Password protect zip files-Terminal help

Question

Level 1

6 points

Password protect zip files-Terminal help

Hi. running OS 10.7.4 on my MacBook Pro. I want to password protect a zip file (FPTGH.zip) to send to both PC and Mac users. I created the zip file using the finder. That worked like a champ. The file is on my desktop. I opened Terminal and entered zip -e, my zip file name.zip, entered the password (correctly) twice, and I repeatedly get the following message.

scm's MacBook-Pro:~ scm$ zip -e FPTGH.zip
Enter password:
Verify password:

zip error: Nothing to do! (FPTGH.zip)
scms-MacBook-Pro:~ scm$

Then I tried creating the zip from the original file, and I get the same message:

scm's-MacBook-Pro:~ scm$ zip -e FPTGH.txt
Enter password:
Verify password:

zip error: Nothing to do! (FPTGH.txt)
scms-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$

WHAT am I doing wrong?

Stumped in Costa Rica. SC Morgan

macbook pro

Posted on May 30, 2012 3:45 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 7, 2012 2:18 PM in response to macmadam

What amazes me is that no one views this as ridiculous. It's right there with something being wrong with Windows and having to go dig thru the registrry to fix it instead of MS just releasing a fix. If the functionality is there, why should people have to go through all of this to password protect a zip file?!?

Stupid.

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Answer 2

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

May 30, 2012 6:02 PM in response to macmadam

To create an password protects zip of the file FPTGH.txt located on your desktop:

cd ~/Desktop

zip -e FPTGH.zip FPTGH.txt

Enter the password and verify it. FPTGH.zip will appear on your desktop.

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Answer 3

macmadam Author

Level 1

6 points

May 30, 2012 8:22 PM in response to Linc Davis

You have all been very patient with me, and, Linc, your copy and paste worked perfectly. I will put it in a file and use it when I need to do this in the future. Geez, you'd think Mac would make this a bit easier. Thank you all VERY much.

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Answer 4

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 30, 2012 7:43 PM in response to macmadam

The shell is not easy, and isn't designed to be easy. Trying to type commands without understanding them is certain to fail, and could result in data loss. There is no "undo." I posted the command you're trying to enter above. Copy or drag it into the Terminal window.

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Answer 5

Oct 1, 2013 9:29 AM in response to X423424X

Hi there!

This also helped me. I was having the same problem with the error "Nothing To Do!" but then copied and pasted your command exactly and it worked.

However, I have a new problem. Terminal creates the .zip file and places it on my desktop but when I go to unarchive it I get the error message "Unable to unarchive". The file I created a password protected .zip of is a Quicktime (.mov) file. 1.97 gigs in size. Attached is screenshot.

Any ideas or help is appreciated.

-Jeremy

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Answer 6

macmadam Author

Level 1

6 points

May 30, 2012 4:50 PM in response to Linc Davis

Hi, Linc. Thanks for responding. I tried it, it doesn't work

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$ zip -e FPTGH FPTGH.txt

Enter password:

Verify password:

zip warning: name not matched: FPTGH.txt

zip error: Nothing to do! (FPTGH.zip)

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$

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Answer 7

macmadam Author

Level 1

6 points

May 30, 2012 5:15 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc, I do have a file named FPTGH.txt on my desktop. I highlight it (although that shouldn't make an difference) and run the script in Terminal and continue to get the "zip error" mesage.

I've tried FPTGH FPTGH; FPTGH FPTGH.txt; and FPTGH.txt FPTGH.txt all with the error responses. When I try matching file names I get this:

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$ zip -e FPTGH.txt FPTGH.txt

Enter password:

Verify password:

zip error: Invalid command arguments (password verification failed)

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$

When I try use mismatched file names I get this:

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$ zip -e FPTGH FPTGH.txt

Enter password:

Verify password:

zip warning: name not matched: FPTGH.txt

zip error: Nothing to do! (FPTGH.zip)

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$

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Answer 8

macmadam Author

Level 1

6 points

May 30, 2012 7:37 PM in response to X423424X

Thanks for the suggestion but that doesn't work either. This is CRAZY. Usually things are so easy with Mac. I really don't understand why this won't work.

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$ cd~/Desktop zip -e FPTGH.zip FPTGH.txt

-bash: cd~/Desktop: No such file or directory

sarah-morgans-MacBook-Pro:~ scmorgan$

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Answer 9

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

May 30, 2012 7:45 PM in response to macmadam

It worked for me. I tried it before I posted it.

Look at what I posted. cd ~/Desktop not cd~/Desktop, i.e., space after cd. And two commands, one on each line, not one long line. If you just copied the two lines I posted it would have worked.

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Answer 10

BobHarris

Level 9

56,879 points

Sep 8, 2012 6:35 PM in response to Bugsy_Cali

NOTE: zip encryption is rather weak.

An Apple approach would be to use Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility to create a compressed and encrypted .dmg file which would use industry standard encryption.

There are lots of encryption and compression utilities. Apple would be crazy to try creating "It Just Works" solutions for everyone of them.

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Answer 11

Tony T1

Level 6

10,247 points

Oct 1, 2013 10:15 AM in response to macmadam

macmadam wrote:

Hi. running OS 10.7.4 on my MacBook Pro. I want to password protect a zip file (FPTGH.zip) to send to both PC and Mac users.

For a 3rd Party GUI solution see: http://macitbetter.com or http://www.springyarchiver.com Advantage is that you can zip (password protected) w/o the Mac stuff (i.e. .DS_Store)

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Answer 12

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 30, 2012 4:31 PM in response to macmadam

zip -e FPTGH FPTGH.txt

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Answer 13

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 30, 2012 5:01 PM in response to macmadam

I'm assuming you have a file named "FPTGH.txt" in the current directory. If you don't, replace that argument with the pathname of the file you want to compress.

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