Jump to content

Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 January 3

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Computing desk
< January 2 << Dec | January | Feb >> January 4 >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.


January 3

[edit]

Turning Off Automatic Zip of Attachments

[edit]

There is a question mentioned above about ZIP in general. This is only very marginally related. I asked this about a month ago, but didn't get an answer to my particular question. I am using Windows 7 and Outlook 14.0.7140.5022. If I originate an email message, and attach a Word or PDF (or probably anything else) file as an attachment, it automatically ZIPs the attachment. I don't want it to do that, and have not succeeded in finding where the option is that says that all attachments are to be zipped by default. I was told that the ability to unzip should be present by default on the computers of the recipients of the email, but I still don't want the default to be to zip the attachment. I only want to zip the attachment if I have explicitly zipped it. Some of my recipients may not be able to figure out how to unzip it, or may have Macs, or may be using mobile tablets on which ZIP isn't readily available. Where is the property set that causes Outlook to zip the attachments by default? Robert McClenon (talk) 16:02, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Are you sure this has anything to do with Outlook? A simple search for 'outlook zip attachments' suggests this is a feature of WinZIP [1] [2]. Admitedly, I don't know why anyone would bother with WinZIP in this day and age, but perhaps something you installed is doing similar? Microsoft also seems to suggest that this isn't anything to do with Outlook but simply some added component [3]. This suggests QuickView Plus was another culprit at a time [4] although that's even more a case of "does anyone really still use that?" Nil Einne (talk) 16:25, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you. I have SecureZIP for Windows, which I think is a successor to WINZIP. Does it have a "hook" into Outlook so that it intercepts outgoing email and zips it? Can I turn off that misfeature, or do I have to uninstall SecureZIP for Windows to defeat that misfeature? Robert McClenon (talk) 19:33, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Dear @Robert McClenon: Dunno. Why not just switch to 7-Zip? It is free and has no such misfeature. —Unforgettableid (talk) 23:49, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
SecureZIP is apparently the successor to PKZIP the original Zip (file format) archiver, made by PKWARE Inc (which was started by the late Phil Katz). WinZip was and is made by a seperate company and originally was simply a GUI for PKZip took off with Windows (at the time Windows had no default support for Zip files), probably because PKWARE took a long time to have a Windows GUI version (I think it was even a while after Windows 95 launched).

Anyway if you look at the SecureZIP support FAQ [5], there is an entry for "Whenever I use Microsoft Outlook® to send an attachment, SecureZIP automatically compresses it. How can I turn off or disable that feature?" although I would also suggest uninstalling SecureZIP if you are unable and don't have a reason to want it.

Nil Einne (talk) 08:15, 4 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I should clarify I meant to say "I suggest uninstalling SecureZIP if you are able and don't have a reason to want it". My suggestion was based on the fact that I personally feel SecureZIP and WinZIP (or really most paid compression programs) don't provide much useful to most people and are more likely to be annoying compared to alternatives out there. (The exception may be WinRAR, although that only really because it's the only way to compress RAR files, as although 7-zip is frequently a better alternative, there are a few occasions where you may want to use RAR.) I'm fairly sure you should be able to disable the Outlook add-on without uninstallation, even if the FAQ suggestion doesn't work. BTW, since you did I presume pay for this product if you can't work it out it may be worth taking advantage of any email support on offer. Nil Einne (talk) 11:01, 6 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
In your original question there was a reply that suggested WinZip Courier - do you have WinZip Courier installed? 175.45.116.61 (talk) 00:20, 6 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Adjustable windows

[edit]

(This is related to the previous discussion "Transparent windows".)
Google Maps makes it possible for visitors to resize maps ("zoom in" and "zoom out") and to shift the region shown ("pan" in any direction). I am not aware of Google Maps or any other website making it possible for a visitor to adjust the map projection.
I am visualizing a Wikipedia page of California maps, including a map of California soils and a map of California vegetation. If a visitor wishes to drag the vegetation map and superimpose it over the soil map, it is necessary that both maps show the same region with the same scale and the same map projection and the same orientation. If rotation is possible, then that can adjust the orientation. For the scale, there could be three options: (1) using a slider, (2) using plus-sign and minus-sign buttons, and (3) entering a ratio, such as 1:100,000 (1 cm represents 1 km) or 1:63,360 (1 inch represents 1 mile). A map projection might be selected from a drop-down list, but this operation might be technically the most difficult of these to enable.
Which of those operations are technically possible with MediaWiki?
Wavelength (talk) 17:47, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Note that another common way to change the map scale is the mouse wheel. Also, as far as making sure both maps match, the easiest way might be to grab all the params from the stationary map, and apply those to whatever map is dragged onto it. StuRat (talk) 17:52, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Which websites illustrate those operations as you have described them?
Wavelength (talk) 01:20, 4 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Google Maps uses the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. I don't know of an example that uses my proposed drag and drop map overlay method. StuRat (talk) 21:37, 4 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for your replies.
Wavelength (talk) 00:17, 5 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

New ad problem with comic strips

[edit]

I don't know whether this is unique to my being at home, or whether it's just a coincidence. Once the library nearest my house is open again I'll be using a computer there to go to Gocomics.com. What has been appearing a lot lately is:

Do you want to open or save dvtp_src.js from cdn.doubleverify.com?

If I click on the x at the right, I get:

Do you want to open or save OAD_Comscore_NoID2.js from secure-ds.serving-sys.com?

Is this something to be concerned about?— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 18:05, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

You might tell the librarian about it. It looks like some malware has installed on the PC, but that the security settings do allow you to verify if you want to install more of their junk. Or perhaps those are just normal files that some of the software tries to download. In any case, it's annoying, so they might want to change their security settings a bit. However, there's some risk that it may be the site you are using that's trying to download that junk, and that they therefore may block it. StuRat (talk) 19:07, 3 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
I am at home, but thanks. Once I can go to the library tomorrow, I won't be going to the site at home.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 18:46, 4 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
It keeps happening (still at home) and sometimes the order is reversed but I think it's the same two messages. I also got the pair of messages once on Uexpress.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 19:55, 4 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
It did not happen at the library. And as far as I know, that library will not close again until a weekend in March, so I don't have to go to the site at home until then. I am going to report this to gocomics.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 20:24, 5 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Done. I'll report back if they have anything to say.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 20:48, 5 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Universal Uclick Support, Jan 05 03:12 PM:

Hello,

These are not from our site, and must be the result of spam software on your browser.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Thank you, GoComics Support a Universal Uclick Service

Of course they won't take credit. They get advertising from people who pull these stunts, and then they say, "It's not our fault."— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 14:20, 6 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]
I didn't document exactly what happened, but at the library, it happened with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 21:30, 7 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]