Zipping/Unzipping Guides
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:07 am
I tested a number of zipping/unzipping programs to see which I felt was the best for ZT related activities.
This paragraph is for those interested in what was tested. The programs I looked at were 7-zip, advancecomp, IZArc, peazip, TkZip, tugzip, unwind, UnxUtils, unz552xn, unz600xn, upx, the Windows XP built-in, winrar, WiZ, zip300xn, and ZipCentral. Although I did not test them specifically, I have also used other programs, such as pkzip and winzip. I had 14 different tests: open animals.ztd; test animals.ztd; extract animals.ztd into specified folder; zip into animals.ztd; extract 2 scenery ".ztd" files into same folder; zip 2 scenery objects into a combined ".ztd" with maximum compression and without separate directory entries and test ingame; zip very large building into ".ztd" with maximum compression and without separate directory entries and test ingame; compress large ".zoo"; view uncompressed size, compressed size, date, time, CRC, and separate directory entries; edit ".ucs" and ".ani" within a scenery ".ztd"; extract specific ".ztd" from a ".zip" into a specific folder; test a ".zip" that uses a compression method newer than v2.0; attempt to extract as much as possible from a corrupted ".zip"; delete files and directory entries from a ".ztd". No program passed all 14 tests. Sometimes it looked like something passed until one looked at the details. However, I am able to give a recommendation.
I recommend using 7-zip for most things. It is certainly the most flexible of any zipping/unzipping program. It is free and open source. The few things it does not do are minor. The following are the steps to download and install 7-zip in Windows XP. The steps would be similar in other versions of MS Windows as well. Later posts will say how to do various zipping/unzipping tasks.
1. Go to the web site: http://www.7-zip.org
2. Click "Download" that is next to ".exe". This will go to a new web page at sourceforge.net. If the download does not start on its own, click "direct link".
3. In the window that comes up, click "Save".
4. A "Save As" window will appear. You can download the file anywhere you like. I have a "downloads" folder in my C: drive where I put the downloads. Some people like to have a Downloads folder in their "user" folder. (This is common in Vista.) In any case, remember where it is being saved and click "Save".
5. When the download finishes, click "Close" in the download window.
6. Use My Computer (usually in the start menu) or Windows Explorer (usually in start->All Programs->Accessories) to go to where you downloaded 7-zip.
7. Double click the 7-zip program name. Its name will start with "7z".
8. If a window comes up saying "The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software?", click "Run".
9. In the Setup window click "Install".
10. After 7-zip is installed, click "Finish".
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The above guide may be copied to any web site. But, except for formatting changes, the contents may not be changed, including the credits. If there are any suggestions for changes, please post them at Zookeeper's Lounge. That is where this guide will be kept up-to-date.
Zipping/Unzipping Guides are in the FAQs section at the Zookeeper's Lounge web site:
http://www.lunamanar.com/zklounge/index.php
- written by Jay
This paragraph is for those interested in what was tested. The programs I looked at were 7-zip, advancecomp, IZArc, peazip, TkZip, tugzip, unwind, UnxUtils, unz552xn, unz600xn, upx, the Windows XP built-in, winrar, WiZ, zip300xn, and ZipCentral. Although I did not test them specifically, I have also used other programs, such as pkzip and winzip. I had 14 different tests: open animals.ztd; test animals.ztd; extract animals.ztd into specified folder; zip into animals.ztd; extract 2 scenery ".ztd" files into same folder; zip 2 scenery objects into a combined ".ztd" with maximum compression and without separate directory entries and test ingame; zip very large building into ".ztd" with maximum compression and without separate directory entries and test ingame; compress large ".zoo"; view uncompressed size, compressed size, date, time, CRC, and separate directory entries; edit ".ucs" and ".ani" within a scenery ".ztd"; extract specific ".ztd" from a ".zip" into a specific folder; test a ".zip" that uses a compression method newer than v2.0; attempt to extract as much as possible from a corrupted ".zip"; delete files and directory entries from a ".ztd". No program passed all 14 tests. Sometimes it looked like something passed until one looked at the details. However, I am able to give a recommendation.
I recommend using 7-zip for most things. It is certainly the most flexible of any zipping/unzipping program. It is free and open source. The few things it does not do are minor. The following are the steps to download and install 7-zip in Windows XP. The steps would be similar in other versions of MS Windows as well. Later posts will say how to do various zipping/unzipping tasks.
1. Go to the web site: http://www.7-zip.org
2. Click "Download" that is next to ".exe". This will go to a new web page at sourceforge.net. If the download does not start on its own, click "direct link".
3. In the window that comes up, click "Save".
4. A "Save As" window will appear. You can download the file anywhere you like. I have a "downloads" folder in my C: drive where I put the downloads. Some people like to have a Downloads folder in their "user" folder. (This is common in Vista.) In any case, remember where it is being saved and click "Save".
5. When the download finishes, click "Close" in the download window.
6. Use My Computer (usually in the start menu) or Windows Explorer (usually in start->All Programs->Accessories) to go to where you downloaded 7-zip.
7. Double click the 7-zip program name. Its name will start with "7z".
8. If a window comes up saying "The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software?", click "Run".
9. In the Setup window click "Install".
10. After 7-zip is installed, click "Finish".
-----
The above guide may be copied to any web site. But, except for formatting changes, the contents may not be changed, including the credits. If there are any suggestions for changes, please post them at Zookeeper's Lounge. That is where this guide will be kept up-to-date.
Zipping/Unzipping Guides are in the FAQs section at the Zookeeper's Lounge web site:
http://www.lunamanar.com/zklounge/index.php
- written by Jay