Easy Zip File (V. 3.0 )
Self Extracting Zip Help
What is a ' Self Extracting Zip File' ?
A Self Extracting Zip File is regular zip file with a small computer program appended to the front of the file. This tiny program is able to automatically unzip all the files which have been compressed and stored in the Zip file. Users who do not have a zip file program can still unzip the file. However, because the file is now an executable program file, some users might still prefer a regular zip file, since executables can carry viruses.
Understanding the Self Extractor Options
The Self Extractor page allows you to either open a ZIP file and then convert it to a SELF EXTRACTING zip file, or you can open a Self Extracting zip file and convert it back to a regular zip file.
If you open a normal zip file, you will notice that a set of options at the bottom of the window become available, since these are the options you can use when you convert to a Self Extracting zip file. All of these options are optional, and you can skip this step and proceed directly to the convert button, if you just want to use the default options that are preset by the program.
You can give the Self Extracting Zip file a title caption that will appear at the top of the program box that the user will see when they launch the file. You do this by filling in the appropriate edit box at the top left.
Just below this you will notice a drop down menu where you can choose which folder should be displayed as the first option for unzipping the file. The user will be able to change the folder you select here by bringing up a folder selection box. There are three options on the drop down list. If you leave this area blank, then the first option is used, which is to default to using what ever folder the user has chosen to store the self extracting zip file. The second option is to use the Temporary directory, which is typically C:\Windows\Temp. Selecting the third item allows you to specify a certain folder.
At the bottom left of the window you will notice that you have the option of including a message that will pop up when someone clicks the self extracting zip file to launch the program. There are three types of message boxes you can select. One has an OK button, the second has an OK button and a CANCEL button, and the third has YES and NO buttons. You select the type of message box you want by clicking the little button next to the option of your choice. Along the bottom you will notice a box with a label next to it which reads 'Message' and here is where you enter the text of your message. If you do not enter any text, the program will not include the Message Box.
On the top right is a checkbox which you can select which will allow the user of your self extracting zip file to select only those files in the zip file which they want to unzip. If you leave this box unchecked then the user must extract all the files in the zip file.
After the self extractor has completed upzipping its contents, it can display a message informing the user that it has completed the task. If you check the box on the right, no such message will be displayed and if you leave the box unchecked the user will be informed when the process is complete.
Below this is an option to 'Automatically Unzip' the file to the same folder in which the user has stored the self extracting zip file. If you choose this option no window appears when the user clicks the file, but rather the program proceeds diirectly to unzip the contents of the file in the same folder where the self extracting zip file is located. If you check this box, the program will automatically unselect any messages boxes you might have selected, since these options are incompatible with the option of having the program run without any user intervention.
Below this is a button which will allow you to select the icon for your self extracting zip file (the little picture that the users will see and which they will click to launch the self extractor program).
You can also set the zip file to automatically launch a file when it has completed the extraction. For example if the zip file contains a file named 'Setup' you might want to immediately begin the Setup program once the self extractor has finished unzipping the setup files. When you press this button a window will appear showing you the contents of the zip file. You select the file to launch by clicking it to highlight it blue and then choosing the OK button.
Below this is a check box that will allow the users to prevent the automatic launching of the file you selected above.
When you have selected any options you might wish to customize, you can then press the CONVERT button and the zip file will be converted to a self extracting zip file, and a message box will appear informing you when the process is complete. If you are converting a self extracting zip file back to an ordinary zip file, you can proceed directly to the convert button, since none of the options at the bottom of the screen apply.
If you convert a SELF EXTRACTING ZIP FILE back to an ordinary zip file, and you then switch to the 'Unzip Tab' the file you have converted will be automatically loaded into the UNZIP window. Similarly, if you have a file open in the UNZIP window, the UPDATE window, or the CREATE ZIPFILE windows, and you click on the SELF EXTRACT tab, the files will be automatically moved to the self extract window ready to be converted into a self extracting zip file. Simply push the convert button, or set the options you wish at the bottom of the screen and then proceed to convert the zip file.
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