Advanced Archive Operations

Testing an Archive

You can test archives in PowerArchiver using a couple different methods.

In the main PowerArchiver window:

You can use the “Test” button on the toolbar to test the integrity of an open archive (Classic interface: “Test…” entry in the “Actions” menu) . A dialog box is displayed with the results of the test operation.

Using Explorer shell extensions:

You can enable “Test” in Explorer shell extensions by checking the “Test” option in “Options > Configuration > Explorer Shell Extensions”. You will now be able to right click on one or several archives in Windows Explorer and select “Test” in order to test those archives.

Virus Scan

PowerArchiver can be configured to use your preferred anti-virus program when scanning archives for viruses. You must first configure support for your anti-virus program by navigating to “Options > Configuration > Program Locations”. Once complete, you can use the “Virus Scan…” entry in the “Actions” menu to scan archives for viruses.

The Virus Scan operation performs the following actions:

  1. Creates a temporary folder

  2. Extracts all files in the current archive to the temporary folder

  3. Runs the virus scanner against files in the temporary folder

  4. Deletes all files in the temporary folder and removes the temporary folder

Please Note:

We recommend checking out your antivirus help file for more help on what is proper command line usage for your antivirus application.

ZIP Comments

Introduction

You can create, edit and view comments in ZIP files using PowerArchiver. Once archive is open, to activate the Comment dialog box (ZIP archives only) you can right click on any file or folder and select “Archive Comment… ” or use the “Archive Comment… ”” entry in the “Actions ” menu (Classic interface).

A comment is optional text that gets embedded into a ZIP archive. It can be viewed, created, edited, or cleared using the Comment dialog box. Simply type in your text, paste it from clipboard, or insert it from file.

Options

  • Close - use it to save any comment or changes you have made and close this dialog.

  • Clear - deletes the current comment.

  • Insert from file - allows you to insert text from another file into comment field.

  • Font - you can specify a new display font. This does not affect the archive, but it is saved as your preference when viewing comments within PowerArchiver.

  • Show Comments when opening Zip files - displays comment automatically when Zip archive that has comment is opened.

Furthermore, by checking “Dock comments when opening ZIP files ” in “Options > Configuration> Miscellaneous”, comments will appear in a “docked bar ” at the bottom of the PowerArchiver. This is useful when working with many ZIP files with comments.

Using PowerArchiver CheckOut

Introduction

PowerArchiver's CheckOut feature makes it very easy to run files in an archive, or extract an archive and add it to “Programs” in the system Start menu.

CheckOut essentially extracts all files from the archive into a folder you specify, creates a program group for the files in the Start menu, and opens an Explorer window to access the files. Concurrently in the background, PowerArchiver activates a dialog box asking if you want to delete checked out files. This is very useful for extracting applications that do not have an installation routine.

Using CheckOut

First, you will need to open the archive that you wish to CheckOut. Once the archive is opened in PowerArchiver, click “CheckOut” on the toolbar, or select “CheckOut…” from the “Actions” menu in the (Classic interface only).

Options

The Checkout dialog box will appear with several different options:

Folder - you can select the destination folder by entering it manually into the “Folder” field, or by selecting it from the list. This is the location to which the files will be extracted.

CheckOut Options:

  • Group Name - here you can enter the name for the Start Menu Program Group that will be created.

  • Maximum Icons - set the maximum number of icons to be created for the Program Group.

  • Create Icons for programs and documents only - by checking this option, you ensure that only program and document icons are created for the Program Group. This is the default option.

  • Open Folder after CheckOut - Opens the folder that you checked out the archive to in Windows Explorer.

Once you have finished selecting options, proceed by clicking “OK”.

Compiled from the official PowerArchiver Wiki (https://wiki.powerarchiver.com/)