Archives are files that contain other files, and Zip files are the most common archive format. Typically, the files in an archive are compressed. WinZip uses the term "Add" to mean "compress files and add them to an archive". "Extract" means "

decompress files in an archive, creating separate files on a disk". Some people use the verbs "zip" or "pack" instead of Add, and "unzip" or "unpack" instead of "extract".

You can easily view any of the files stored in an archive by double clicking on the file in the main WinZip window. WinZip will open the file with the associated application. For example, a Word (.doc) file may be displayed in Word, and a text (.txt) file in Notepad. When you double click on a program file (.exe), it is run.

Or, you can view a file with the built-in viewer or a viewer of your choice by selecting View from the Actions pull-down menu.

WinZip brings the convenience of Windows to the use of Zip files and other compression formats, and is available in separate versions for both Windows 95/98/NT (32-bit) and Windows 3.1 (16-bit). This help file describes the 32-bit version.

WinZip features include:

1. Windows 95/98/NT integration: WinZip includes long filename support and tight integration with the Windows 95/98/NT shell. Drag and drop to or from Explorer, or zip and unzip without leaving Explorer.
2. Internet support: WinZip features built-in support for popular Internet file formats: TAR, gzip, UUEncode, XXencode, BinHex, and MIME. ARJ, LZH, and ARC files are supported via external programs. You can use WinZip to access almost all the files you download from the Internet. In addition, the freely downloadable WinZip Internet Browser Support Add-On lets you download and open archives with one click using Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
3. Automatic installation of most software distributed in Zip files: If a Zip file contains a "setup" or "install" program, WinZip’s Install feature will unzip the files, run the installation program, and clean up temporary files.
4. The WinZip Wizard: This optional feature uses the standard and familiar "wizard" interface to simplify the process of unzipping and installing software distributed in Zip files. The WinZip Wizard is not targeted at experienced users, but is ideal for the rapidly growing number of PC users getting started with Zip files. When these users gain confidence or want to use more advanced zipping features, the full WinZip Classic interface is just a click away.
5. Favorite Zip Folders: WinZip lets you organize Zip files into one convenient list that is sorted by date, making it easier to locate all Zip files, regardless of where they came from or where they are stored. Unlike the standard File->Open Archive dialog box, the Favorite Zip Folders dialog box treats the contents of multiple folders as though they were one folder. A Search facility will find any Zip files lost on your hard disk.
6. Create files that unzip themselves: WinZip Self-Extractor Personal Edition is now included with WinZip. Self-extracting files are ideal for sending compressed files to others who may not own or know how to use file compression software.
7. Virus Scanner Support: WinZip can be configured to work with most virus scanners.

WinZip is extremely easy to use! To open an archive simply double click on an archive listed in My Computer or the Windows Explorer, drag and drop an archive onto WinZip, or use the standard Open dialog box. The main WinZip window features a list with the names, sizes, and date/time stamps of all files in the open archive. This list can be scrolled and sorted on any field. A configurable tool bar provides fast access to commonly used actions. Extensive context sensitive help is always available.

Double clicking on a file in the main WinZip window has the same effect as double clicking in My Computer or the Windows Explorer. First the file is extracted from the archive. Then, if the file is executable, it is run. Otherwise, the file is opened by the appropriate application (for example, WordPad for *.WRI files) based on standard Windows associations.

The Windows Drag and Drop interface is fully supported. You can drag and drop files from WinZip to other applications. WinZip will extract the files before dropping them on the target application. The target application will treat the files as if they had been dropped from My Computer or the Windows Explorer. You can also drop archives on WinZip to open them, or drop files on WinZip to add them to the open archive.

What is an Archive?

Archives are files that contain other files. Typically the files in an archive are compressed. Archives usually have file names ending with ZIP, LZH, ARJ, or ARC, depending on how they were created. Archives make it easy to group files and make transporting and copying these files faster.

Typical Uses for Archives:

• ·Most files available on the Internet and on electronic services like CompuServe and America Online are distributed as archives. Two benefits of using archives for electronic file distribution are that only one file transfer operation ("download") is required to obtain all related files, and file transfer time is minimized because the files in an archive are compressed.

• It is often useful to send a group of related files to an associate. Rather than distributing individual files it is often easier to distribute the files as an archive to benefit from the file grouping and compression.

• Some files are important but not used often. To save disk space simply compress these files into an archive when they are not used, and decompress them only when needed.

What is a Self-Extracting Zip File?

A self-extracting Zip file is an executable program file (.EXE file) that includes both a Zip file and software to extract or "unzip" the contents of the Zip file. Users can extract the contents of a self-extracting Zip file by simply running it. This is convenient, because the end user does not need an unzip program (like WinZip) to extract files from these self-extracting archives.

WinZip Self-Extractor Personal Edition, included with WinZip, creates Windows self-extracting Zip files.

Archive formats:

• Zip files are the most common archive format. Zip files can span multiple disks, and provide both compression and file grouping. WinZip does not use external programs to work with Zip files.

• TAR, Z, GZ, TAZ, and TGZ files are often found on Unix-based Internet sites. TAR stands for "Tape ARchive". The TAR format does not provide compression; it is used only to group files. GZ and Z files are gzip files. GZ and Z files cannot contain multiple files. TAZ and TGZ files are TAR files compressed in the gzip format. Since almost all new archives are created in Zip format, WinZip does not provide facilities to add to or create files in these formats (however, all other WinZip functions are supported). WinZip does not use external programs when working with files in these formats.

• File formats such as UUencoded, XXencoded, BinHex, and MIME are used primarily to transfer binary files by Internet e-mail. If you encounter one of these files, you can open it and extract its contents with WinZip. You can UUencode an archive using the UUencode entry in the WinZip Actions pull-down menu. WinZip does not use external programs when working with files in these formats.

• WinZip also handles most files in the old Microsoft Compress format (also known as LZEXPAND format). However, there are several variations on this format, and Microsoft has not released documentation on these variations. WinZip issues an appropriate message if you attempt to decompress a file not supported by your version of Windows. Microsoft Compress files usually end with a trailing underscore, for example, "commdlg.dl_". Like Z and GZ files, Microsoft Compress format files contain only one file. This format is used for many files on the Windows 3.1 distribution disks and many older Microsoft products. Note that not all files ending with an underscore are Microsoft Compress format files. WinZip does not use external programs when working with files in these formats.

• The Microsoft CAB (short for Cabinet) format is used by most Microsoft setup programs, including those used to install Windows 95, 98 and NT. CAB files provide both file compression and file grouping. You can use WinZip to open and extract files the contents of CAB files. WinZip will handle most self-extracting CAB files. WinZip does not use external programs when working with CAB files.