Re: Changes to OpenVMS Patch Kit Formats

JF Mezei wrote:

"george.pagliarulo@xxxxxx" wrote:
versions of OpenVMS are being standardized and will now ship as
self-extracting ZIPEXE packages. When run, the ZIPEXE package will
expand into the PCSI$COMPRESSED installable kit.

While I assume this is a done deal which cannot be changed, was there
any consideration that double compression often results in a larger file ?

DCX is not real efficient. I believe that's what PCIS uses to make
PCSI$COMPRESSED output. DCXed archives will typically squeeze down
another 33% of the DCX-only size.

If you're going to be zipping the package for transport, why generate
PCSI$COMPRESSED packages ?

Because UNZIP can detect a damaged archive, and may ecven be able to fix
it, depending on the dgree/type of damage. DCX has no such provisions.

Also, will there be any way for cross platform extraction from that
ZIPEXE file ?

Any version of UNZIP should be smart enough to detect/ignore the SFX
stub prepended to the archive and extract the content, even if the
offsets were not adjusted - UNZIP simply notifies about unexpected stuff
before the archive content was located.

--
David J Dachtera
dba DJE Systems
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