Microsoft has not yet matured to the idea of introducing an archiver into the Windows environment that could support many types of archives. Even the current version of system 10, into which quite a lot of new functions were initially introduced during release and as a result of cumulative updates, has not evolved in any way in terms of the functionality for archiving and unarchiving data. Its regular archiver, implemented back in Windows 98 and migrated in the follower version, provides for work only with archives ZIP
.
How to provide in Windows work with archives of other formats? Below we will talk about several third-party archiving programs, but first a few words about a few features of the operating system itself.
1.Zip archiver included in Windows
If, for example, you urgently need to upload to a cloud service or send a batch of files by mail, Windows will cope with the task itself. Files to be sent must be collected in a folder or all of them must be selected in a block, call the context menu, select, then - "Compressed ZIP Folder".
Since unpacking ZIP supported by the operating system, the recipient does not need to resort to using third-party archiving programs, he will be able to freely access the data. The archives are viewed in the system explorer as regular folders, and they are unpacked when the archive files are run.
Unzip ZIP with an indication of a specific way of extracting data is also possible from context menu conductor.
Format supported by standard Windows functionality ZIP is not the most common. Most often, files downloaded from the Internet are packed in the format RAR ... Also on the network you can find files compressed in 7z, TAR, Gz and other types of archives. To unpack them, a third-party archiver with support for the appropriate format must be present in the system.
2. WinRAR
The most popular archiver in the world - WinRAR... Having used it for years, many users do not even suspect that it is a paid program. All thanks to the unlimited loyalty of the developers. Integrated into Windows, from the Explorer context menu, the program works like a regular free product. Only at startup WinRAR or viewing archive data after 40 days after the installation of the program, an unobtrusive notification appears with a request to pay for the license.
WinRAR - a program with a user-friendly interface, extensive functionality, an optimal ratio of the degree of data compression and the speed of operations. It supports many formats, in particular RAR, ZIP, 7-Zip, CAB... It can pack self-extracting archives, split the archived content into parts, set password access.
To compress files using WinRAR in the system explorer, you need to call the context menu on these files and select either or "Add archive - folder_name.rar".
The latter option will create RAR -file with default archiving settings. If you need to select a different type of archive, apply your own compression parameters or use other program functions, select the first option and set the necessary settings.
You can unzip the data directly in the archiver window, as well as from the explorer context menu.
3.7-Zip
7-Zip Is a completely free archiver for Windows. Functional, integrated into the system environment, with the ability to unzip a huge number of formats, but support for archiving only a part of them. The program works with the format of its own production 7z high compression ratio, with third-party ZIP, Wim, XZ, TAR etc. The above WinRAR program 7-Zip loses only by the impossibility of creating RAR -archives and outwardly unattractive interface. Among its advantages is the management of archive files in an interface with a two-panel layout. (type file manager) .
Functions 7-Zip on packing and unpacking archives are available in the context menu of Windows Explorer.
The program can quickly pack data into a format 7z with default archiving options. And when choosing a menu item, we will get the opportunity to use individual capabilities of the archiver.
Working with data by means of - the most famous file manager - there is no need to install additional programs. It includes its own archiver with support for many types of archives, in particular, RAR and ZIP ... If necessary, you can implement support for more formats by implementing a plugin. Working with the archiver included It is carried out using a two-panel layout of the program interface: in one part of the window, the source data for archiving or unpacking is selected, in the other part, the path for the location of the archive or the location of unpacking the files is indicated. The archiver commands are located on the program toolbar and in the menu "Files".
Of the possibilities - dividing the archived content into parts, creating self-extracting archives EXE -format, password access.
Today we will consider 7-Zip archiver... The developer of this program is also a Russian programmer - Igor Pavlov, as in the case with, because it was also created by a Russian team.
Zip is a common compression algorithm, but in fact the 7-Zip archiver is very different from this method in compressing files, despite the fact that the name of this program uses this word.
Files packed into an archive using the 7-Zip program have a 7z extension if you leave the default settings. But when adding files to the archive, you can change this format to zip, tar and others. We will look at how this is done when creating archives.
Despite being free, the program provides not a bad compression ratio, no worse than the paid WinRAR program. Download latest version can be found on the official website.
After installing the program, we need to run it. As I understand it, it does not create a shortcut on the desktop, so to launch it, you will have to find it in Start.
The main window of the program is very simple. At the top there are various menus, below are large buttons that perform the main work, below them is the address bar, where we can navigate through folders and disks, and even below we see files and folders that are located at the address selected above.
But in reality, this window is rarely used when creating archives. Almost always used Explorer context menu... Let's take a closer look at this process.
We decide on the information that we will pack into the archive. Right-click on a file or folder with files. In the context menu that opens, we find the items " 7-Zip - Add to archive».
In the window that opens, you need to make the settings, let's see what is there. Well, the very first thing is the name of the archive, we set it or leave it by default, if we are happy with it. In the drop-down list of the Archive format parameter, you need to select the format in which the files will be packed - this is 7z, ZIP, TAR or another of the suggested ones. ZIP and 7z are most commonly used. The parameter Compression level, I think, is clear, the higher it is, the less the archive will weigh at the output, but also the slower the compression will be. Almost at the very bottom, you can specify the size of each file if we want to split it into volumes. On the right, in the Options parameter, there is a "Create SFX archive" item. The checkbox must be ticked here if you want a self-extracting archive to be created, which does not require installed archivers on the computer to unzip. I want to note that if you select, for example, the ZIP archive format, this function will not be available. Below there is an Encryption option that will help protect your archive by creating a password for it. In this case, unpacking the archive will only be possible if the correct password is entered. When everything is set up, click "OK" to start creating the archive.
In the picture below, I have marked everything that we have considered:
When creating archives in 7z format, I recommend creating SFX archives, since 7-Zip program many do not have it installed and may have problems unpacking. And the self-extracting archive does not need any programs. So consider this.
Windows 7 allows you to use default programs to open certain types of files, such as: archive files, music, images, video files, web pages, etc.
Let's say there are two image viewers installed on a user's computer. By double-clicking on an image file, the default one will open for viewing.
To open the same image in another program, right-click on it to bring up the Explorer context menu, click on “Open with ...” and select the one you need. But that's not all, because there can be several formats of a certain file type, for example, for image files: bmp, jpg, gif, etc.
And the user, for example, needs to open in BMP format in Paint, and in JPG format in FSViever. Also, for example, a RAR archive file can be opened in WinRAR, and a ZIP file in Explorer.
Today you will learn how you can set a program as a default for opening files, as well as how to select defaults (certain file formats) for this program.
DEFAULT
Go to “Control Panel” - “Default Programs”.
Click on “Set default programs”.
To use a program from the provided list to open all types of files that it can open, you must select it and click on “Use this program as default”. For example, the WinRAR archiver, when you click on "Use by default", will not open 20 types of files out of 22, as at the moment judging by the information provided, but all possible ones.
SELECT DEFAULTS
Select a program and click on “Select defaults for this program”.
We mark the file formats that will be opened in this program. For example, graphics editor We will use Paint to open files in the format by checking the box next to the corresponding file format, and the file in JPEG format will open with Windows Photo Viewer.
WinRAR is the best program to work with the RAR format. It is very easy to use compared to other applications. Even novice users will be able to work with it. you can work with ZIP format. One of the most important steps in working with the archiver is setting it up.
First, you need to go to the developer site. Then go to the "Download" tab. On this page you can download both the English version by clicking on the version you want applications at the top left, or you can download the Russian version by scrolling down the page. Open the installed program. In the new window, you can select the location where VinRAR will be loaded. It is better to leave everything as it is, so that you can easily find the program at any time. Next, click "Install".
Then specify the document formats you need for your work, and preferably leave everything as it is. From the Interface menu, choose where you want the application shortcut to appear. After completing all actions, click "Finish".
Work in the program and archiving
WinRAR is one of the few programs whose functions allow you to both create and unpack RAR archives. However, there are many applications that can only decompress such a format. There are many different parameters in the program, which you should get acquainted with a little more closely.
The top panel contains various commands that are rarely used when archiving. Below it you can see icons for various operations that greatly simplify the work. Below is the address bar showing the folder we are in. On the left is an arrow pointing up. By clicking on it, we return to the previous folder.
However, not all users using the program are familiar with these features. This is due to the fact that these people archive files using the context menu that opens when you right-click on desired file... In this case, you do not need to open the program, which significantly speeds up the whole process. If you have installed the application correctly, then when you click on a RMB document, you should have the following options:
- Add to archive;
- Add to WinRAR.rar;
- Add and send by e-mail;
- Add to WinRAR.rar and send by e-mail.
Creation
Click on the file you want to archive with the right mouse button. Select "Add to Archive".
The new window has various menus at the top, but the most important is the General section.
In the "Name" line, you can write either your invented name, or leave the name created automatically. You choose what format the archive will be. This step is an important parameter for archiving in WinRAR. Below we see the Compression Method. If you select "Maximum", then the creation process will take the longest. Choose the method that suits your case. In the "Update Method" menu, select the required item if you are adding files to an existing archive. Let's take a closer look at the archiving parameters.
- Remove after packing. If you check the box next to this item, then after creating the archive, all the files that you placed in it will be deleted from your computer.
- Block. When creating this type of archive, you will not be able to edit it. You can only unpack it.
- Test after packing. After archiving, you will be given the opportunity to check the integrity of the archived documents.
After you have configured everything, click OK. The process has begun. Now we need to wait for its completion.
Unpacking
There are several methods for extracting files.
Method 1
First of all, click 2 times LMB on the archive. If WinRAR is one archiver on your device, then after the previous action it should open. You can select all files with the mouse and drag them to another folder.
ATTENTION. If the archive has a password, then you will need to enter it.
You can also use the Check Out button. Select the files again and click on this button.
In the new window, select the folder where the selected content will be sent. Confirm your actions by clicking on the "OK" button.
Method 2
Find the archive you want. Click on it with the right mouse button. In the menu that opens, click "Check Out". The same window will open as in the previous method. Specify the destination folder and click OK.
Method 3
This method will be useful for those who backed up using another program. Open the WinRAR archiver. In the program explorer, you should find your archive. Click on it once and select the "Extract" button at the top. The familiar window opened again. Specify the folder where the documents will be extracted and click "OK".
After reading the article, you have familiarized yourself in detail with the procedure for working in the most famous archiver WinRAR. You have learned how to create archives and how to unpack them. We hope that after reading the article, you have no questions left. But if you have them, then ask them in the comments. Answers to them will be given in as soon as possible... We will also be grateful for the like and repost of this article to friends.
