How do you CREATE rar files?

[Commodore]

I've gotten a lot of use out of this thread, particularly the guide below on how to create split RAR files using the command line. I discovered an application that wasn't mentioned here that appears to be a complete decompression and RAR creation solution. It will create split and encrypted RAR archives. Check out Better Zip.

I use the terminal to rar files. Only because I don't do it super often so I don't really want contextual menus or programs cluttering things up. It's also pretty flexible to make split archives.

I used these instructions..

http://www.halfzerocan.com/how-to-rar-files-in-mac-os-x/2008/06/21/

Do those steps up to and including step 7. It's really straight forward and well explained of what to expect.

People mention that you can screw up your system but that's pretty easy to avoid so long as you don't do something silly. All you are doing is:

- showing all hidden files and folders
- finding the (formerly hidden) 'bin' folder, which i think is in the root 'macintosh hd'
- copying the rar file to the bin folder (safe to do, its just adding capability to terminal - you are only going to break something if you start deleting)
- hiding all files and folders so its back to normal and you are safe from yourself

then what i do is make a folder on the desktop, copy all files into it that i want to be in my rar archive. eg. Desktop\FOLDERWITHSTUFF

Then go to terminal, navigate into that folder with your old DOS skills =D

cd desktop
cd FOLDERWITHSTUFF

Terminal will tell you what folder you are in, and then you type your new rar command:

rar a MyRarArchive

I think of the 'a' as 'all' so it's 'rar 'All' files (in the folder I am in) and call the archive 'MyRarArchive''

so it will take all the files in 'FOLDERWITHSTUFF' and make them into 'MyRarArchive.rar'


If you do it once, it makes immediate sense. So I suggest just practice and fiddle.

If you want to be more advanced:

rar a -v100000 MySplitRarArchive

That will do exactly the same thing, but make part files of each 100000kb (100mb) in size. So approx for a 234mb file,

MySplitRarArchive.part01.rar (100mb)
MySplitRarArchive.part02.rar (100mb)
MySplitRarArchive.part03.rar (34mb)


Advantages over a GUI?
Not heaps really, but I think it is just as easy to do if it's not a common occurrence.
I'm sure someone could help write a script if you needed to make lots of rar files at once. Some sort of batch file sequence of scripts, eg:

-Navigate to first folder...
rar a -v100000 FirstRar

-navigate to second folder...
rar a -v100000 SecondRar

etc.


edit:
I think it's a processor intensive task and takes a while to rar large things. So because it's not really something I multitask while doing anyway, it's easy to just set up and leave for a bit.

Open Terminal

cd desktop
cd folder
rar a -v(filesize) Name

...Wait...

 

[Invisible Elf]

Isn't there a solution that would just let you drag a bunch of files onto an application to rar them? Considering mac is supposed to be so click-and-drag friendly

 

[Hugh]

Isn't there a solution that would just let you drag a bunch of files onto an application to rar them? Considering mac is supposed to be so click-and-drag friendly

I went to look for a program that would let you RAR, but all I could find were extractors. Except for MacRAR which is command line.

But if you want it easy to make PAR or PAR2 files I suggest you use MacPar deLuxe athttp://www.xs4all.nl/%7Egp/Site/MacPAR_deLuxe.html


Hugh

 

[Commodore]

Isn't there a solution that would just let you drag a bunch of files onto an application to rar them? Considering mac is supposed to be so click-and-drag friendly

I went to look for a program that would let you RAR, but all I could find were extractors. Except for MacRAR which is command line.

But if you want it easy to make PAR or PAR2 files I suggest you use MacPar deLuxe athttp://www.xs4all.nl/%7Egp/Site/MacPAR_deLuxe.html


Hugh

It's right above you... I just posted it...

Betterzip

 

[arossphoto]

It's right above you... I just posted it...

Betterzip

From the BetterZip help files: "BetterZip has unrar capabilities included that let you open and extract rar archives. To create and save RAR archives you will have to download the rar commandline tool from the win.rar GmbH web site and tell BetterZip the location where you have installed it. Attention: BetterZip does not include a rar license. You will have to purchase it separately from win.rar GmbH."

 

[motulist]

I don't know why this thread from 2005 keeps being resurrected years later, probably because it's high on google's search results, but over the past 6 to 7 years obviously this thread is now completely out of date. Here's just one of the modern solutions that're available now -

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/21430/simplyrar

 

[jcotteri]

yep that's how I found it. Thanks : )

 

[FCBarca]

Anyone know how you can change the option for the split RAR file size with SimplyRAR?...Seems to be set at 5mb and the dropdown menu is greyed out

 

[szolr]

Answering my own post so it's in the database. And also, does anyone know if there's an easy way to get it to make pars at the same time?

Here's a step by step guide for how to rar files.

1) Download the application called RAR at

http://www.rarlabs.com/rar/rarosx-3.5.b5.tar.gz

2) decompress that file and there'll be a folder called "rar" (no quotes)

3) in that folder there's a file called "rar" (with no quotes)

**** IMPORTANT NOTE!!! -> If you don't know what you are doing in this next step you can totally destroy your whole computer, so proceed at your own risk. ****

4) do a search on your hard disk for an invisible folder called bin. This will be in the parent folder usr.

5) drag the FILE called "rar" in to that bin folder. It will ask you for your password, so go type it in and continue.

6) open the terminal and go to the directory that has the file or files you want to rar. (for more info on how to do basic things like change directories in the command line, do a search for that info)

7A) once in the folder housing the files you want to rar, type this

rar a WhateverRarFileNameYouWantHere

7B) to make a multi file rar archive, type the following instead of the above and replace where you see "####" with the file size you want each part to be, in kilobytes (kb).

rar a -v#### WhateverRarFileNameYouWantHere



8) to create par files for that rar archive you just created, just use MacPar Deluxe and save your self any further trouble

There must be a simpler way than that. ^

 

[MacDawg]

There must be a simpler way than that. ^

That quote was from 2005 and other solutions ARE listed

 

[Commodore]

There must be a simpler way than that. ^

It's pretty simple and it works perfectly. That's what I do.

 

[John Doe 57]

Anyone know how you can change the option for the split RAR file size with SimplyRAR?...Seems to be set at 5mb and the dropdown menu is greyed out

Make sure you've checked "Split archive." After that, the "Split volumes into" option becomes available.

 

[FCBarca]

Max size is 100MB though, eh?...I suppose this is the best software for creating RARs

 

[matrix07]

I don't know why this thread from 2005 keeps being resurrected years later, probably because it's high on google's search results, but over the past 6 to 7 years obviously this thread is now completely out of date. Here's just one of the modern solutions that're available now -

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/21430/simplyrar

This is a GREAT post!

 

[plainOldNerd]

I searched the forum and only saw posts on how to unrar files, but I want to create rar files. I tried rarme but no matter how I seem to install it, it only gives me error messages. So I tried running the rar command line application, but I couldn't make heads or tails of the documentation. Does anyone know exactly what I should type in the command line to get it spit out split .rar files suitable for newsgroups? And does it also do pars or should I make those separately with MacPar Deluxe?

I am not command line illiterate, but I am command line challenged So don't feel like you'd insult me by mentioning every little step I need to take to get the job done.

os 10.3.9

thanks

Once you have rar installed (you've answered your own question in a later post including installation) you can easily rar files following your instructions.
I thought that I should note that I tried to add a password to the rar file by typing "rar a -p myPassword myArchiveName.rar myFiles.whatever" with a space between -p switch and myPassword. It turns out that in order to add a password to the rar file there should be no space between the -p switch and myPassword, so "rar a -pmyPassword myArchiveName.rar myFiles.whatever".
Hope this helps anyone that wants to add a password.