Decompression done right with Unarchiver 1.6

Even though OS X includes a handy contextual menu for zipping and unzipping files, the decompression chores (handled by the BOMArchiveHelper.app tool, originally built for expanding components during software installs) aren't always managed as cleanly as one might like. The default behavior of the expander is to leave the original files intact after processing, leading to a phenomenon termed "zip litter" by a colleague. Blech.

If you're seeking a zipless desktop, check out The Unarchiver by Dag Ågren, just updated to version 1.6. Built from the bones of an ancient Amiga decompression library, this Swiss Army knife can handle almost any format you can think of and probably a few you can't -- I'm personally very excited to crack open some DiskDoubler files that have been languishing on my old Bernoulli media. With the exception of the proprietary SITX archives, where you'll still need an instance of Stuffit Expander, this free tool can handle everything else.

Thanks, Jeff!

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Source: http://wakaba.c3.cx/s/apps/unarchiver.html

Even though OS X includes a handy contextual menu for zipping and unzipping files, the decompression chores (handled by the...

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Twist

Besides password protected .rar files I have had troubles with multi-part .rar and .zip and password protected .zip as well. Still a very nice product though.

March 20 2007 at 11:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Martin

I recently downloaded a "sit" archive, which Stuffit could not decompress. It finished work, but the files were not there. Maybe it did not like some file / directory names. Unarchiver on the other hand did the job just fine. Figures.

March 20 2007 at 5:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Michael Rose

Stuffit Expander recent versions can handle RAR archives, although I can't swear that it will handle password-protected ones.

March 20 2007 at 4:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mark

cappy:
Good point, I forgot about that. I too had issues with passworded RARs, I actually had to toss the RAR I was accessing onto a Windows box and use WinRAR since I didn't have anything available besides Unarchiver (I'll have to grab unrarx!)

March 20 2007 at 4:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

BAM

For me the BEST this about this application, is that it let you take care of the ASCII conversion of file names when moving files from Win to Mac...
Now if only I had the same option to zip and prepare for Win file names, I would be happy.

March 20 2007 at 4:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Michael Rose

Victor: NetTrek -- spbthppft! I will, however, happily trounce you at Bolo, as soon as I'm done with The Fool's Errand.

March 20 2007 at 3:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cappy

Unarchiver is great until you have a .rar with a password. I haven't found a way to enter a password so I still use unrarx for those. Otherwise I agree with Mark that it is very speedy.

March 20 2007 at 3:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mark

I primarily use The Unarchiver not for it's zip smashing powers, but for it's speediness. It easily beats OS X's default speed, and has that RAR support that all the ladies love.

Although not directly related, the same author's image viewer, Xee, has support for all the same compression formats and supports viewing the image therein if you have The Unarchiver installed.

March 20 2007 at 3:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

superpixel

OMG, DiskDoubler files on your old Bernoulli media? Wow. Mike, how's about you and I play a game of NetTrek after I get done with this ClarisWorks spreadsheet?

I kid.

March 20 2007 at 3:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply