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Use 7-Zip to Manage Archive Files, and Create Your Own

by Terrence O'Brien on September 18, 2009 at 01:40 PM

What it is: 7-Zip is a free tool for PC users to handle virtually all of those pesky archive files -- the ones with endings like .zip and .rar -- as well as a host of other file types. Not only does it allow you to open and unpack archives, but it lets you create them, too.

What we like: 7-Zip is one of those simple tools that quickly becomes indispensable once you've used it a few times. It's versatile enough to extract files from the most popular archive formats (e.g., .zip, .rar, .tar, and .gzip) as well as from the more obscure ones (e.g., .lha, .lzh, .arj, and .z).

Besides archive files, 7-Zip can also open image files, installers, and those automatic files that unpack their contents to a predetermined folder on your computer (such as you often see with software updates and drivers). For more advanced power-user types, it allows you to sneak a peak into that .iso copy of a CD, for example, or to check what files are lurking inside those .exe or .msi downloads before you venture to install them. You can even open up Mac files in the DMG or HFS formats, which are otherwise unreadable by Windows PCs. All told, without 7-Zip, you'd likely have to install at least three other applications.

Even if you don't care about obscure file support, you might be interested in some of 7-Zip's other handy tricks. For one, it not only opens files, but also compresses them into archives in the .zip, .gzip, .bzip2, .tar, and its own .7z formats. It can also create files that run as programs, automatically unzipping their contents to any location on your computer -- a nice feature if you need to dump a bunch of files to several PCs at once. We also like the idea of being able to, say, load a self-extracting archive onto a thumb drive. That way, we can quickly and cleanly install an antivirus app, an anti-spyware app, and a secure browser like Firefox on a friend's or family member's infected PC.

What we don't like: 7-Zip is a little slower to create archive files than some of its competitors. Still, it's not slow enough for that to be a deal breaker.

The bigger problem is the interface. It's been beaten to near death with the ugly stick. And while looks aren't everything, we do prefer applications that at least try to appear like they were created in this century. We might be more forgiving if 7-Zip were brain-dead simple to use, but it can be a bit daunting for newcomers who are accustomed to simpler tools, such as WinZip.

Fortunately, you can avoid setting eyes on the application itself by using the right-click pop-up menu for basic functions, such as creating an archive from selected files or extracting files into any folder you choose.

We'd also love to see Mac and Linux versions.

Bottom line: 7-Zip isn't flashy and won't spend a lot of time begging for your attention, but that's the point. An archive tool should be seen only when needed and work flawlessly with as many file types as possible. If you can get past the dated appearance, or stick to using the right-click menu, 7-Zip will make your Windows computing life much easier.

Download 7-Zip here.

7-Zip

Tags: 7-zip, 7zip, archive, archives, features, switcheddownload, top, zip

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