Zip file uploading stopped working (Space Upgrade)
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Hi,
I previously purchased the Space Upgrade option SPECIFICALLY for the capability that it let me upload zip files to my blog (and of course let people download them from the blog). I am a programmer doing a games programming course and having a blog is one part of the course, so being able to upload zip files of my work is a feature I need, so that I can show people what I have done.
I now find that while I can still upload zip files to my media space, when I link to them in a post NO-ONE can download them, myself included!
My only apparent solution is to pay FIVE TIMES AS MUCH for the premium plan to get that same 1 feature, I have already paid for!
Is there some solution where I can get back the ability to share zip files with people from my blog and NOT pay a rediculously expensive fee for a “Premium” upgrade which actually gives me NO more than I already previously paid for?
Regards,
Brendan.The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi, Brendan.
It looks like currently we can only upload .zip files with the Premium upgrade.
Would you consider using a file service such as Dropbox? That might be a good option in this situation.
Best,
Brian
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Yup, I’m just investigating using a publicly readable folder in my Google Drive as an alternative, and cancelling the Space Upgrade as it will then serve no useful purpose.
That will save me some money, and cost WordPress the subscription fees. They are shooting themselves in the foot with this one!
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Welcome to the new WordPress.COM –
You should be able to renew the space upgrade and have the ability to upload zip files, but if the space upgrade goes away your visitors should still have the ability to download the files or view them (if they are pictures for instance)
The staff should be able to help you with the renewal – the new packages seem to have broken the renewal process so single upgrades for a significant number of accounts
I have flagged this for the staff to help
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Yup, I can *upload* zip files and link them in posts, but NO-ONE can download them! Not even me!
Some of the earlier zip files I uploaded before September last year are still downloadable, but anything from July 2014 onwards (yup, I have been quiet for a while!) does NOT work.
Google drive will be *much* simpler with less restrictions, and all I will need is the link in the post.
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If it was just images there would be no issue as they are allowed on free accounts with no upgrades. I specifically NEED zip files to allow people to see the programs I am writing for assignments, exercised, or anything else.
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For me – the zip in: https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/game-jam/ – does download – but
The message on my PC is the file is empty – a 37 byte file
The zip file in: https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/retro-game-final-submission/
Seemed to download OK and unzipped OK
Maybe look at your files and see if they are valid
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37 byte file … in other words it does *not* download. That sounds like the error page that shows in Chrome/Firefox for me, not the 6MB zip file it should be. The “Retro Game” file appears to be the latest one that still works (and worked for you as well) – anything later gives a file not found error (in Firefox).
The uploaded files were fine – I’ve been a computer geek for decades, and know how to make a zip file and upload it. The fact that the earlier uploads work is proof that I have previously had it work on WordPress. I also tried *both* WordPress file upload methods this time – neither worked for the zip files in question. This appears to be specifically a WordPress unannounced TOS change being the cause.
I’ve already changed the links in the latest 3 posts (about the Distant game demo) to Google Drive links, so they work.
Try this one: https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/distant-alpha-build-is-here/distantalpha1-1/
This is just a link to a WP screen for downloading the file. Clicking on its link produces errors for me, as it did with a the 1.3 version earlier tonight when a friend tried it – that’s what alerted me to the problem.
Hhmm, it would seem that WP are now analysing uploaded files to check the file type as well. I have just tried two files, an image and a zip file – the image worked, the zip file failed, even though I changed its extension before uploading. This image file uploaded just fine: https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=93
My original method to get around the block (before buying the upgrade) now does not work – this uploaded file failed: TinyTanks_test_zip.odt (zip renamed to odt: link: https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=92 )
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37 byte – all I know is what was on my PC
did not mean to insult you – but many people make errors
you have reached the ability of me to help – the staff should be by sooner or later – sometimes they tinker with things and don’t test very well
That they are checking file types on the upload makes sense to help keep people from uploading malicious stuff or putting non-approved file types on the servers
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Yup, seems the extension renaming loophole has been closed. Asking 5 times what I was previously paying to get the same functionality (and total space incidentally!) … not so cool.
So if they don’t come to the party with the previously paid for functionality, then I will likely just stick with the free version and they will lose a little revenue. The free 3GB will be plenty for my non-zip file needs, and I’ll move the zips to my Google drive, as I have already done for the latest few.
I’m only using <73MB as it is (though that would have grown significantly soon), so the free 3GB will be plenty for now.
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I lobbied against the cable TV bundle and lost – then for a while if you had an older account pre a certain date you could still buy the individual upgrades – then they changed the policy in the middle of the night with no notice to users
My suggestion was a discount based on the total cost of your upgrades – with the discount starting at $45.- and make it a sliding scale – buy more bigger discount
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Hi @bburwoodgames, can you clarify what’s happening?
For what it’s worth I can download the .zip file listed here:
https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/retro-game-final-submission/retrogamefinalsubmission/I can also upload files with the .zip extension and download them and have verified they open properly. (You can delete my draft post / test zip file, but I’ll leave them there for now so you can see what we’ve tried.)
Adding a .odt extension is only likely to make the files look fishy, so don’t do that. You’ll want to re-upload those files as zips, and if you run into trouble uploading, let me know:
– the URL where you get an error
– the error you receive (copy and paste it)
– the browser (and version) you’re using and whether this happens in other browsers too
Or send any other pertinent info. Thanks!
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Hi supernovia,
Thanks for replying.
I have changed the zip file links in my 3 latest posts to point to the same files in a publicly readable (read only) folder in my Google Drive now.
Your test zip file does download correctly for me as well – worked in IE11, Firefox, and Chrome.
As for the ones that don’t work, the Retro Game download from April 2014 you tried is the latest zip file that actually downloads properly. Anything after that gives a file not found error in Firefox (latest version, updated earlier today).
The error text in Firefox (v42.0, and the previous 41.x from before the upgrade today) is as follows (just change the file name for the file in question):
“File not foundFirefox can’t find the file at https://bburwoodgames.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/regicide-default-1-0-0-1.zip.
Check the file name for capitalization or other typing errors.
Check to see if the file was moved, renamed or deleted.”In Chrome (again, the latest: Version 46.0.2490.80 m) it’s:
“This webpage is not availableERR_INVALID_RESPONSE
Hide details
The webpage at https://bburwoodgames.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/regicide-default-1-0-0-1.zip might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address.”The extension rename was a last resort to see if I could get them to download correctly, but that loophole appears to have been closed now. (unless it’s just something strange with my account)
Uploading appears to work (both provided methods – drag and drop, and Browser uploader), but something must be going wrong somewhere given they don’t work when I try to download them from WP.
These are the ones that aren’t downloading from WP properly (essentially it’s every zip file I have tried dated after April 2014):
https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/game-jam/regicide-default-1-0-0-1/
https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/tiny-tanks-assignment-pvp-anyone/tinytanks/
The renamed extension version: https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=92
https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/distant-testing-anyone/distant-2015-09-25b/
https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/distant-alpha-build-is-here/distantalpha1-1/
Another test just now, using the drag and drop uploader, Firefox: https://bburwoodgames.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=98Other info: Windows 7 64 bit, AVG Free 2015 (download fails even when AVG is temporarily disabled), 32GB RAM, Core i5 2500K.
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Alright, it looks like these other files are likely failing the scan that checks for potential trouble. Since they contain exe files, which are on our list of files we don’t allow, I wouldn’t encourage you to host them here.
But have you thought about hosting these on Github or a similar service?
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They will *all* have exe’s in them – that is the whole point of writing programs.
Even the zip files that *are* working have exe’s in them. The latest couple are also installers for the game demo. I have no problem with WP Virus scanning them, there should not be any issue with them, but blanket blocking is just annoying. If there IS a problem I would like to know about it!
As mentioned in other posts I have now set up a publicly readable Google drive set of folders and will now link to files in those. Assuming no change in the WordPress position, then I will also likely cancel the space upgrade subscription, since it apparently now serves no purpose for my needs.
My whole reason for that upgrade was to allow me to upload zip files of my programs – containing the exe’s and all other supporting files. This worked originally, but WP have now apparently changed their mind about that, so they will lose my small contribution to their revenue.
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It would also be nice to have an indication in the Media Library page that lets you know if a file has been blocked from downloading – and preferrably give some sort of reason for why. That would save a lot of time on both sides, testing and trying to work out why it doesn’t work.
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Thanks for the feedback. I’ve made notes in our system and will contact you if I have good news. But I do recommend hosting the files elsewhere if possible. Github would be a great choice if you’re interested in showing off the source code, and others could contribute too. I hope that helps!
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