File error when compressing my project folder

[full siren]

I can't figure out how to get rid of this error

[cerulean arch]

Did you try asking chat gpt

[hollow mauve]

@cerulean arch If you don't know the answer don't send people to chat generators

Were you specifically directed to use Google drive?

[hybrid harness]

What are you using to create the zip?

[cerulean arch]

May I ask why not?

[hybrid harness]

https://github.com/cjmcneil/PieChart/blob/main/FSTimeGet-bb902f702cefe471db155866868e4912 i found a similar-looking file

[hybrid harness]

because ChatGPT is good at creating convincing looking text

it is not good at answering your question correctly.

[hollow mauve]

Use version control and put it on git, entire project will be downloadable as zip file

[hybrid harness]

it feels a bit like a lockfile

i.e. a file that's created when unity opens and is deleted when it quits

that's why I was interested in whether Unity was open or not -- it might go away when you exit, if you do have it open

[hybrid harness]

this would be the ideal strategy (:

[full siren]

:/

[full siren]

yeah, that's what I thought too.

[hybrid harness]

what operating system are you using?

[full siren]

the problem is that i actually managed to compress it, but when i upload it to drive, it still detects the file :')

[full siren]

windows 11

[hybrid harness]

windows does love its file locking

"someone else has this open, so you can't have it"

i'd give your machine a restart tbh

[full siren]

okay! i'll try to restart my computer and i'll try again

[hollow mauve]

If you are compressing the entire project files manually you are putting there temporary files which take additional gigabytes of data in just shader cashes.

[hybrid harness]

also, yes, that's a very good thing to bring up

[hybrid harness]

this is why using VCS is so convenient: you can download a ZIP of the files that actually matter

you can approximate this by deleting the Library folder, I guess

(or otherwise excluding it from the zip file)

[full siren]

ohhhhhh okay

yeah, I usually delete my Library folder before compressing projects

i'll give it a try!

[hybrid harness]

ah, good :p

[hollow mauve]

Also looks like "FSTimeGet" file is from Unity's git extension, you should exclude that folder as well, as you are adding another repository copy to it.

[hybrid harness]

(the irony!)

[full siren]

oh okay!!! ty :)

[grave wagon]

Sounds to me like you are using the Send to Zip option in windows whilst you have the project open in Unity. Not a good plan

[full siren]

Yeah, I used the Send to zip but the project was closed. When I finish eating lunch I’ll see if the problem is solved :)

[hybrid harness]

also, you should check that the archive can be imported back into unity properly after you make it

speaking from experience as the TA for a class that just had a bunch of teams submit broken code...

🫠

[grave wagon]

yes, much better to use package export->package import

[full siren]

i’ll keep it in mind!! i’ve been making copies of everything in case i mess things up haha