Unpacking .crx extension with winzip

[myriam abramson]

Hello!

Winzip does not want to unpack my .crx extension even if I rename it as .zip. Is there a workaround to that? I know that 7-zip works but I can't ask my users to download 7-zip.

Thanks,
melipone

[Tom Coleman]

I'm curious why your users need to unpack the zip / crx

I know of no useful purpose of crx files.  Please teach me! :)

zip = upload to chrome web store, to distribute

zip = people can zip / unzip

crx = old way to install locally, or outside of chrome web store, which no longer works unless in chrome developer install.

crx = proprietary compression format, the chrome browser will extract to C:\Users\___username____\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions, but then disable it due to security.

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[Scott Fujan]

Crx files are still the packaging format that Chrome uses to install and update extension behind the scenes. They are just a zip file with some metadata and a signature prepended. 7zip ignores the prepended metadata and starts reading from where the zip starts. Winzip looks at the prepended data and says: "Nope! that isn't a zip file." So your choices are (1) use an unzipper that ignores prepended data or (2) cut the prepended data off of the start of the file.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/d/msgid/chromium-extensions/CAMHfwOhAbwy7CmDPanu-emRvMscHGC4Ugvyg%2BmUxPo2XFEqgEw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Dave Cooliave]

Try an extension called Chrome extension source viewer https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/jifpbeccnghkjeaalbbjmodiffmgedin. It will allow you to select the local file and export in zip format.