Today, in order to save space for storing or transmitting data, special formats are used, called archives. In fact, they are a kind of container containing the desired files in a compressed form. One of the most common is the ZIP format. We will now discuss how to extract a file from a ZIP archive. In English, such an operation is called either Extract or Decompress (it all depends on the application used). To do this, you can give some practical advice that will be useful in the future.
How to extract a file from a ZIP archive: general principles
In general, initially in unpacking any type of archive data, two main directions can be distinguished in the implementation of the selected actions. First, you can extract all the data completely. Secondly, you can select a specific object for unpacking.
If we talk about how to extract a file from a ZIP archive, it is important to remember that modern archiver programs support both the creation and extraction of data from such archives. But as for the initial creation of a packaged catalog, it is not so simple. The fact is that some programs can use additional compression, encryption algorithms and save access by setting passwords when saving data. This will be discussed later.
How to extract a file from a ZIP archive: the program with which the archive was created
Until recently, it was believed that ZIP archives can initially be created exclusively with the help of the popular at the dawn of the development of computer technology archiver called WinZIP.
Yes, indeed, at that time there was no alternative to this application, however, with the advent of such powerful utilities as WinRAR and 7-Zip, the main program seemed to move to second place, since archives of this format could be created and unzipped using new tools. But today WinZIP is also able to accept many other formats, but there is nothing wrong with using this particular program.
For standard data extraction, you can use the usual double-click on the archive with the end location of the unpacking. If you need to decide how to extract the file from the ZIP archive (we are talking about just one object, if there are several of them in the archive), you must first run the program, open the desired ZIP file in it, select the desired object in the contents, and then specify the location to save the extracted file.
Native Windows Tools
More recently, a built-in tool for decompressing archive data has appeared on Windows systems. In fact, this is nothing but the same WinZIP archiver, migrated to the standard set of the operating system (it is built into the Explorer).
In principle, you can also use this option to extract information by using the usual double-click to select an object / objects from the list (in Windows, automatic extraction is not provided by default, instead the archive opens as a separate folder). But you can use the decompression command.
WinRAR Application
This program is different in that it accepts a lot of formats. Retrieving a single object without manually launching the application will fail.
But if you use double-click or the context menu with the choice of the “Extract all ...” action, you don’t need to click the browse button with a folder choice (although there is such a possibility) or specify the unpacking in the current directory, since the application independently offers to create a directory with the archive name of the same name. In addition, it is this utility that is considered one of the best for creating and working with SFX files (self-extracting archives, similar in principle to ordinary EXE files).
7-Zip program: advantages over other means
7-Zip is a relatively young program. However, it is in many ways superior to classical utilities, and files created with its help sometimes cannot be unpacked using standard tools.
This is due only to the fact that it is possible to use the very same additional compression and encryption algorithms that are disabled or simply missing in the standard settings of other applications.
Unpacking an archive with a password
Now a few words on how to extract a file from a ZIP archive with a password. In the simplest version, you just need to enter it in a special field before starting the decompression process. If the password is missing, for files downloaded from the Internet, you need to check it on the site from where they were downloaded.
If there is no password as such, you can use any archiver with the Advanced Archive Password Recovery program. In its settings, the path to the archive is first indicated, then the method for determining the password and its approximate length. When choosing a Brute-force technique, you need to specify which characters were supposedly used in the password (numbers, letters, characters or their combinations), in the password brute force method - an integrated dictionary, for which you need to enter the path to the file located in the ARCHPR directory.
Data Retrieval on Android Mobile Devices
Finally, let's see how to extract a file from a ZIP archive on Android devices. The system does not have its own funds for such an operation, so you will have to use third-party applications.
Of the most popular, the following can be distinguished:
- Easy Unrar, Unzip & Zip;
- Andro Zip;
- RAR for Android;
- Solid Explorer
- ES Explorer et al.
The last two programs are powerful file managers, which already have a built-in archiver. The actions themselves to extract data from archives do not differ much from standard procedures.
What to use?
How to extract a file from a ZIP archive is already clear. It remains to give some tips on the use of utilities. Despite the popularity of classic programs like WinZIP and WinRAR, it is better to give preference to the 7-Zip archiver, since it has great features and supports the most advanced data compression and encryption technologies. In terms of password selection, the AAPR utility described above is suitable. By the way, no Disassembler that allows you to view the “decompiled” archive code will help, because the password is encrypted unilaterally. Well, for Android-systems, in order not to install archivers in addition, an excellent solution would be to use the ES Explorer file manager, which is considered the most powerful and advanced among all programs of this type.