Winrar or Winzip? SuperGeek Chris Prillo's verdict.

Monday 15 October 2007

Version 3.71 is here

Get the newly released version 3.71 of your free download here

Tuesday 21 August 2007

What is WINRAR?

WINRAR is a powerful tool which allows you to create, manage and control archive files. There are several versions of RAR, for a number of operating environments: Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, DOS, OS/2, MacOS X.

Isn't WINRAR the same as WINZIP? Why would I need it ?

Winrar can do everything that winzip can do and much, much more. In fact winrar can happily read and write zip files if you require it to.

Features of RAR archives over zips include the following:

In most cases RAR format provides significantly better compression than ZIP, especially in the solid mode. Another important RAR feature is support of multi-volume archives. They are more convenient and easier to use than so called ZIP "span disks" archives. WinRAR does not support ZIP disks spanning. If you need to create a multi-volume set, use RAR volumes instead.

RAR format has also a few important features missing in ZIP, such as the recovery record allowing to reconstruct damaged data and locking of important archives to prevent their accidental modification.

RAR format is able to handle files of practically unlimited size (up to 8,589,934,591 GB), when the maximum size of a single file in a ZIP archive is 2 GB. Note that older file systems do not support files larger than 4 GB and you will need to use NTFS to work with such files.
You may be wondering why you would still want to bother with zip files at all once you have winrar. Here are a couple of reasons:

The main advantage of ZIP format is its popularity. For example, most archives on the Internet are ZIP archives. So if you are going to send an archive to somebody, but you are not sure that your addressee has WinRAR to extract the contents of the archive, it might be a good idea to use the ZIP format. On the other hand, you may send a self-extracting archive. Such archives are slightly larger, but can be extracted without external programs.

Another ZIP advantage is speed. ZIP archives are usually created faster than RAR.

Do I have to pay for WINRAR?

WINRAR is shareware, which means you can try it out absolutely free for 40 days. If you like it you can buy it. You'll be surprised what great value for money it is.

For your free official WINRAR trial download click here


For some great deals on other software utilities from Amazon click here

Monday 20 August 2007

Making an archive - commonly used options


The first thing you will want to do having downloaded and installed WINRAR will be to create an archive. Here is a quick "how to " explaining the most commonly used options on the "general" tab.








Firstly select the files you want archiving. Either click on a folder or one or more files.

You select several files at once by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each file required.

Click the button and the general dialog TAB will appear.


The General dialog TAB

Archive name

Enter the name or browse the required path:



Profiles:

The profile button allows you to create a profile name to save your settings for another session.

Archive Format:

Chose the format you want. If ZIP format selected, some advanced options, not supported by this archive format will be disabled.

Compression method:

Compression methods:

Normal: recommended

Fastest: poorest compression
Store: archive files without compression.

Best: slowest

The features below are supported only by RAR archives.

Split to volume:

A convenient way of breaking large archives into handy media size chunks eg CD, DVD and for those living in the last Century floppy.

Update mode:

Add and replace files (default) :
Always replace archived files, which have same name as files to be added. Always add those files, which are not present in the archive.

Add and update files :
Replace archived files only if added files are newer. Always add those files, which are not present in the archive.

Freshen existing files only :
Replace archived files only if added files are newer. Do not add those files, which are not present in the archive.

Synchronize archive contents :
Replace archived files only if added files are newer. Always add those files, which are not present in the archive. Delete those archived files, which are not present in the added files.

Archiving options:

Delete files after compression : The original files will only be deleted after a successful compression.

Create SFX archive:

Creates a self-extracting archive (exe file), which can be unpacked without using any other programs. You may select the type of SFX module and set a few other SFX parameters like a destination folder in the Advanced options of this dialog.

Create solid archive

Creates a solid archive. Usually gives higher compression ratios, but applies some restrictions.

Put Authenticity verification

Put, in the archive, information concerning the creator, last update time and archive name. In archive management mode it is possible to read the authenticity information using the Show archive information.

Put recovery record

Adds the recovery record, which may help to restore an archive in case of damage. You may specify a size of the recovery record in the Advanced options of this dialog. But the default value is about 1 % of the total archive size.

Lock archive

A locked archive cannot be modified by WinRAR. You may lock important archives to prevent accidental modification.

Having chosen your options, simply hit ok, and away you go.

For your free WINRAR download click here

For some great deals on other software utilities from Amazon click here