Published by Eugene Roshal with assistance from the users of RAR, UNRAR, related utilities, and the RAR support sites. This document may be freely distributed for non-commercial and information purposes. This document may not, under any circumstance, be traded, sold, or otherwise used for commercial gain or purposes without prior written consent of Eugene Roshal. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions listed in this FAQ: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q: While I can see that RAR is a great program with a terrific user interface, there appear to be no facilities available to convert my existing archived files to RAR format.
Q: RAR incorporates a number of different compression "methods", what are the advantages and disadvantages of using them and which one would you recommend for daily use?
Q: I've heard a lot about "Solid" archives. What are they and how can I use them?
Q: How could a user of my BBS (E-mail system, FTP server etc) extract files from RAR archives while RAR is shareware and one must register after a 40 day evaluation period?
Q: I use "inspect" to examine mail packets, but it has no built-in support for RAR. How can Inspect be configured to 'see' into RAR files?
Q: The Maximus BBS software does not supply a viewer which is capable of viewing RAR files. how can this problem be overcome?
Q. Where can I get the latest releases of RAR and all the utilities that seem to be becoming available for it these days?
Q. I am having problems using Netscape to download files with the .RAR extension. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: While I can see that RAR is a great program with a terrific user interface, there appear to be no facilities available to convert my existing archived files to RAR format.
A: You are using an older version of RAR than 1.54 which includes it's own conversion utility called RCVT. This utility is FREE for RAR users and will handle most of your file conversion needs, including the updating of you FILES.BBS lists. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: RAR incorporates a number of different compression "methods", what are the advantages and disadvantages of using them and which one would you recommend for daily use?
A: RAR contains 6 different methods of compressing files, which one you use would depend upon your requirements. i.e. how much you demand the file be compressed balanced against how much time you are willing to devote to the compression process. There is always a trade-off and the final choice must be yours. Our recommendation is to leave compression as "Normal" unless you have good reason to change it.
Store No compression is used at all, the files are simply collected into the archive. This method is quite fast and is useful for simply copying files from one place to another. Fastest The fastest compression method is applied. This is slower than the "store" method. Fast A slightly better compression method is used, resulting in a smaller file. Normal A better compression method is used to achieve (almost) optimal compression, at a slight cost in time. Good A better compression method gains another increase of (0.1 - 0.3%) Best Uses the best compression method of all at the cost of 20% - 100% more time, for the purists only.
As you can see, as the packing method improves, the time required increases, but the increase in time is proportionally much greater than the gain acheived. This why the default and recommended method is set to -m3
If you wish to obtain the 'ultimate' compression from RAR, without regard for the time taken, then the best general set of rules would be:
.. Use the -s -m5 and -ds switches
.. Use the @ command with a file containing a list of the files to be archived.
.. Create the list of files to be archived using the following rule: all files should be 'grouped' according to file contents (ANSI-code, ASCII source, binary, executable, etc)
Q: I've heard a lot about "Solid" archives. What are they and how can I use them?
A: It has been well known, for a long time, that one method of increasing the efficiency of compression, was to copy all the files to be compressed into a single file, before compressing them. This is called creating a "Solid" file before compressing. There are programs around which indeed perform this operation and act as a pre-processor to another archiver. RAR handles this function internally and invisibly to the user, it simply "sees" all files together as a single data stream, with the end result that the final output is significantly smaller than it would otherwise be. The gain to be had from this type of archive can be significant and can be 10% - 60% of the size of the original archive.
As with any other gain, there is a price to be paid and that price should be taken into consideration before creating a "Solid" archive. The best way to understand if using a solid archive is best for you is to answer the following questions:
Q: How often are you going to update or modify the archive?
A: Probably never .. Use a solid archive
Rarely .. Use a solid archive
Frequently .. Use a normal archive
Q: Are you using RAR as a packer for an electronic mail system?
A: Yes .. Use a solid archive
Note: Use RAR versions 1.52 or greater to manipulate solid archives. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: How could a user of my BBS (E-mail system, FTP server etc) extract files from RAR archives while RAR is shareware and one must register after a 40 day evaluation period?
A: The RAR distribution archive contains a free unRAR utility, UNRAR.EXE, which can be used, without paying a license fee, by anyone wanting to extract archives created by RAR. As an additional BONUS to this, the source code of a portable unRAR is included with RAR version above 1.53 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: I use "inspect" to examine mail packets, but it has no built-in support for RAR. How can Inspect be configured to 'see' into RAR files?
A: Although Inspect does not contain built-in support for RAR, the problem can be solved by making RAR support Inspect instead. Load RAR and configure the external viewer to be Inspect.
On an archive that RAR recognises, pressing return on the archived file will open it up, and then hitting F3 will call up Inspect to view the files. On (say) an ARC, hitting F3 on the archive will call up Inspect which will open the archive and allow you to view the contents. This technique has been shown to work on RAR, ARJ, ZIP, ARC and LZH mail archives. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: The Maximus BBS software does not supply a viewer which is capable of viewing RAR files. how can this problem be overcome?
A: Janis Kracht in Fidonet Zone 1 provides us with the following MECCA script which can solve the problem:
[Comment RAR Contents Viewer by Janis Kracht 7-26-95] [ifexist]c:\max\RARFILE.BBS [delete]C:\Max\RARFILE.BBS [/l3][cls][ckoff][clear_stacked] [lightcyan][cls][locate 1 1]Name of file to view (NO extension): [yellow][readln] [ifentered] [goto L3] [ifexist]%Q\%J.RAR [goto doit] Can't find the file! Try again? (Y/n)[menu]yn| [choice]| [goto l3] [choice]y [goto l3] [choice]n [goto endit] [/doit][xtern_dos]rar l %Q\%J.RAR > RARFILE.ANS [xtern_dos]c:\max\ans2bbsp RARFILE [moreon] [link]RARFILE.BBS [/endit][exit] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. Where can I get the latest releases of RAR and all the utilities that seem to be becoming available for it these days?
A. RAR has its own "FDN" (File Distribution Network) which is available from RAR Registration/Support Sites, IFDC FileGate Hubs, Planet Connect Satellite Systems, PageSat Satellite Systems, paonline.com, and all FidoNet FileBone hubs.
A list of ftp sites may be obtained by sending an e-mail message to:
ftp.rar@knowledgebase.fi -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. I am having problems using Netscape to download files with the .RAR extension.
A. To configure Netscape, version 2.0, to recognize the .RAR file extension, perform the following operations:
Select the Options Menu.
Select General Preferences.
Select the Helpers tab in the window that comes up.
Click the "Create New Type" Button.
Fill in the Mime Type field as application
Fill in the Mime SubType field as rar
Now you will see that there is an entry in your list for application/rar.
Select that item in the listbox.
Edit the File Extensions field and place rar (no period) there.
Select the Save to Disk radio button.
Select OK.
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