I was kind-of hoping to get another glimpse at themes.
Is anyone else having issues unzipping the pregen character pack posted today?
I was kind-of hoping to get another glimpse at themes.
Same problem here. When downloading it, the download seems to hang at like 14.2 of 15.0 MB. It's like part of hte file got cut off so it's not working properly when downloaded.
Also, WinZip's installer will try to install some other stuff too. Looks like you can uncheck it all. Just a word of warning.
I had the same issue until I used WinZip. Looks like it was zipped up using WinZip's advanced compression methods. Makes for a smaller file, but the standard WinXP unzip utility doesn't work. WinZip unzipped it just fine. Looks like they're the same pre-gens that were shown at D&D Experience, but with the formatting of the Encounters pre-gens. Wonder if this means that Bloodsand Arena and Death in the Arena are the same adventure ...
Also, WinZip's installer will try to install some other stuff too. Looks like you can uncheck it all. Just a word of warning.
Link please, to the pregens.
www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4...
Also, confirming the WinZip thing works.
Very poor form to use proprietary zip algorithms without a link to a free and available unzip program. I am willing to bet that the size difference between ordinary and accepted zip compression and the 'advanced' mode was very small. PDF files can contain compression already built-in if done correctly in any case. Zipping PDF files should just be to group them for download.
While the amount of space saved was likely negligible -- though over double-digit thousands downloads, even that can add up -- the "proprietary" algorithms you're complaining about are the current industry standards for such (WinZip unofficially sets them). That MS doesn't implement the standards in their entirety really isn't "poor form" on the part of WotC.
So what you're saying is that we have to add more un-wanted (as in new &/or 3rd party) crap to our PCs to get access to material that we use to be able to view without actually "unzipping" the file which the PDFs are in?
Give me a break!!!... I have dozens & dozens of zip files from WotC, that I never umzipped & still am able to open the PDFs to view &/or print. The issue has to do with them using some new zip format & can be fixed by going back to the format they had used before. If I am wrong about what the problem is then that makes it, even more so, something that was done at the WotC end.
**Not that it's anybody's business, but I use more of my PC for D&D and Organizing RPGA games (as a volunteer- as in NOT PAID) than for anything else; but I refuse to buy a new one or upgrade this one to make room for more programs etc just to open some files. So if people want to go on telling us to get more on our PCs, then maybe they want to buy us PCs that are new enough to hold everything we already have + all the extras we intentionally avoid.
So what you're saying is that we have to add more un-wanted (as in new &/or 3rd party) crap to our PCs to get access to material that we use to be able to view without actually "unzipping" the file which the PDFs are in?
Let me get this straight: you're mad because WotC is using standards-compliant WinZip to produce a ZIP file that Windows can't open because Windows hasn't been updated to support standards?
That this is WotC's fault, because they should find and use an archive utility that is not compliant with the standards to make ZIP files with because Microsoft can't be bothered to implement the standards?
And you're blaming WotC for this by claiming they're using proprietary compression and 3rd-party software, when they're using standard software instead of some knock-off proprietary junk, such as the incomplete MS implementation of ZIP protocol standards?
...
Basically, you're mad at the guy who sold you the oil, because your car's oil pan leaks.
Let me get this straight: you're mad because WotC is using standards-compliant WinZip to produce a ZIP file that Windows can't open because Windows hasn't been updated to support standards?
...
Basically, you're mad at the guy who sold you the oil, because your car's oil pan leaks.
I love how you assume that everyone is using windows...
So yeah, it's back on the guy peddling the oil that buildsup in the engine or just sludges up in the pan; not leaking out.
Edit: 9.15 now available as of today.
A better comparison might be: getting mad at the TV company because now they're broadcasting digitally, and you didn't get a set-top digital converter for the old-ass analog TV you have that "used to play TV just fine!"
So, just, whatever. That's goofy.
But I'm done arguing this: I have to go write a letter to Bioware now because their games won't run under Windows 3.1. I mean, my copies of Zork run on it just fine! It's ridiculous that I have to go out and upgrade to Windows XP to play Neverwinter Nights.
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ascottbay: Yep, saw that. But according to Vin, free software that easily solves the problem of your OS not being up-to-task is evil, too, because it is 3rd-party.
But I'm done arguing this: I have to go write a letter to Bioware now because their games won't run under Windows 3.1. I mean, my copies of Zork run on it just fine! It's ridiculous that I have to go out and upgrade to Windows XP to play Neverwinter Nights.
Hmmm now look who is complaining because they have to install something they don't want in order to use something released by a gaming company they spend money with....
It's the same principle, just a difference of spending money vs. freeware. Either way we both are being forced to get something new that we don't want to install on our systems.
But I'm done arguing this: I have to go write a letter to Bioware now because their games won't run under Windows 3.1. I mean, my copies of Zork run on it just fine! It's ridiculous that I have to go out and upgrade to Windows XP to play Neverwinter Nights.
Hmmm now look who is complaining because they have to install something they don't want in order to use something released by a gaming company they spend money with....
It's the same principle, just a difference of spending money vs. freeware. Either way we both are being forced to get something new that we don't want to install on our systems.
Heh heh.
But I'm done arguing this: I have to go write a letter to Bioware now because their games won't run under Windows 3.1. I mean, my copies of Zork run on it just fine! It's ridiculous that I have to go out and upgrade to Windows XP to play Neverwinter Nights.
Hmmm now look who is complaining because they have to install something they don't want in order to use something released by a gaming company they spend money with....
It's the same principle, just a difference of spending money vs. freeware. Either way we both are being forced to get something new that we don't want to install on our systems.
Methinks thou misseth the sarcasm.
FYI: There are ports of 7-Zip in multiple platforms. Just get one that works.
Note 2: 7-Zip for Windows, if memory serves, works with Wine. As such, stop the whining, install Wine, and then use 7-Zip, a FLOSS alternative.
But I'm done arguing this: I have to go write a letter to Bioware now because their games won't run under Windows 3.1. I mean, my copies of Zork run on it just fine! It's ridiculous that I have to go out and upgrade to Windows XP to play Neverwinter Nights.
Hmmm now look who is complaining because they have to install something they don't want in order to use something released by a gaming company they spend money with....
It's the same principle, just a difference of spending money vs. freeware. Either way we both are being forced to get something new that we don't want to install on our systems.
Wow...this thread is freakin HILARIOUS! I'm subscribing, keep up the good work!
Hmmm now look who is complaining because they have to install something they don't want in order to use something released by a gaming company they spend money with....
Sir, you are either the most awesome straight-man, ever, or someone needs to walk you through that "whooshing" sound you heard...
For Macs, there's also the free version of Stuffit Expander, though I don't know if it works in this case.
I don't think that does the new zipfile compression format. it seems that the PPMd algorithm is relatively new.
Hmmm now look who is complaining because they have to install something they don't want in order to use something released by a gaming company they spend money with....
It's the same principle, just a difference of spending money vs. freeware. Either way we both are being forced to get something new that we don't want to install on our systems.
You told him!
There is irony here too. I compressed those files in that zip archive with the industry-standard deflate method and the file size was smaller than the PPMd method used. So they were not saving any data bytes. The file size is actually larger and less standard.
yeah, except they probably snagged the industry-standard WinZIP, and had it set to the factory settings for it, which most likely used PPMd by default. I doubt that WotC intentionally used some obscure compression method, just whatever was the default for the industry-standard app. Which, unfortunately, is not the standard zip compression method (deflate), and therefore we are left with these difficulties. This problem is more the fault of the makers of WinZIP than WotC, who just used what was the obvious choice for zipping.