How to zip a file

Compress files using 7-zip

7-Zip is an open-source software that serves as a file archive compression utility, compatible with various computing systems. It offers versatile usage options, including command-line interface, graphical user interface, and window-based shell integration. The default archiving format of 7-Zip is the 7z format, identified by the .7z file extension.

how to archive a file Beyond its proficiency with the 7z format, the software extends support to numerous other widely-used archive formats, enabling seamless operations with them. Noteworthy attributes of the 7z format encompass its remarkable compression ratio and the ability to accommodate files up to a staggering size of 16,000,000,000 gigabytes. Furthermore, 7-Zip is generously distributed under the LGPL license, providing users with the freedom to utilize it as a cost-free software solution. How to download 7-Zip ?

You can freely download 7-zip.exe file from http://www.7-zip.org

Click here to download 7-Zip.exe

Once you have downloaded the 7-Zip.exe file, proceed by double-clicking it to initiate the installation process. Upon successful installation, the 7-Zip.exe application will be readily accessible at the designated location, specifically under the path C:\Program Files\7-Zip, bearing the name 7z.exe.

How to run 7-zip ? winzip winrar

For study purposes, there is no requirement to modify environment paths. Instead, you may opt to copy the 7-Zip folder to your user directory. To proceed, navigate to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt and open a Command Prompt window. Subsequently, modify the command prompt directory to your newly copied 7-Zip folder.

Usage:

7za [..] <archive_name> [<file_names>..] [<@listfiles..>]

How to compress (zip) files using 7-zip ?
7z a -t7z files.7z *.txt -r
how to compress a file

Above command compress all *.txt files from current folder and its subfolders to archive files.7z. The output filename (compressed filename) is files.7z

How to zip a folder ?
7z a testzip.zip test

Above command compress the folder test and the output filename (compressed filename) is testzip.zip.

How to extract files ?
7z e testzip.zip

Above command extracts all files from testzip.zip to the current directory.

7z e testzip.zip -od:\ext

Above command extract all files from testzip.zip to the directory d:\ext

7z e testzip.zip -od:\ext *.dll -r

Above command extract all *.dll files from testzip.zip to the directory d:\ext


Note: 7-Zip will always prompt you if there is a file it needs to overwrite to extract the new file. Possible Query Answers: 
 (Y)es / (N)o / (A)lways / (S)kip all / A(u)to rename all / (Q)uit
How to list (view) all files from an archive ?
7z l testzip.zip

Above command will display all files from testzip.zip

How to delete a file from an archive ?
7z d testzip.zip *.dll -r

Above command will delete all .dll files from the archive testzip.zip

How to update files in an archive ?
7z u testzip.zip *.dll

Above command update the testzip.zip file by adding all *.dll files to testzip.zip

Switches:

-y - Stops prompting. Automatically answers "Yes" to all questions. -ms=on - Enable solid mode. All files are compressed as one (unable to update, and olny for 7z format). Default behaviour. -ms=off - Disable solid mode. -o - Output. (7z x archive.zip -oC:Doc) -p - Password. (7za a pw.7z *.txt -pSECRET) -mhe - Encrypts headers. File names are not visible until decryption. -ssc - Specify case-sensitive (Windows default: insensitive, Linux default: sensitive). -ssw - Compress locked files. -sw - Specify working directory. -so - Redirect output to standard stream.

m - Method. Specifies the compression method

Switch -mx0: Don't compress at all. This is called "copy mode." Switch -mx1: Low compression. This is called "fastest" mode. Switch -mx3: Fast compression mode. Will automatically set various parameters. Switch -mx5: Same as above, but "normal." Switch -mx7: This means "maximum" compression. Switch -mx9: This means "ultra" compression. You probably want to use this.

t - Type. Specifies archive type that you want to create

Switch: -t7z Format: 7Z Switch: -tgzip Format: GZIP Switch: -tzip Format: ZIP Switch: -tbzip2 Format: BZIP2 Switch: -ttar Format: TAR Switch: -tiso Format: ISO Switch: -tudf Format: UDF
Create and extract a password-protected file

The following commands create password-protected file uisng 7zip

7z a arc.zip * -p

Then system ask to enter password:

7z : CommandName a : Add to archive arc.zip : Destination file name * : Add all files from current directory to zip file -p : Specify the password

The following commands extract a password-protected file uisng 7zip

7z x arc.zip

Then the system ask the password, when you supply correct password it will extract the zip file

Create separate zip files for each directory/folder

You may know how to archieve multiple files to one zip file, but do you know how to zip multiple folders or files and create individual zip files for each of them automatically ? The following 7zip commandline shows how create seperate zip file for each folder you select.

for /D %d in (*.*) do C:\7-Zip\7z a -tzip "%d.zip" "%d"

7-zip GUI (Graphical User Interface)

After successfully installed 7-zip, you can use 7-zip GUI (Graphical User Interface) to compress file(s).

How to zip (Compress) file(s) using 7-zip GUI ?

Right click on selected file(s) or folder(s), then you get the pop-up menu, select "7-zip" and then select "Add to Archive" menu.

7-zip windows

Then you get the next window and you can set your file name and preferred path from that screen.

7-zip linux

And then Click OK button. The files now compressed and saved to your prefered folder.

How to Quick Compression ?

Right click on selected file(s), then you get the pop-up menu, select "7-zip" and then select "Add to yourfilename.7z" menu.

7-zip mac How to extract 7-zip files ?

It is very easy to extract 7-zip file(s). Right click on the compressed file then select "7-zip" and then select "Extract Here" option. It will then extract all file(s) in the current directory.

7-zip android

"Extract Files" option will let you to select prefered folder and extract the files to that folder.

"Extract to yourfilename\" option will automatically create a folder and named your filename and then extract the whole files to that folder.