[TC 11.57rc3] - Cannot unpack bz2 archive

[kzaabox]

Hi,

recently I've noticed that when I wanted to unpack a .bz2 archive - contained a single .iso file - strange things happened.
So when I wanted to open the file (by hitting enter, or double click on it, doesn't matter), a Windows Explorer window has opened and I saw the content of the .iso file while Explorer's title stated that I'm now seeing the content of the .iso.bz2 file.

I closed the window and tried to open the archive with Total Commander again but now with CTRL+PgDwn. Nothing happened.
Finally I've tried with Alt+F9 (Unpack Specific Files) and I've got the error message in a popup: "Error in archive file!"

You can easily reproduce it:
1. Download official OPNsense DVD image from here: https://opnsense.org/download/
2. Hit enter on OPNsense-26.1.2-dvd-amd64.iso.bz2 in TC and notice how Windows Explorer window opens with OPNsense-26.1.2-dvd-amd64.iso.bz2 in the title while you see the iso file's content in the window
3. Hit CTRL+PgDwn in TC on OPNsense-26.1.2-dvd-amd64.iso.bz2 and notice that nothing happens
4. Hit Alt+F9 on OPNsense-26.1.2-dvd-amd64.iso.bz2 in TC and notice the popup stating "Error in archive file! OPNsense-26.1.2-dvd-amd64.iso.bz2"

Maybe this .bz2 is special or using a format which is currently not supported by TC.
WinZip can unpack it, but does not provide any metainfo.

Environment info:
OS: Windows 11 (25H2 26200.8037)
TC: 11.57 RC3 (no plugins)

[Horst.Epp]

No problem to open the bz2 archive in TC with Ctrl-PgDwn when the Total7zip plugin is installed.
Inside the bz2 archive is a ISO file which can be opened with TC 7zip.

[kzaabox]

Hm, interesting.

Total Commander comes with the "standalone plugin" version of 7z (TC7Z64.DLL) (7za.dll).
As far as I understand, 7za.dll contains only the decompression methods for bz2 but it does not contain the 'container handler' code so eventually it cannot detect the format of the archive.

So it means that TC needs the Total7zip plugin to have the full 7z support?
Is this a licensing problem?

[petermad]

Even though Total7zip can unpack bz2 files, it cannot show size and date when opening the file with Ctrl+PgDn - may I recommend using the BZIP2 plugin made by Ghisler: https://plugins.ghisler.com/plugins/bzipplug.zip

[Horst.Epp]

2petermad
For me, size is shown, only date is missing.

[petermad]

For me, size is shown, only date is missing.

You are right - my bad

[ghisler(Author)]

Total Commander does not support bz2 internally, you need a plugin like Total7zip or the standalone bzip2 plugin I created.

Moderator message from: ghisler(Author) » 2026-04-15, 08:18 UTC

Moved to will not be changed