Does anyone still use Stuffit? I haven't since moving to OS X. Even Stuffit Expander rarely gets lauched any more.

In the commercial printing business it's a requirement because many agencies and art departments from businesses of all sorts still use Stuffit. There are also HUGE amounts of legacy files floating around which require stuffit.

I for one wish it would simply go away and people would learn how to use the Archive menu commmand in OS X so that binary files aren't constantly destroyed by people who can't be bothered to check their files before they send them. Not defaulting Stuffit zip files to archive binaries properly is also a MAJOR PITA because so many people steadfastly rely on it.

First of all, Stuffit has archived binaries into zip files, in the same way as the BOMArchive Helper (Mac OS X's built-in compression utility) since version 10. So, that is a non-issue. Secondly, you can get better compression out of SitX archives, than you can zip archives. Stuffit can even compress JPEG files upwards of 30%, and zip compression can't touch them. Lastly, the Stuffit Deluxe package includes some very useful utilities for those that work with archives, a lot.

OH am I? Then please explain to me, if you seem to know so much about Stuffit, why I recieve from Mac users dozens of zip archives a week that contain files with the resource forks stripped out. Yet, when I request that the customer use the BOM Archive Helper the problems mysteriouly clears up. Maybe it's because the Macbinary option isn't set to "Smart" or "Always" by default in at least the older versions of Dropzip. Even in Stuffit 10, you actually have to set Stuffit AVR to use "Smart" binary or your zip files will be data only unless you create it from the finder menu only.

And another thing. Try downloading the free demo for Stuffit 11. Go ahead. Fill out the form then press the "Proceed to Download Now" button. Marvel at the "ERROR 404, FILE NOT FOUND" page.

So there is NO way to actually check if the no binary zip file by default problem is fixed in Stuffit 11 without paying for the product.

Sitx is all well and good, but frankly, who cares these days whether you can squish your archive that much smaller when basically only other Mac users are going to use it anyway and massive storage is cheap and plentiful. When we MUST, in a corporate environment, use zip files almost exclusively, sitx is more an annoyance than anything else. Make all the apologies for Stuffit you want, but it has outlived it's usefulness unless it comes up with a more compelling, and user friendly, product that doesn't binary destroy files in zip archives by default.

Stuffit creates ZIP archives intended for Windows users who thinks .sitx is a virus so it doesn't save resource forks. Same people will phone/mail back asking what is that hidden "_ file" in their archive or if it is broken.

If you have clicked "Preserve Macintosh Content", it should work fine with Mac users.

So you suggest using OS X built in ZIP, aka BomArchive Helper? I got 4 G5s (quad mac) and if I use built in zip, I notice Finder uses single CPU while Stuffit, a commercial application uses all 4. I just hope the built in at least uses the CPU features.

I got a free upgrade so I have upgraded, no 404 or anything. If you don't have advanced archiving needs, you probably don't need Stuffit Deluxe too.

I have no clue why people bother commenting on versiontracker or here too. The people who needs it, especially this version will upgrade or buy if they like it. Nobody is stupid or "tricked by Allume". There are some people who needs to make sure the data is intact, highly encrypted and compressed. It is what it does.

ZIP is standard format thanks to DOS and Windows, it doesn't make it "good" or "very powerful". I had enough discussion with a developer who calls mac community "maccies" so I am kind of bored.

So, Stuffit Deluxe 11 shipped, it is universal binary and Cocoa, uses the gigantic database named "Spotlight" which Apple forces people to use, good. If not interested, move on.

For example I have zero interest in recently shipped Quark Express since "Pages" are enough for me. It doesn't make Quark "bad software" or thieves tricking people nor the customers some "morons".

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rpaege wrote:
In the commercial printing business it's a requirement because many agencies and art departments from businesses of all sorts still use Stuffit. There are also HUGE amounts of legacy files floating around which require stuffit.

I for one wish it would simply go away and people would learn how to use the Archive menu commmand in OS X so that binary files aren't constantly destroyed by people who can't be bothered to check their files before they send them. Not defaulting Stuffit zip files to archive binaries properly is also a MAJOR PITA because so many people steadfastly rely on it.

Personally, I use Stuffit daily because I must. I use the AVR feature because it is, in my view, the most convenient feature the product offers.

The only time I make sit or sitx files is when they are specifically requested, which is not often. Otherwise I use zip for maximum cross-platform compatibility.


Ilgaz: Nobody has called anybody a "moron" or claimed that Stuffit is bad software. You seem to have completely missed the point. I don't have any choice to simply move on because I work in an industry where Stuffit files are very common. I also work in a corporate environment where we have upwards of 2500 clients spread over several divisions.
I can't personally go to every client site and turn on "Preserve Macintosh Content" for them so their zip archives are complete. Nor can I force them to read the manual. Instead I simply send them a bill for my time I waste thanks to Stuffit's default settings.