Freeware Solutions: Handling Zip Files

PowerArchiver, Step by Step

1. Downloading and Preparing

A copy of PowerArchiver's setup program is available on FileWorld. You won't need the .exe file you receive once PowerArchiver is installed, so for convenience, just place it on your desktop for now.

Download PowerArchiver from FileWorld.

2. Installing the Program

Double-click the setup program to begin; an installation wizard will come to life. You'll probably do just fine with the default settings, so click Next four times to step through the wizard. Then click Install. Once PowerArchiver is safely unpacked onto your hard drive, you'll be presented with a button marked Finish. Click it, and drag the icon for the setup program into the Recycle Bin--you're through with it.

3. Configuring PowerArchiver

To open the program, select Start, Programs, PowerArchiver 2000, PowerArchiver 2000. The first time PowerArchiver runs, it presents its Configuration dialog box, which sports seven tabs:

• The File Formats tab is where PowerArchiver asks for permission to become the default handler for several types of archive files. Unless you use other programs for specific file types, it's safe to leave all these check boxes checked.
  
  
• The View tab lets you tweak PowerArchiver's user interface. You'll probably want to return to this tab after you've used the program a few times. As with any tab in the Configuration dialog, if you want full descriptions of the available options, click the Help button.
  
  
• The Toolbar tab also deals with interface issues. If you'd like to shrink the gigantic default toolbar to a reasonable size, deselect "Large buttons" and "Show button text" here.
  
  
• On the Folders tab, you can tell PowerArchiver where to extract files, where to look for archives on startup, and so forth. You probably won't have much need to stray from the default settings.
  
  
• Program Locations lets you specify the location of the default external viewer (PowerArchiver selects Windows Notepad unless you change it) and the location of any virus scanner you have on your system.
  
  
• From the Explorer Shell Extensions tab, you can select which commands PowerArchiver will place on right-click menus in Windows Explorer. The default settings should provide you with the tools you need.
  
  
• Finally, the Miscellaneous tab handles a grab bag of options. As with the other tabs, the default settings are intelligent, but if you feel like experimenting, click Help, and then change the check boxes to your heart's content.
  
  

Clicking OK saves your settings and closes the dialog. You can return to it by selecting Options, Configuration.

After you close the Configuration dialog for the first time, PowerArchiver will ask if it can associate itself with .zip files. Click Yes. Then the PowerArchiver Tip of the Day will appear. This box pops up every time you load PowerArchiver until you select "Never show tips at startup" from the pop-up menu and click Close.

4. Opening Zip Files

If you want to open a .zip archive someone sends to you (you'll recognize it by its "folder in a vise" icon), simply double-click it. Because you told PowerArchiver to associate itself with .zip files, the program will spring to life. If the .zip contains a setup program, PowerArchiver will usually detect it and ask if you want to run it. Clicking Install will launch that setup program. When you return to PowerArchiver after the installation is complete, you'll be asked if the temporary files left behind should be deleted. Answering Yes is a good idea--it will keep your drive tidier.

If the archive does not contain a setup program (perhaps you've received a set of documents from a colleague all zipped into one nice, compressed package), PowerArchiver lists the .zip's contents for you. To extract any one file, simply drag it to the desktop, a folder, or a Windows Explorer window. To extract all the files, click the Extract button on the toolbar. In the ensuing dialog, select a folder to extract your files to (the desktop is usually a convenient choice), then click Extract.

5. Creating a Zip File

Got a bunch of files to package and send to a friend? No problem. Begin by selecting them in My Computer or Windows Explorer. (Remember, to select numerous noncontiguous files, hold down Control while you click each file. To select a series of files, click the first one, hold down Shift, then click the last one.)

Now right-click any of your highlighted files, and select Compress to ZIP + options. In the Add dialog, enter in the first text box the full path name of the .zip file you wish to create--PowerArchiver chooses a default name and path. If you wish to password-protect the archive, click the Password button. You'll be prompted to enter a password twice. Clicking OK tells PowerArchiver to compress your selected files and pile them into a .zip. Once the process is complete, the archive will appear, and PowerArchiver will close down.

If you want to add files to an existing archive, just drop them on the archive's icon. PowerArchiver will appear, compress the files, add them to your .zip, and disappear. Removing specific files from an archive is almost as easy: Open the .zip by double-clicking it, select the file you want to delete, and click Actions, Delete. Click Delete in the dialog, and wave bye-bye.

Here's a final trick: If you need to send a compressed file to another Windows user who doesn't have a tool like PowerArchiver, make a self-extracting archive. Begin by creating or opening a .zip file containing the files you want to send. Then, choose Make .EXE File from PowerArchiver's Actions menu. Look over the options in the resulting dialog (the defaults are likely to suit you fine) and click OK to create an archive that can decompress itself. All your recipient has to do is double-click.

Additional Resources:

• PowerArchiver Home Page
  
  

Matthew Newton is a senior associate editor for PCWorld.com.