Unzipping files frustration

[theslaz]

Running a Imac with El Capitan. I am trying to unzip a file that was downloaded as 14 segments in the zip format. When I try to unzip these files; I select all the files and use the Archive utility. It goes through its motions and promptly gives me 14 folders; each containing one compressed file in the Rar format. Now if I want to complete the process; I have to select and copy each rar file individually and place them all in a folder. I than select all the files that are in the rar format; hit extract; and the archive utility will give me the file I want.
What I'm asking; is there not an easier way to do this? Is there a method or program that will unzip all the files that I have selected into that one file I want; all with one keystroke?
And yes I have tried numerous other programs; they all perform in the same manner. I'm hoping it's something that I am doing wrong!

Thanks in advance. I hope my explanation of this problem is not to confusing!

 

[DeltaMac]

Try The Unarchiver.

The usual setup for those type of multi-zipped files is to run the first one (with the lowest numbered name), and that will (usually) also unzip all the rest (if they are a set that you can expect to unzip into one large file). The Unarchiver SHOULD be a utility that will do that if it is less than apparent how to proceed.

You MAY need to re-download the original segmented file, and work with that, as a partially un-zipped set may no longer be successfully unzipped, if you chose the wrong options at the start.

You MAY also want to look at the download site again, as some kinds of downloads DO NOT get unzipped, but get used as is. I just downloaded a set of graphics yesterday, to use with LibreOffice, which specifically said NOT to unzip, but just copy the zipped file into the app package folder. The app knows what to do with the zipped file.
Yours COULD be something similar, and you might be over-thinking the whole process. (Just a suggestion... )

 

[theslaz]

It appears that with a Mac, what I want to do is not possible. With a PC; one can Highlight all the files to be unzipped; hit the unzip command, and you have your file. Not so with the Mac. My solution to this is to highlight all the files and than unzip them. They will than be in their separate folders as a .rar file. I than use EasyFinder to retrieve all the .rar files. I copy these files to their own folder; than I select them and unzip them. It works; just not as easy I would like.

 

[Gjwilly]

It appears that with a Mac, what I want to do is not possible.

It IS possible.
Use Unarchiver. Open the first zip file (the lowest number or more likely, the one without a number) and it will automatically find, combine, and unzip the rest.

 

[Alrescha]

Use Unarchiver.

If Unarchiver does not do the trick, I suggest that you give good old Stuffit Expander a try.

A.

 

[theslaz]

Tried that many times with all the programs I have (7 to be exact). They all do the same thing. Extract the first zip file and stop there.

 

[Gjwilly]

If the 14 original files are sequentially numbered and all in the same folder then something else is wrong.
Maybe the zip files weren't created properly?

 

[Mascots]

Tried that many times with all the programs I have (7 to be exact). They all do the same thing. Extract the first zip file and stop there.

The file structure seems odd, why are the RAR files (which are already compressed and split) being compressed and resplit into another format?
I may expect a single ZIP with 14 RAR pieces files in it, but to have 14 ZIPS, each with their own individual RAR piece, which are all actually a part of a collection seems... not right. If it's a standard compressed and split format, WinZip and The Unarchiver will join and uncompress it the same regardless of platform - I've never had a problem.

 

[theslaz]

Just did a quick attempt at unzipping these files using 3 programs, the unarchiver; Stuffit and archive utility. They all just unzipped the number 1 file that I selected.
I can't imagine that something would be wrong with the zip files; as I was able to unzipped them successfully using my method.

 

[Alrescha]

Thanks in advance. I hope my explanation of this problem is not to confusing!

So nothing has changed?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/unzipping-multiple-zip-files.1845420/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/archive-problem.1544418/

I have been playing around with files from many sources over the past decade or two, and have not encountered the situation you describe. It is possible that it is a format unique to Windows, since that is where it seems to work for you.

A.

 

[theslaz]

The file structure seems odd, why are the RAR files (which are already compressed and split) being compressed and resplit into another format?
I may expect a single ZIP with 14 RAR pieces files in it, but to have 14 ZIPS, each with their own individual RAR piece, which are all actually a part of a collection seems... not right. If it's a standard compressed and split format, WinZip and The Unarchiver will join and uncompress it the same regardless of platform - I've never had a problem.

I agree it seems odd. I switched from PC to Mac about 6 years ago. Never had this problem with a PC. I haven't had to unzip that many files; but the ones that I had no problems with; were ones that had multiple zips files and one rar file. Click on the rar file, and voila; success. The ones that didn't have that rar file; no dice!

 

[mmomega]

I agree it seems odd. I switched from PC to Mac about 6 years ago. Never had this problem with a PC. I haven't had to unzip that many files; but the ones that I had no problems with; were ones that had multiple zips files and one rar file. Click on the rar file, and voila; success. The ones that didn't have that rar file; no dice!

I've had this issue on Windows and OS X. I have to keep both around.
It is usually a file problem rather than an OS or App problem.
Exact same file on either system and it wouldn't unzip/unrar. Sometimes re-downloading fixed it, sometimes not.

 

[admwright]

I select all the files and use the Archive utility. It goes through its motions and promptly gives me 14 folders; each containing one compressed file in the Rar format. Now if I want to complete the process; I have to select and copy each rar file individually and place them all in a folder. I than select all the files that are in the rar format; hit extract; and the archive utility will give me the file I want.
What I'm asking; is there not an easier way to do this?

It sounds to me that the original file(s) has been compressed into a rar archive that is split across 14 files. Then each of the parts has been added to a separate zip file. I suspect most tools will not understand this. So as you have seen, once you extract all the files from the zips into a single directory then you can extract from the rar archive. All you need is a tool that allows you to select all the zip files and extract them into the same directory. Unfortunately all the OS X tools I know of create a separate directory for each zip, as you have found.

 

[Gjwilly]

It sounds to me that the original file(s) has been compressed into a rar archive that is split across 14 files. Then each of the parts has been added to a separate zip file.

And that is definitely not the normal way of sending compressed files so educate the person sending them to you and problem solved.