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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

Best reply

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Posted on May 30, 2012 6:02 PM

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.

View in context

16 replies

Oct 1, 2013 10:59 AM in response to Tony T1

Advantage is that you can zip (password protected) w/o the Mac stuff (i.e. .DS_Store)

You could --exclude or -x the "Mac stuff".

Password protect zip files-Terminal help