StuffIt Expander 4.5 and expanding hqx and bin files: a follow-up

Last time, we mentioned readers' claims that the Netscape browsers ship with StuffIt Expander 4.5 and that this version will not expand .hqx and .bin files without the addition of DropStuff with Expander Enhancer - which does not come with the Netscape software.

Several readers asserted that this was not correct. They pointed out that, if you do not have the current version of DropStuff with EE, you will now get an message asking you to upgrade. However, .bin and .hqx files will still be expanded even without the DropStuff upgrade.

An Aladdin Web page states that you can use Expander 4.5 "as is, to expand StuffIt, Compact Pro, BinHex & MacBinary files." So it appears that the report from last time is incorrect. However, some readers continue to report an inability to expand these files with 4.5. I am checking with Aladdin for further clarification.

Update: I received the following reply from Aladdin today:

StuffIt Expander 4.5, when used without the StuffIt Engine, is able to expand BinHex and MacBinary encoded files, as well as StuffIt archives, Compact Pro files, and Private File encrypted documents. StuffIt Expander 4.5 can also be used to mount disk images.

If StuffIt Expander 4.5 is used without the StuffIt Engine on a Power Macintosh, the following message is generated after the files have been expanded, "As an owner of a Power Macintosh you should get DropStuff with Expander Enhancer". This message can be disabled by clicking the Don't Remind me button.

The message, "One of the files you tried to expand could have been expanded if you had DropStuff with Expander Enhancer" is produced when users try to expand a file that would be supported if the StuffIt Engine was installed.

StuffIt Expander 5.0 should be posted to our Web page sometime later on today (so far, this has not occurred), and it will also be able to expand BinHex, MacBinary, Stuffit archives, Compact Pro files, and Private File encrypted documents without the Stuffit Engine. StuffIt Expander 5.0 will also support the new archive format used by StuffIt Deluxe 5.0. When Deluxe 5.0 ships later this month your readers may start to encounter StuffIt archives that their old versions of Expander will not open. These files have a similar icon to the older StuffIt archives, but can be identified by the addition of a small red square above and to the left of the StuffIt clamp on the blue splash. StuffIt Expander 5.0 can be used "as is" to expand this new archive format.