Actions/Split File...

Actions/Split File...

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This function provides a useful operation - it splits the selected file into equal sized sub-files.  While this may not seem that useful at first glance, many email providers, for example, have a limitation on the size of attachment that can be sent with a single message.  If the file is over that size, then the server will automatically reject that message entirely; the file can be split, sent in parts, then re-assembled when received.

The companion function - Merge Files... - restores the original file by combining the sub-files.

Split size:

Enter the split size in the left box; set the units in the right box using the pulldown.  Units are determined by the units drop-down list to the right and may be

• Bytes,
• KB  kilobytes = 1024 (2¹⁰) bytes,
• MB  megabytes = 1024 KB or 1,048,576 (2²⁰) bytes, or
• GB  gigabytes = 1024 MB or 1,073,741,824 (2³⁰) bytes.

The final size of the individual sub-files is a combination of the size and units selected.

Output Filename:

The output filename is actually a pattern for consecutive naming/numbering of the output files; the string "/N" (capital N only!) represents the variable numeric part of the future file names (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.).  The default is <original filename>.part/N, which in the sample dialog above (original file = NB200_D.zip) would create sub-files of

• NB200_D.zip.part.1
• NB200_D.zip.part.2
• NB200_D.zip.part.3
• etc.

The sub-file naming pattern must contain a variable (i.e. /N) and the numeric variable portion of the new files always starts with 1.

Tip: Be careful with leading zeroes in the output filename; they are treated as constants.  For example, using NB200_D.00/N as the pattern yields files NB200_D.001, NB200_D.002 but would also yield NB200_D.0010 instead of the anticipated NB200_D.010!  Explorer++'s Merge Files... routine can handle this naming, but other split/join applications may not behave properly.

Output Folder:

The output folder (where the sub-files will be placed) defaults to the same folder as the target file.  The folder may be chosen by typing (the target folder must exist) or by using the ... button to the right which opens a standard Browse for folder dialog (see tip for a picture of this Windows dialog).

Split

Clicking the Split button commences the operation, creating sub-files of the specified size.  The last file may not be the same size; it is simply the remaining portion of the original file.  Files are named the same as the target file, but with a number appended, that is, if message.txt is split, sub-files will be message.txt.1, message.txt.2, and so on.

Info: If Split File... involves creating a large number of files (e.g. > 500), there may be delays in response, depending on the speed of your computer.  Be patient - Explorer++ will finish the operations properly.