Re: File archivers and special DOS/Windows device names

[Tauno Voipio]

"3APA3A" <address@hidden> wrote in message
news:address@hidden
> Hello support,
>
> If  archive  contains file with special name (such as prn, lpt1, com1,
> con,  etc) it will be extracted to this device instead of file. Tested
> with  pkzipc, WinRAR, rar, WinZip, tar (cygwin port under windows). In
> case of WinZip and tar file will be extracted silently, in other cases
> overwrite confirmation required.
>
> This  problem is only DOS/Windows specific. Tested on Windows NT/2000.
> To  test:  make  sure  PRN:  (usually  PRN:  is  an alias to LPT1:) is
> functioning  (that  is  you have printer connected to LPT1) and try to
> extract  attached  ZIP,  TAR or RAR archive. It should print 1 page on
> PCL-compatible printer.
>

Please note that this is a property of the DOS-based file system in
Microsoft operating systems. The file name does not need the colon after the
name to be recognised as a device name. Besides, the extension of the file
is totally ignored. The tool cannot have a list of reserved names, as any
loadable device driver name is included as a special by the Microsoft
system.

If it is not allowed to change the file name, there is no way to do the
thing gracefully on Microsoft operating systems.

Tauno Voipio
tauno voipio @ iki fi