Probably, many in childhood faced with a situation where, collecting us on a hiking trip or to a recreation center, parents packed so compactly that there was even an extra space in the backpack. Going back home, we could not pack even half of our belongings. Approximately the same situation is obtained with computer data. The 7-Zip program acts as a pressing device for compressing information and placing it in one container. But few know how to archive a file in Zip. Therefore, the article will analyze popular programs, their capabilities and detailed steps for archiving and unzipping files and folders.
Information about archives and their purpose
Archiving files has been practiced for a fairly long period of time. Previously, almost every user of a computer device knew how to archive and unzip a file, because every byte of memory was counted. With the growth and improvement of technology, and with it the speed of the Internet, users are gradually starting to forget about this program. By downloading or uploading a file to the global network, people are increasingly interested in questions about what data archiving is, how to archive files?
One of the most popular information compression programs now is the 7-Zip archiver. It is more nimble among its counterparts and optimized for new versions of operating systems. This program is based on an advanced algorithm using the optimal compression method. Files with the .zip extension do not take up much space, the process of archiving them is the fastest. You must admit that in our age of the Internet it is easier to transfer data in one file than to attach one message to a message. But how to archive a file or folder if you have not previously encountered an archiver program? To understand this issue, you must first install the necessary software on your computer.
Program installation
Installing and configuring 7 Zip is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Previously, archivers were paid, so users tried to download installation applications from websites that were not checked by antiviruses. Now, to download the program, you just need to go to the official website of the developers of the 7-Zip archiver and get the full package of pleasure for free. How to install the program? You just need to run the downloaded application that is compatible with the type of your operating system, select the path to the folder where it will be installed (the system folder Program Files is selected by default), and wait for the installer to finish copying and unpacking the files. The installation process takes a split second, after which you can move on to the question of how to archive a file in Zip. But it should be remembered that if you do not configure the program correctly, you will not be able to read a single file, so below you need to read the brief recommendations on parameter settings.
Easy setup of the 7-Zip archiver
The first launch of the program requires small settings. To do this, select the menu item "Service". Open "Settings" and in the "System" tab put checkmarks next to all available formats. So your program will be able to decrypt literally all known archive formats, whether it is ISO, RAR or any others.
Step-by-step instructions for creating and adding files to the archive
If you wondered how to archive a file in Zip, you must follow this algorithm of actions:
- We put the files in one folder so that when you open the archiver program it was possible to select all the necessary materials. If you need to add different types of data to the archive: folders, documents, audio and video recordings, then create a root folder and drop in the necessary materials.
- Now you can open the archiver program. In it, using the Ctrl key pressed down on the keyboard, select the necessary materials. Once the necessary files are selected, we turn to the question of how to archive files. The 7-Zip program is simple and convenient in this regard.
- In the archiver toolbar, click on the green β+β icon, thereby adding our selected materials to the archive. Before us opens the settings window.
- For our future archive to be with the extension .zip, it is necessary to change the value 7z to zip in the drop-down list of the archive format. You must also select a compression level. By default, the program sets the normal type of compression, but if you need to minimize your materials, then there is the possibility of ultra-compression, in which the quality of a photo, video or audio recording is slightly lost. Compression methods will be discussed a little further, you yourself will be able to choose what you need.
So we figured out how to squeeze. Archiving a folder and files, as you can see, is not particularly difficult.
Archiver data compression methods
- LZMA. This algorithm is based on a dictionary compression scheme for materials. It compresses the data quite well, due to which the 7-Zip program has gained quite high popularity.
- LZMA2 is an advanced compression algorithm. It has some advantages over the previous method.
- PPMd. This algorithm is based on context modeling. It is good for its compression without data loss.
- BZip2 is probably the oldest compression algorithm. It is quite effective, but at the same time it can execute only one command: unpacking or compression.
We examined the compression methods, now you can choose the method how to archive the file in Zip.
Ability to set a password for the archive
There is a great opportunity to set a simple or complex password. How to install it in order to protect the archive from intruders who are trying to capture your data and files on the Internet? After you clicked on the "Add to Archive" button, a window appears with the option to select a compression method, future extensions, and other archive creation options. On the right, in the same window, you can see an empty line for the encryption password. It must be entered twice, and then saved by pressing the "OK" button.
So we figured out the main points of how to archive a folder using the 7zip archiver. The process of unzipping is equally simple and convenient even for novice users.