterly incapable of. > Trust me, I tried. This is all assuming that the portion of the file that got corrupted ISN'T the portion storing the checksum data. If it is, the file is of no use to you. > > If an archive is CORRUPTED (which is why we're distributing the sums and the > > PARs in the first place), what good will it be that the sums and > > recovery info are IN the file? > > Partial recoveries in spite of the above. IE, redundancy is a good thing. > Say the part of the archive that is corrupt is a file that isn't needed. You > don't have to wast an entire PAR on that section. Just extract the other > files and ignore the corrupted one. I seem to recall someone saying something about being responsible and educating one's self on a piece of software? You don't "use up" a PAR. It's not a bandage, or a tissue. It's perfectly possible to restore more than one file with one PAR. (Depending on the total number of parts in the archive set and the total number of PAR's included.) --snip-- > I'd say that's pretty much a certainty. Please, if you're going to start > blasting a piece of software on its technical merits at least do the > responsible thing and educate yourself of what it can and cannot do prior to > stepping up on your soapbox and inserting your foot into your mouth? Thanks. I don't believe I ever began "blasting" a piece of software. What I did was refute YOUR assertion that RAR is superior to a combination of free software tools that performs a nearly-identical function. If you want to use a non-free archiving utility, you are quite welcome to do so. Just don't state AS FACT your OPINION that an equivalent result cannot be obtained using different tools. I'm very familiar with the RAR program and its evolution over the last 10+ years, including the new features that 3.0 introduced. My question, as before, remains what practical benefit this software presents that CANNOT be achieved otherwise? -- Alex Malinovich Support Free Software, delete your Windows partition TODAY! Encrypted mail preferred. You can get my public key from any of the pgp.net keyservers. Key ID: A6D24837
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