# EXEC : CPack error : Cannot initialize the generator ZIP

**URL:** <https://discourse.cmake.org/t/exec-cpack-error-cannot-initialize-the-generator-zip/5967>\
**Category:** Code\
**Created:** [June 29, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/exec-cpack-error-cannot-initialize-the-generator-zip/5967 "2022-06-29T23:31:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jshanab](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/jshanab/32/2555_2.png) [@jshanab](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/jshanab)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/exec-cpack-error-cannot-initialize-the-generator-zip/5967/1 "2022-06-29T23:31:42Z")

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I have used the following for quite a while in my cpack 🙂  
SET( CPACK\_GENERATOR “NSIS” “ZIP” )

But recently I get the error in the title.  
The only thing I remember is updating to 3.23.1.

Any know why this would fail or where I can find details.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jshanab](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/jshanab/32/2555_2.png) [@jshanab](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/jshanab)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 12:23am UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/exec-cpack-error-cannot-initialize-the-generator-zip/5967/2 "2022-06-30T00:23:55Z")

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When I switch the order the nsis generatator fails to init.  
In retrospect, i think this is tied to code signing.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/craig.scott/32/20_2.png) [@craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/craig.scott)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 11:46am UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/exec-cpack-error-cannot-initialize-the-generator-zip/5967/3 "2022-06-30T11:46:14Z")

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Try running `cpack` directly and add the `--verbose` option. Maybe that will provide more information in the lead-up to the error.

Also, try it without any quotes. I don’t know if there’s some weird quote-related error due to using things that look like quotes but aren’t. Just trying to eliminate potential causes, even if it’s an unlikely thing.