Open Archive - Maintain Archives: Browse, Edit, Modify, Extract, Export, Play and Perform Many Operations On Archives.

Act On File Windows Compatibility Seals

This section discusses the Open Archive functionality of the Compressor module.
The Open Archive functionality is a full-scale archive viewer and editor. It is able to perform most, if not all, possible actions to an archive, including: repair archives with a bad internal structure, add, move, rename, and delete files and folders from the archive, edit and update files and folders, encrypt files in the archive, add comments to individual files, folders and to the archive as a whole, export branches and extract parts from the archive or decompress the entire archive, etc operations. The Open Archive editor has a built-in preview window in which one can see the content of the currently selected file or folder. It also has a built-in music and video player so the user can have all their music and videos compressed into one large archive and play them from within it. The Open Archive functionality is perhaps the most user-friendly and flexible archive editor currently available.
Capture: Open Archive
Open Archive

Operation

Open the archive using the Open Archive viewer and editor. Use the available functions through the buttons and context menus. The Open Archive viewer and editor has two panes, left and right, organized in a traditional manner. The left pane is the archive and its folders view, and the right pane is to display the files and folders located in the selected item in the left pane. There is always a selection either in the right or in the left pane, which is important when invoking a button as the buttons always apply their action on the selected item. In addition, when the "Preview" checkbox is selected, the lower part of the left pane becomes a preview window where the content of the selected item is either suitably displayed or shown as data when it cannot be interpreted by the module. The module also allows the user to view and edit files from within the archive. Through the easily-accessible find controls, the very powerful search engine of the the Act On File Locator module can be accessed, enabling the user to search for all possible data in the archive.

Controls

  
Archive (as a whole) Controls
Open Archive Controls
These controls are used to control the archive as a whole and for other generic operations.
ArchiveEnter the path and the archive name. You can use the browse button, drag and drop, paste and type to enter the filename. Click the Open & Reload button if required.
Open Archive Open and ReloadOpen & Reload
Click this button to load or reload the archive with the filename entered to the left.
Open Archive Browse For ArchiveBrowse (for Archive)
Click this button to open a Browse for Archive Dialog, which will be loaded after being selected.
ProtectedTypically, if the software is interrupted while modifying the archive, e.g. due to a power failure, the entire archive becomes unusable. Set this checkbox to request the module to work with a pair of temporary and official archives in order to make the loss of data for this reason impossible. Clear this checkbox to work directly with the archive assuming any associated risks. Working in protected mode is slower than normal operation due to the required duplication of the original archive. It also requires additional space.
Open Archive Create New ButtonCreate New Archive
Click this button to invoke the Create New Archive dialog. Show/Hide help for the Create New Archive dialog.
Open Archive Save As ButtonSave As [Archive]
Click this button to invoke the Save As archive dialog. Show/Hide help for the Save As [Archive] dialog.
Open Archive Encrypt ButtonEncrypt Archive
Click this button to encrypt the entire archive. Only non-encrypted files will be affected. Note: split and spanned archives cannot be modified. Show/Hide help for the Encrypt Archive dialog.
Open Archive Properties ButtonArchive Properties
Click this button to invoke the Archive Properties dialog. Show/Hide help for the Archive Properties dialog.
Open Archive Test ButtonTest Archive
Click this button to test the entire archive for consistency.
Open Archive Attach New Mail ButtonAttach Archive to New Email
Click this button to invoke the default mail client on this machine and attach the archive to a new e-mail message.
Open Archive Edit Description ButtonOpen and Edit Archive Description
Click this button to open the Edit Archive Description dialog. This window is only functional for single volume archives. Show/Hide help for the Open and Edit Archive Description dialog.
Archive Selection Controls
Open Archive Selection Controls
These controls are used to control the currently selected section of the archive. Note that when the currently selected item in the left pane is the archive itself, the controls apply to the whole archive.
LocalView the archive path to the currently selected folder, or select or enter a new current location. Use the Synchronize View button or hit Enter to navigate to the desired location.
Open Archive Synchronize ViewSynchronize View
Click this button to synchronize the right pane view with the entered location in the archive.
Open Archive Extract SelectionExtract Selection
Click this button to decompress the selected items into a folder of your choice. The directory structure of the decompressed items is preserved as it is in the archive.
Open Archive View SelectionView Selection
Click this button to open the selected files using the default application for each particular file-type. This function is only available for files. The viewed files are decompressed in a temporary folder for the process of viewing and are deleted afterwards.
Open Archive Add Files ButtonAdd Files
Click this button to add files to the archive at the currently selected location. Note: split and spanned archives cannot be modified. Show/Hide help for the Add Files dialog.
Open Archive Add Folder ButtonAdd Folder
Click this button to select a folder (from the file system) and add it to the archive at the currently selected location. The window which appears when adding a folder is the same as the one that appears when drag and dropping files and folders from Windows Explorer or pasting them from the clipboard. Note: split and spanned archives cannot be modified. Show/Hide help for the Add Folder dialog.
Open Archive Create New Folder ButtonCreate New Folder
Click this button to open the Create New Folder dialog where you can enter a description for the new folder. Note: split and spanned archives cannot be modified. Show/Hide help for the Create New Folder dialog.
Open Archive Encrypt Selection ButtonEncrypt Selection
Click this button to encrypt the selected items. Only currently non-encrypted files will be affected. Note: split and spanned archives cannot be modified. Show/Hide help for the Encrypt Selection dialog.
Open Archive Delete SelectionDelete Selection
Click this button to delete the selected items. A confirmation window will be displayed. Note: split and spanned archives cannot be modified.
Open Archive Test SelectionTest Selection
Click this button to test the consistency of the selected items within the archive.
Open Archive Selection Properties ButtonSelection Properties
Click this button to display the properties of the selected item or the common properties of the selected items, when more than one item is selected. Show/Hide help for the Selection Properties dialog.
PreviewThe Preview checkbox controls the appearance of a viewer of the selected items located in the bottom part of the left view pane. The top part of the previewer contains information about the selected item or items and the bottom part an image or a player able to appropriately display the item or portion of it. If the item is not recognized and cannot be appropriately displayed, the previewer will display the unrecognized content as binary data. Show/Hide example.
Zip Jukebox PlayerThe preview player is a great way for you to keep your music and video files in a compact, structured archive. It is easy to use, update, modify and move around. Show/Hide more about Zip Jukebox Player.
Find in Archive Controls
Open Archive Find In Archive Controls
These controls are used to help find items with specific parameters in the archive.
Fast Search Query BarEnter your search query into the Fast Search Query Bar and hit enter to search the currently selected items. Find Queries launched from the Fast Search Query Bar search the selected files and folders using the following settings: Default accept is always True/Yes and Search in nested folders = False/No. For more details on Find in Archive see the explanation in the Find Control section below.
Open Archive Find ControlFind Control
Click this button to open the Find in Archive dialog, which gives you full control over the find in archive process. Show/Hide help for Find in Archive.
Folders (Left) Pane Context Menu Commands
Open Archive Folders Context Menu
Use these menu commands to perform actions on the archive and its folders. The commands may be enabled or disabled depending on the selected item, the type of the archive (e.g. split and spanned archives cannot be modified) or other related properties and conditions.
ExtractDecompresses the selected folder and its content at a location selected by the user.
ExportCreates a new archive branch from the selected folder and its content. Same as "Save As" but only applied to the selected folder and its content.
Add FilesAdds files to the selected folder. Same as the Add Files button above.
Add FoldersAdds a folder to the selected folder. Same as the Add Folder button above.
New FolderCreates a new folder in the selected folder without a description. The description can be added later from the folder properties dialog.
CutCut the selected folder and its content. You can paste into the archive, which will perform a move operation; or in Windows Explorer, which will extract (decompress) the folder and its content, and delete it in the archive after user confirmation via a confirmation prompt.
CopyCopy the selected folder. You can paste into the archive, but since this would duplicate the data in the archive, you will be prompted to accept the move or cancel the operation. When pasted in Windows Explorer, the selected folder and its content will be extracted (decompressed) at the selected location.
PastePaste cut or copied files and folders into the selected folder. When the files and folders were Cut/Copied from the archive, they will be moved. When the files and folders were Cut/Copied from Windows Explorer, they will be added to the archive.
EncryptUse this entry to encrypt the selected folder. Same as the Encrypt button above.
RenameInitiates the process of changing the name of the selected folder.
DeleteUse this entry to delete the selected folder and its content.
Test SelectionUse this entry to test the selected folder and its contents for integrity. Same as the Test button above
PropertiesUse this entry to invoke the property dialog on the selected folder. Same as the Properties button above.
RefreshUse this entry to refresh the view.
Elements (Right) Pane Context Menu Commands
Open Archive Items Context Menu
Use these menu commands to perform actions on the archive and its files and folders. The commands may be enabled or disabled depending on the selected item(s), the type of the archive (e.g. split and spanned archives cannot be modified) or other related properties and conditions.
ExtractDecompresses the selected files and folders and their content at a location selected by the user.
ExportCreates a new archive branch from the selected files and folder and their content. Same as "Save As", but only applied to the selected items.
Open withUse these commands to decompress the selected files in a temporary folder and open them for review. The decompressed temporary files will be automatically deleted.
Default ApplicationUse this command to open the selected files using the default application registered with the system for this particular file type.
Choose Application ...Use this command to invoke the "Open With" system window and select the application with which to open the files for each particular file type.
Edit withUse these commands to decompress the selected file in a temporary folder and open it for review and editing. The Open Archive functionality will wait for you to finish the editing. Once you are ready, continue with the Open Archive to update the file in the archive. The temporary file used for your modifications will be deleted automatically.
Default ApplicationEdit the selected file using the default application registered with the system for this particular file type.
Choose Application ...Use this command to invoke the "Open With" system window and select the application with which to edit the file.
PrintUse this command to print the selected files using the default applications registered with the system for the particular types of the selected files.
Add FilesAdds files to the current (selected) folder. Same as the Add Files button above.
Add FoldersAdds a folder to the current (selected) folder. Same as the Add Folder button above.
New FolderCreates a new folder in the current (selected) folder without a description. The description can be added later from the folder properties dialog.
CutCut the selected items. You can paste into the archive, which will perform a move operation; or in Windows Explorer, which will extract (decompress) the items, and delete them in the archive after user confirmation via a confirmation prompt.
CopyCopy the selected items. You can paste into the archive, but since this would duplicate the data in the archive, you will be prompted to accept the move or cancel the operation. When pasted in Windows Explorer, the selected items will be extracted (decompressed) at the paste location.
PastePaste cut or copied files and folders to the current (selected) folder. When the files and folders were Cut/Copied from the archive, they will be moved. When the files and folders were Cut/Copied from Windows Explorer, they will be added to the archive.
EncryptUse this entry to encrypt the selected items. Same as the Encrypt button above.
RenameInitiates the process of changing the name of the selected item.
DeleteUse this entry to delete the selected items.
Test SelectionUse this entry to test the selected items for integrity. Same as the Test button above
PropertiesUse this entry to invoke the property dialog on the selected item or a common property dialog (displaying only the common properties) when more than one item is selected. Same as the Properties button above.
RefreshUse this entry to refresh the view.
Found Items Context Menu Commands
Open Archive Found Items Context Menu
Use these menu commands to perform actions on the archive and the results from the last find operation. The commands may be enabled or disabled depending on the selected item, the type of the archive (e.g. split and spanned archives cannot be modified) or other related properties and conditions.
Locate ItemUse this command on a result entry to locate the item in the archive and select it.
Copy TextCopy the column containing the items of the selected entries (or all entries when nothing is selected) as text to the clipboard.
Cut ItemsCut the selected items. You can paste into the archive which will perform a move operation; or in Windows Explorer which will extract (decompress) the items, and delete them in the archive after user confirmation via a confirmation prompt.
Copy ItemsCopy the selected items. You can paste into the archive, but since this would duplicate the data in the archive, you will be prompted to accept the move or cancel the operation. When pasted in Windows Explorer, the selected items will be extracted (decompressed) at the selected location.
DeleteUse this command to delete the selected items.
Select ItemsUse this command to only select result entries. Empty entries and entries in the Find Result window containing decorative or informative content will not be selected.
Select AllUse this command to select all entries in the Find Result window.
Invert SelectionUse this command to deselect the currently selected entries in the Find Result window and select the previously unselected ones.
DeleteUse this command to empty the Find Results window and its captions.
Window Controls
Open Archive Window Controls
These controls have generic meanings.
On TopSets and clears the Always On Top flag on the window. This checkbox adds or removes the window from the group of Top-most windows.