RAR compression library

[jzip_admin]

As you know jZip currently supports opening and extracting RAR files (as the underlying 7-Zip library) but not creating and adding files to a RAR archive. We would really like to add RAR compression (i.e. the ability to create RAR archives, add files to RAR archives etc) to jZip, actually this is feedback we got from you users, so we know that you really want us to do that.

We are looking for options for such a RAR engine and we thought that it would be good to get your help on that subject. If you know of any RAR compression open source library or even a commercial library let us know – even if it is not completely working or done we can help in completing it and making it happen.

Thanks for the help, together we will make jZip great J

The jZip team

[Firebrand]

I've got you an interesting link, hope it'll help you :D, keep up the nice work on this utility, I really like it a lot!

http://www.unrarlib.org/

EDIT: Maybe this wikipedia article might help you too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAR_(file_format) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAR_%28file_format%29)

[jzip_admin]

Thanks - looked at that link before - it's an unRAR decompression only library.

[DGMurdockIII]

gnochive - http://gnochive.sourceforge.net

[jzip_admin]

Thanks - will take a look

Looked at it - it looks like a GUI frontend only, not a compression engine.

[thibeaz]

As a developer myself I find it important to read the license of all the applications I download and you'll notice that unrar is the only open-source component of WinRAR, To compress rar you would need to contact the author of WinRAR and see if you use Rar source in your code but it's highly unlikely as the actual Rar compression is closed source

[char101]

Hi,

I don't think there is any open source rar compression library since it is patented. But instead of using a library functions, maybe you can use the rar command line program, i.e. if someone already has WinRAR installed on his computer, you can use the rar.exe to create/update rar archive with jZip interface. I think the path to the rar.exe executable can be found in the registry or it can be set from jZip options dialog.

[jzip_admin]

interesting idea... :-)

[thibeaz]

Just be sure you get permission to use the console version of WinRAR, You guys don't need any legal issues from WinRAR's author

[provolino]

You can try to contact "Eugene Roshal" at dev@rarlab.com.

He's one of the RAR compression engine developers and maybe he can decide to give you the permission to use rar engine in JZip.

I already talked to him in the past and he always answered to all my questions :)

[Ajax]

Hey

This is what I found:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=207033
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=152708

:D

Don't know if it will help any....

If not its time to pull out the old text editor and Freedom to tinker it...

[Ajax]

http://www.klaimsoft.com/winuha/
http://www.winace.com/

I would like to see support for this as well...:cool::rolleyes:

[jzip_admin]

Thanks, we will probably have to go back to the text editor as suggested :-)

[calande]

If I were you, I would detect if RAR is installed on the computer, and use it passing arguments to the application itself using the shell :)

Looks like the only solution, as it's closed source and apparently patented :(

[jzip_admin]

Yeah - that is an option - but would it be really useful for users? I mean what is the likelihood of WinRAR being installed and the user ending up using another tool for RAR files?

[calande]

what is the likelihood of WinRAR being installed and the user ending up using another tool for RAR files?

For casual users, they will use whatever tool is set as default to handle .rar files :(

[Ajax]

Well as far as I see it the unrar.exe and compilation of such should give a good story on how the compression is made.
So if you take a step in the reverse you will see how to make such a file...

:p

In the undoing is the answer take the unrar spec sheet and reverse it and create code to do the opposite of what unrar dose... Simple...:rolleyes:

I could do it if it were written in VB LOL..:D

[Ajax]

Is this thread dead??? :(

Is jzip going to pursue a rar compression library???:confused:

[jzip_admin]

The thread is not dead - we are still looking to find a rar compression library or code - but were not succesful till now. Any ideas for a legit resource would be appreciated - the unrar gives some insight but it can not be used to create a RAR.

[thibeaz]

Unfortunetly you'll find no real way as the source is under a commercial license which would require either one Commercializing and making people pay for jZip so that people can have Rar compression or linking to rar.exe when winrar is installed, my suggestion would either link to the rar executable or just support rar extractions only,

I know it's a lot to take in but it's something to really consider, Because if you do include the rar compression you need to comply to their license which could possibly violate the GNU LGPL and your eula (all depending)

[jzip_admin]

Thanks! good idea, will do.

[Ajax]

If you write your OWN code for the library your looking to build for jzip it won't violate anything because it will be your OWN code... There in you can licence it under what ever you please whether it be GPL, GNU, LGPL, or any of the others...
:D

[thibeaz]

If you write your OWN code for the library your looking to build for jzip it won't violate anything because it will be your OWN code... There in you can licence it under what ever you please whether it be GPL, GNU, LGPL, or any of the others...
:D
Well for one thing we need to know what compression code Rar uses which means looking in to the source of Rar and also GNU is GPL not a license in it self ;)