Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Zip folder contents missing

0 helpful
8 replies

by honu95

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hi all,
XP machine with Outlook 2003. I'm sending a zip file with empty folders in it all named different things. I send it to someone and he says that the contents are missing.

I made sure that the spam/virus filter is not stripping the attachment. Then again the zip file itself is received, but not the contents. This seems weird as a filter usually strips the zip file itself. the person is on another domain.Sending it to someone on the same domain is successful (can see contents).

Anyhow, what would cause the contents to be missing? Permissions seem ok.

8 replies

by willcomp

Probably because empty folders are not included in archive files unless specified in archive program options. I believe that goes all the way back to Vern Buerg's arc (original archiving program).

Dalton

by willcomp

I don't recall any settings to maintain directory structure in Windows Zip tool. Can definitely do so in PKZip and WinZip.

You're correct in -d switch usage. Goes back to at least PKArc and maybe earlier in archiving software. Haven't used a command line program in several years now.

by willcomp

If I remember correctly, there was a command line switch for DOS version of PKZip that would include empty directories (folders). If I have some free time today, will check newer archive programs and see what's what.

by honu95

Thanks, even if you didn't have time, it's ok. I'm sure others can figure out the solution through our posts.

by honu95

The thing is, I sent it to another user, and was able to open it fine. I can try looking at WINZIP settings... Any other ideas?

by honu95

OK, so I need to preserve the directory structure of the empty folders. But how do I do that in the WinXP compress folders utility? It seems to put it in the zip folder without taking any parameters.

Is there a CL command that allows me to do the -d parameter for preserving the dir structure?

THANK YOU!

by honu95

Thanks. Ok so it turns out that the Windows zip utility preserves the directory structure by default but the problem is with saving empty folders. Do empty folder just not get saved?

This discussion is closed to new replies.