Interface Details,Viewer, Queue and Associations

Double Clicking

General Information

Double clicking on a file name listed in the main PowerArchiver window will perform the same action that is performed when you double click on a file in My Computer or Windows Explorer. If the file is an executable (with a file extension of EXE, COM, BAT, or PIF), PowerArchiver will run it. Otherwise, PowerArchiver will open the file with the appropriate application. For example, files with the extension of .TXT are opened using Windows Notepad (unless you have changed the TXT association). The appropriate application is determined via Windows' file associations.

If you change the file while it is open, PowerArchiver will ask if you want to update the archive with the changed version of the file.

Internal Viewer

General Information

PowerArchiver has a Internal Viewer that supports TXT, RTF, BMP, JPG, TIFF, GIF, PSD, PSP, PNG, JPG, FAX, BW, RGB, SGI, TGA, PCX, PCD, PPM, CUT, RLA, RPF, ICO, WMF and EMF files. It comes in handy when you want to quickly view files, but it is not meant to replace full-fledged viewer applications.

Tips and Tricks

If you select several files in PowerArchiver to be viewed, you will be able to go through them by using the “Next” and “Previous” buttons.

PowerArchiver Starter

Introduction

PowerArchiver Starter is a system tray application that enables use of Queue system in PowerArchiver, as well as provides faster way to start PowerArchiver.

How does it work?

Once started, PowerArchiver Starter resides in your system tray and starts every time your computer turns on.

Options when right clicking on PowerArchiver Starter icon:

  • “Start PowerArchiver” - When clicked, PowerArchiver will be quickly started. Double-click on PowerArchiver Starter tray icon will also start PowerArchiver.

  • “Show Queue” - Opens Queue window which shows Queue operations currently in progress

  • “Delete” - Deletes selected operation (it can not delete operation in progress).

  • “Move Up” - Moves selected operation one place above (it can not move operation in progress).

  • “Move Down” - Moves selected operation one place below (it can not move operation in progress).

  • “Close” - Closes Queue window.

  • “Use Queue always” - Enables/disables queue to be used every time you use PowerArchiver, for adding, extracting and performing backups. This is the same option as in Configuration options window. Checking/un-checking “Add to Queue” option in PowerArchiver's Add/Extract/Backup windows will override this option.

  • “Recent Files” - Shows 5 most recently used files.

  • “Recent Backups” - Shows 5 most recently used backups.

How to enable PowerArchiver Starter

When you first install PowerArchiver, you will have an option to enable PowerArchiver Starter. If you have not done so then, or have disabled it later on, you can restart it by going to your PowerArchiver installation folder and double-clicking on PASTARTER.EXE. Additionally, PowerArchiver will ask you to start PowerArchiver Starter, if you have checked “Add to Queue” option in Add/Extract/Backup windows.

How to disable PowerArchiver Starter

If you want to disable PowerArchiver from starting every time your computer starts, simply right click on PowerArchiver tray icon and select Close. PowerArchiver Starter will then ask you if you wish to close it and if you wish to disable PowerArchiver from starting when your computer starts.

Please Note:

To minimize use of resources, PowerArchiver Starter has been written in assambler-like language for minimum size (179 kB on disk, and 64 kB in installation) and resources usage (only 784 kB of private memory used).

PowerArchiver Queue

Introduction

PowerArchiver features innovative queue system that enables user to add multiple operations to the queue system, which are then processed one at a time. This enables users to continue using their computer while selecting multiple operations. Main benefit is that multiple compression/extraction operations would usually slow down users computer to the crawl, if done all at the same time.

How does it work?

There are two ways of using PowerArchiver Queue system:

  • “Always use Queue” - You can enable Queue system to be used at all times by checking appropriate option in Options> Configuration> Queue window or by selecting appropriate option when right clicking on PowerArchiver Starter. PowerArchiver Queue will then be always used for adding, extracting and performing backups.

  • “Don't Queue files smaller than:” - You can disable Queue to be used on files that are smaller than size you can set in Options> Configuration> Queue window. This option is very helpful when you want to create or extract smaller files instantly, without waiting for the previously queued operations to be processed first.

  • “Add to Queue” - You can check/un-check this option in all of Add/Extract/Backup windows found in PowerArchiver to enable Queue system to be used in specific operations. By un-checking this option in appropriate Add/Extract/Backup windows, you can also override “Always use Queue” setting.

Please note

PowerArchiver Queue system requires PowerArchiver Starter to be run in order to use the PowerArchiver Queue. User is notified and given option to start PowerArchiver Starter, if it is not running when user selects one of the Queue options.

Windows Associations

Microsoft has defined the word “associate” as follows:

To identify a filename extension as belonging to a certain application, so that when you open any file with that extension, the correct application is opened automatically.

For example, Windows associates .WRI files with WordPad by default, and .TXT files with Notepad. Most Windows application installation procedures create associations. Microsoft Word creates an association for .DOC files, while PowerArchiver creates associations for files with the extension .ZIP (and other archive formats that PowerArchiver supports).

PowerArchiver, My Computer, and Windows Explorer all use associations in the same way. When you double click on a file with an association, the application associated with the file is run, and the application automatically opens the file.

PowerArchiver uses associations when you double click on a file name listed in the main PowerArchiver window and when you use the CheckOut feature. The PowerArchiver CheckOut facility establishes associations when it updates the CheckOut program group for two reasons: to display the right icon for each file, and to ensure the appropriate application is run when you double click on an icon.

You can view, add, and remove associations using the “File Types” tab in the “Options” dialog box in My Computer or Windows Explorer. Select “Options” from the “View” menu or “Folder Options” from the “Tools” menu (depending on your version of Windows), then click on the “File Types” tab.

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