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Introduction
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| Utilities that compress one or more files into one smaller file have been around since the first personal computers. These "archive" or "zip" file utilities were known by various names such as "arc", "pkarc" and "pkzip" and they were run from a command line. Considering that most personal computers back then didn't have a hard drive larger than 10 MB (if they even had one at all) and only connected via modem speeds up to 1200bps, these compression utilities were essential for saving space and shortening upload and download times. Even though today's computers have much more storage space and faster connection speeds, compression utilities are still incredibly useful. Through their modern graphical interfaces, drag and drop capability, support for multiple compression formats, and security features, they are also easier than ever to use. |
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Discussion
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One product which has really impressed me is 7-Zip. It can unpack a multi-part RAR volume embedded in a ZIP archive, and gives a meaningful error message when attempting to unpack a 256 bit encrypted WinZip archive. Even though it handles fewer archive types than some other programs (It only supports 7z, ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, GZIP, BZIP2, Z, TAR, CPIO, RPM, and DEB) it is a fantastic program that will fill 99% of all your file archiving needs. If multi-format capabilities are important to you, I'd recommend IZArc. It can read nearly 50 archive types including media formats like ISO, BIN, and IMG. It also can convert and save to 12 different formats. It can handle multi-part zip files, which 7-Zip can't. 7-Zip is a little more robust, while IZArc is a little more flexible. If you already use WinZip you'll find either 7-Zip or IZArc make excellent companion products. They can read just about all the major archive formats, including the widely used RAR. An opensource product that many here have suggested is PeaZip. Peazip is easy to use and very versitle. It is capable of extracting from archive types including ACE, ARJ, CAB, DMG, ISO, LHA, RAR, and UDF. It will run on 32 and 64 bit Windows as well vairous Linux distibutions. This is a great little program... and its opensource as well. Strictly speaking, WinRar is shareware, but as it's available as an unlimited trial (If you don't register and pay, the program simply "nags", it doesn't stop working). WinRAR's strong on general and multimedia compression, and works on non-RAR archive formats, ZIP compression and decompression, long filenames support, self-extracting archives (SFX), repairs damaged archives, authenticity verification, embedded file comments, and encryption. It supports Unicode filenames, so non-English filenames are no problem. You can manipulate many archive parameters at once, and view volume sequences as a single archive. WinRAR converts other archive formats to RAR, and allows searching for specified text and files in archives. WinRAR’s unpack feature supports ACE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, and ZIP. |
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4.65 
Open Source Freeware (includes program code) 
Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista. Command line version for Linux/Unix.
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Joe Bennett. Registered site visitors can contact Joe by clicking here.
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I use J-zip which i think is very good too.
>> www.jzip.com/
I was checking out 7Zip and Peazip some time ago to find myself application I would stay with as the main extracting utility.
Unfortunately for Peazip I have encountered a big issue with some of the files I had that were packed with rar. After extraction, the files were corrupted and no longer usable. For some rar archives it went without issues, for some not. I don't remember now much details as it was about few months ago, and maybe the issue is fixed, but this put the trust into Peazip under really big question mark. I doubt that anyone would want to check every single file in binary editors to check whether or not it would be still usable.
One day I will give Peazip maybe a second chance, but for time being 7zip is the application meeting my needs and which I can trust.
Regards,
Ryandell
I am using 7zip, Izarc and Peazip a long time and i must say that Izarc do the best job for its category but a few times his bloked at the moment when extracted file larger than 1GB and has succesfully extracted. Peazip is second because support less files than Izarc but for larger files has fast extraction an thats why I combining this two programs. 7zip is also good program and come 3rd...
Slobodan Rašić
Zaječar, Serbia
IZArc is No.2
Try TUGZip.
I used everything you mentioned.
Nothing beats TUGZip.
"Anyone may use this software during a test period of 40 days. Following this test period of 40 days or less, if you wish to continue to use WinRAR, you must purchase a license." This is an excerpt from WinRAR 3.80 EULA (see my post below on the subject).
To the best of my knowledge, the editor CAN'T RECOMMEND WinRAR despite it's unlimited trial. Or is there any other interpretation?
lloonn
Yes. We don't know the legal situation if you continue to use it after the trial. It's nagware, we think. That's all we know. we think it's in the interests of the community that we Review it, but we do point this out. What would you rather?
Also, we don't know the legal status of the EULA in every country in the world. Just because a company says by running this product you are agreeing to our T&C, that doesn't mean that that statement itself doesn't violate Consumer law. This is a minefield.
Continuing your logic, you can recommend ANY time-limited SHAREWARE. I doubt any law that allows you to formally accept EULA and then violate it can ban trial-restoring system tweaks. Now they are in many cases easy even for beginners. Therefore more and more people in the future will point you at these strange shareware promotions under false guise on a freeware site.
lloonn
i have no lgic, i'm a pragmatist. Couldn't we have this discussion, its interesting, on the forum ... i can setup a thread?
Sure, it's up to you to set up a thread or not, but I don't see what else I can contribute to it. I am not an international copyright lawyer to discuss where exactly in the world time-limited shareware can be legally used for free. ;-) What else can we talk about there? Every reputable site labels WinRAR as shareware and/or 40-day trial. And if you - I don't mean you personally here - have your secret reasons to keep it in your list, why would you tell this in a new thread?
lloonn
we have absolutely no secret reasons "Everything out in the open". I'll setup a thread on Monday. Those interested will just have to click on the link. We welcome frank discussion on the Forum. I have the weekend off ... to sleep. Thanx ..it's a pleasure to have "met" you & I hope we can continue in the Forum. It's kule there!
Keep this Thread Clean!
Throw away this 7-zip CLOWN!!!
For how long are we going to read his B.S./Craps?
Hey!
7zip Funny/Fan Boy,
go and try other Compression Archive Freeware
before coming here and boasting about 7-zip's "Superiority".
7-zip is a Myth for Inexperienced users.
Enough with your propaganda!
Most people only every use these apps to unzip compressed files they have downloaded, and don't need any other functionality. There should either be a separate article, or this guide needs to reflect that reality. Universal Extractor and ExtractNow seem to be the most popular apps, any others?
One also needs to conduct efficient search inside archives. There is quite old specialised Archive Peek 2.2, last updated years ago. Some archivers (IZArc, for example) have search capabilities, they have to be compared.
BTW, Universal Extractor unpacks not only standard archive types, but also Inno Setup and msi installers. This can be important - sometimes it helps to browse through user guides / help files BEFORE the installation (actually I do it all the time).
lloonn
I don't agree. Many users also use zipping to effectively compress files for storage and to preserve disk space eg. Word files. Some *.avis "shrink" from 800 MB to about 8MB in eg. 7zip.I do agree that we need to explain a bit more.
If you want Maximum Performance,
7zip looks childish compared against the 'KGB Archiver'.
performance? is that a joke? KGB is a piece of trash, it doesn't matter how powerful your PC is, it still takes ages to (un)compress files, bleh.
Never had any problem with KGB Archiver.
It has helped me to compress huge files (>>GB)
more effectively than any other .zip program.
Some sites support this claim about KGB superiority :-) over its closest rivals 7-Zip and UHarc, though I think that for some reasons - obvious to any experienced user - 7z standard has brighter prospects.
lloonn
For you, lloonn (= 7-zip Fan/Funny Boy),
7-Zip is always an
'Outstanding Archiver' with 'brighter prospects'.
Yeah...sure...
We are all convinced now by
your "Objectivity" and "Impartiality".
Couldn't you guys take this "discussion" to the Forum?
I see that you, "peter", replied to my post. Those "guys" - it's me and somebody I don't know or editors of this page?
lloonn
Our Editors ALWAYS login and comment as an Editor. You can see that because they are NEVER Anonymous. This Review has a single Editor...username Joe Bennett. I'm just an ordinary Editor at Gizmo's but you can see my username at the top of each comment.
We want this type of dicussion to occur in the Forum.
Thanks for the explanation, though your first two sentences had nothing to do with my question. I didn't mean any editor is hidden behind Anonymous here. You should admit that your reaction can be interpreted as "get out of here" and I was the person who you addressed your comments to.
What should we discuss HERE then?
lloonn
- lloonn: What should we discuss HERE then?
- Answer:
That 7-zip is
an "Outstanding Achiever"
with "brilliant prospects"
...bla..bla...BLAH!!!
It was more to address these guys rather than you personally. It was more "if you discuss this in the Forum it's more convenient" ... it's got like autonotification and stuff, & it's prettier. Then we can use this space for people just making suggestions like plz review "SuperScrubUp".
Also we have this "awkward" indentation prob. here
Hence it appears that the Reply button is simply superfluous. Your Power Editors - or whatever you call the people who can reorganize this site - may have to remove it. Otherwise why is it here?
BTW, it solves that indentation problem too.
lloonn
But on the Forum, there aren't these problems
One answer is that we close all the comments on all threads, & move all comments & discussion to the Forum. Users will see a link they just click on.
CooKooo!!!
Also I meant that if the username is "Anonymous" it's not an Editor or anyone connected to the site, or even registered
Since last June (2008),
I've used TUGZip 3.5 without any problem!
The Application is Flawless, and I'm happy with it.
I read postings about Bugs,
but I assure you I've never seen such a thing up to now.
Take my word on it! Try by yourself!
I guess some 7-zip FanBoyz are trying to throw Mad at TUGZip 3.5 ...
I've tried PeaZip, IZArc, 7-Zip, ZipGenius, etc.
TUGZip 3.5 is the BEST!!!
I've had some experience with TUGZip 3.4.0.2 ... nightmare, so many bugs ... The current version is 3.5, but take a look at what the author says: "Unfortunately I am no longer able to support and work on TUGZip as much as I want, I am sure most of you already realized." http://www.tugzip.com/index.php?page=news
For the best compression available - 7-Zip with LZMA (PPMd for text-like files). I remember being surprised at its superiority over the rar format after repacking some game archives.
IZArc is noticeably slower on my system, there are also some weird logic issues present.
Apparently unlimited trial per se doesn't guarantee compliance with the license. For instance, the latter may state that you have to remove the program from your HDD after the 30-day evaluation period. If I'm not mistaken, PowerStrip is an example. So all those interested should peruse WinRAR license.
lloonn
I've been using TUGZip 3.5 for five (5) months.
So far, so good. No Problems at all.
TUGZip 3.5 is better than IZArc.
I used IZArc for about one year,
after I had ditched 7-zip
(e.g. poor Interface & Shell context, poor SFX creation etc.)
I believe that 7-zip is over-valued.
IZArc and TUGZip are both much better than 7-zip.
Best of all, TUGZip outperforms everything.
7-Zip. SourceForge.net Community Choice Awards 2007 in two categories: Best Project, Best Technical Design. My own experience, rar format (best compression) vs. 7z format (LZMA, maximum compression): ~2.2Gb vs. 1.72Gb (3.36Gb uncompressed), ~11Mb vs. 6.67Mb (109.37Mb uncompressed), ~31Mb vs. 11.6Mb (565.38Mb uncompressed) ! "The 7z format initially appeared as implemented by the 7-Zip archiver" (Wikipedia). Needless to say, the award in the Best Technical Design category is well deserved. However, the rar format turns out to be slightly superior when applied to already compressed files and formats. The 7-Zip interface is rather poor, here I can agree.
IZArc. Everyone has to look at the frightening bugs of the last non-beta vesion (3.81) - http://www.izarc.org/news.html. The 7-Zip author isn't eager to follow suit and disclose all his bugs though (http://www.7-zip.org/history.txt), therefore a direct comparison is not possible.
TUGZip. It looks like the author has already made excuses for the version 3.5 future bugs (see the citation above) :-) .
lloonn
"The 7-Zip interface is rather poor, here I can agree."
a) No, my friend. The 7-zip GUI is one of the Worst!
b) The SFX file creation of 7-zip is very Primitive!
c) The Slip file creation of 7-zip is a Joke!
"SourceForge.net Community Choice Awards 2007 in two categories:
Best Project and Best Technical Design"
We all know how these "Awards" are taken...
I've used IZArc and TUGZip.
Never had any bugs.
Other IZArc and TUGZip users had bugs? Maybe Yes, maybe Not.
BTW, 7-Zip has never suffered from BUGS?
Come on Now...
"a) No, my friend. The 7-zip GUI is one of the Worst!"
Well, "friend", it seems to me that you are just stubbornly trying to belittle 7-Zip's outstanding achievements. Your arguments are of the type "XP, Linux, etc. are all trash! Behold the Aero - Vista is the best OS!". Spoiled children everywhere... I for one don't care about shell icons and I've never used SFX archives. If the program package is not working due to the wrong extraction, then extractor's GUI doesn't matter. According to http://www.izarc.org/news.html, hypothetically this can happen to all worshippers of IZArc (3.81).
7z is gradually getting into position of a new Internet standard for compression, and 7-Zip introduced it. That's undeniable truth of life. VLC, Inkscape, GesWall free (7zS.sfx), WinMerge, SMPlayer and other first class free programs are already using 7z packages.
"We all know how these "Awards" are taken..."
How?
"BTW, 7-Zip has never suffered from BUGS?"
I am using utterly unintelligible English or something? I repeat: "The 7-Zip author isn't eager to follow suit and disclose all his bugs though (http://www.7-zip.org/history.txt), therefore a direct comparison is not possible." Those who have followed appropriate forums can tell us if there were any REALLY CRITICAL bugs.
lloonn
Well, "Buddy" lloonn
you are just stubbornly trying to EXAGGERATE 7-zip
"Outstanding Achievements".
-File Archiver/Zip Utilities have Shell icons.
If your "Outstanding Achiever" > 7zip has NO Shell Icons,
then, that's a Short-Coming counting against 7zip.
-If you have NEVER Used SFX archives,
then, you are NOT even an Average User.
Many users use SFX Archieves
and know that your "Outstanding Achiever" > 7zip is very Poor!
-If you ever tried to Split Compressed Files, you would
already knew that your "Outstanding Achiever" > 7zip
is a Lousy Performer, too.
-If you want Features, TUGZip, IZArc, PeaZip are much better!
-If you want performance, KGB Archiver is Outstanding.
All programs are Free!
I'm Not officially/unofficially associated with any of them!
That's why I do NOT promote any of them!
I mentioned TUGZip, IZArc, PeaZip, and KGB Archiver.
However, you systematically promote 7-zip
and attack the ones who write against it.
I guess, you are Officially/Unofficially involved with 7zip
OR
do you advertise it for Free?
"We all know how these "Awards" are taken..."
How?
Hint: ...$...
You can promote 7zip as much as you want.
7zip is just an Overvalued program.
I used many other software (TUGZip, IZArc, PeaZip, KGB Archiver etc.)
and found that 7zip SUCKS against them!
There is No Comparison.
Bye bye...
Agree!
7-zip icons are Ridiculous!
7-zip has NO Shell-Context Icons!
7-zip Slit-Files in a Bad way!
7-zip has BUGS!!!
tug zip is far bettet than 7 zip...................supports multiple platforms
I will second that.
TUG ZIP outperforms 7zip and IZArc!!!
I used 7zip for 6 months. Then, I switched to IZArc for 3 months.Now, I'm using TUGZip which has been more functional than 7zip and IZArc. For example, creating self-extract files has been easier when using TUGZip than when using IZArc.
I think that TUGZip is good enough to be part of
your list.
For extraction only, which I guess is the only function most people actually need, ExtractNow is extremely fast, lightweight and easy to use.
Any suggestions for CAB compression? (not extraction)
I'm making some custom addons for an nLite installation.
Add-On Maker was very promising, but corrupted the ini files it creates unless I restarted the program for each cab file
I noticed that Add-On Maker was using 7zip and sfx for compression. If only 7zip had an add-on for CAB compression. I've tried:
TUGZIP changed my file associations without asking, and tried to repeatedly call home at browser open without asking, so I uninstalled it.
CL-TOOLS, IEXPRESS, eXPander, Compression Bin and CapPack as I understand them, are all basically front-ends for the same command-line tools (the MS cabsdk).
Try the Heavy Staff:
KGB Archiver
http://kgbarchiver.net/
Try ZipStar, from: http://speedproject.de/enu/zipstar/index.html
SecureZIP Express, from the creator and the successor of PKZIP.
You may want to search for it in google
What about FreeArc (portable version also available), from http://freearc.org/ ? Best compression rates and speed! Beats 7-zip compression rates!
I cant believe how passionate everyone is about their fav archiving software..
Im going to through another one in the mix
How about Bitser?
www.bitser.org
Haven't given it a try yet - dunno whether I will - a pity the user needs to have .NET 3.5 installed for trying it out.