global menu:
Archivers are listed on the Compress, Encode, and Encrypt page. See File Management for archive-aware file managers. See File Finders and Identifiers for archived file finders.
MULTI-ARCHIVE SHELLS
Note: Most of the dedicated archive shells below are becoming dated. However, there exist many current file managers which double as good archive managers (e.g., DOS Navigator, Connect, FW, Archive Lister, and more).
1. Aview (NCAV) - Multi-archive shell with pack, unpack, add, delete, convert and file view functions.
* * * *
AVIEW (aka NCAV) is a versatile shell for common DOS archivers. Archived files are shown in a single pane list and file manipulation is achieved by tagging files and issuing commands from a menu at the bottom of the screen. Effortless one-step conversions between archive formats is a particular strength of AVIEW- a feature lacking in popular Windows counterparts. External archivers are required for conversion, packing, and unpacking routines. Author: Chris Buijs, Netherlands (1995).
Features:
download ncav48bd.zip (300K, beta)
2. AinViewer - Multi-archive shell supports numerous archive formats. Unpack/ file view functions.
* * * 1/2
AinViewer is a shell that can list, test, and unpack a variety of archives. Unlike AVIEW, AinViewer cannot pack /convert archives or read self-extracting archives. External archive programs required.
Distributed as postcardware. Authors: PC-i team (Palma), Hungary. (1997).
download pci-a174.zip (72K)
3. RVS- Multi-archive shell with directory browser, unpack, and file view functions.
* * * 1/2
I like the simple design of this archive shell. Although it doesn't support a large number of archive formats, it's quick and includes a directory browser. RVS can read self extracting archives and has a command line filter to find supported SFX's. The Norton-like list screen displays a detailed listing of arc contents which can be sorted (name, ext, etc.) using a pulldown menu. Requires external unpackers and viewers. Author: Raymond T. Kaya (1995)
Features:
download rvs113.zip (48K)
MULTI-ARCHIVE VIEWERS
These programs are useful for viewing contents of archives but they're not intended to function as unpackers.
1. LGFV- Small and fast multi-archive viewer; support for 80+ archives.
unrated [added 03-26-99 updated 07-03-00]
Small (11K), fast, and up-to-date. Internal support for 80+ archives. Author: George Lyapko (2000). Other DOS utils by George Lyapko.
Usage: LGFV [/almbd@<filename>] file_mask [file_mask...] Options: l for long listing, b for brief a adjust archive datestamp to that of latest file d ignore directories m date in MM-DD-YYYY @ specify file with names to ignore while setting date
New in v2.10 (6-00): See version history.
download lgfv210.zip (17K)
2. ZIEW- Multi-archive viewer lists contents of two archives side by side.
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ZIEW is a full screen archive viewer (not an extracter) which displays the contents of two archives side by side. You can pass wildcards to ZIEW and within the program select archives to view. ZIEW also can be used to view archived files, and uniquely, can execute archived programs. These latter operations require external unpackers and an included batch file; this batch doesn't seem to be OpenDOS-friendly. You can edit the batch file to associate file extensions with custom viewers.
Should handle files up to 2 gigs in size. Mouse support. Supported formats: ARC, ARI, ARJ, DWC, HA, HAP, HYP, LBR, LHZ, LHARK, PAK, RAR, SQZ, ZIP, ZOO. Also reads supported self-extracting archives. Author: Evin Robertson. (1997)
Limitations I've encountered:
download ziew20.zip (37K)
3. QAZ- Multi-archive viewer supports numerous formats.
unrated
QAZ is intended for BBS sysops/ power users. From the docs: "QAZ is an "almost universal archive viewer"....QAZ is also capable of searching a drive for archives which contain a specified set of files, or of returning exit codes identifying the file type or attributes of the file (such as whether an archive contains AV information or password-protected files) which can be used by other software. The output of QAZ is to standard-output, which means it can be used as an online BBS viewing utility. The format of the listing is very customizable to suit users' individual tastes." Author: R. Rothenburg Walking-Owl. (1994)
Supported formats: 7PLUS, AMG, ARC family of archivers (ARC, Crunch, PAK, PKARC/PKPAK, etc.) ARJ, CoDec, COM-Pak, Compact-Pro, CPS Shrink, Crush, Disk Doubler, DWC, Flash, FOXSQZ (aka DOSSQZ), GNU-Zip HA, HAP, HPack, Hyper, JRchive, Knowledge Dynamics, LHARC family of archives (AR, LARC, LHA, LHARC, PUT, SAR) Limit, MDCD, LBR, PackIt I, Quantum, Queasy, RAR, Freeze, ShrinkIt, SonArc, Splint, Squeeze, Squeeze-It, SQWEZ, Stuff-It, UC2, TAR, XEQ, Zi-Lite, ZIP, ZOO.
download qaz_361.zip (150K)
4. RV- Archive viewer can add/strip arc comments, reset arc dates, more.
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This command line archive viewer displays contents of archives [ARC, ARJ, HYP, LZH, LZS, PAK, SQZ, ZIP, ZOO ] to standard output and includes some unique options:
Author: Raymond T. Kaya (1995). Suggested by Lars-Erik Sandberg.
download rv251.zip (24K)
COMMAND LINE MULTI-ARC UTILS
Diverse collection of command line utils that unpack, list, and/ or identify archives.
1. UU- Command line archive unpacker and identifier; Win9x LFN support.
* * * * * [added 5-5-98 updated 04-14-01]
The Universal Unpacker is currently the most up-to-date and comprehensive archive identifier and unpacker for DOS- it supports many recent archive formats. UU handles around 100 different archive formats and identifies 170+ formats, including many packed executables. Can also list contents of Linux RPM packages (using rpmview). UU's configuration file supports alternate unpackers for a given format (e.g., can use UNZIP, PKUNZIP, or X1 to unpack a zip file). UU can optionally create archive-named target directories for holding the contents of archives (/A). Returns format-specific error levels. Long filename (LFN) support under Windows. Limited configurability. External unpackers required. Author: Jurgen Peters, Germany. Home Page. (2001)
Syntax: UU archive name [filespec(s)] [targetpath\] [switches]
Switches: /D Delete archive after successful unpacking
/I Identify only, don't unpack archive
/M unpack Mailarchives (see documentation)
/N do Not use embedded paths while unpacking
/P Print file(s) on standard output device (if possible)
/Q Quiet mode, suppresses shell output (where possible)
/R Replace existing files (overwrite mode)
/S Scan unpacked files for viruses
/T Test archive integrity
/U Update mode (decomp. only newer and nonexistent files)
/V View archive contents
/Bdir move Bad archive to specified dir
/B Only show broken archives, do not move
/GPW supply password PW for Garbled file
/Z use ZIP for decompression if unknown format
/X XMS/EMS/disk swapping allowed
/A target directory = Archive name
Important: not all parameters work with all unpackers, if these do not support
the corresponding feature.
04-20-01: v1.66 (04-01) available. See docs for version history.
download uu166e.exe (English, 99K)
download uu166.exe (Deutsch, 97K)
Version with coprocessor emulator (for 286/386/486SX) available from Home Page.
2. Jup- command line archive identifier, lister, unpacker; add new archive formats.
* * * *
Jup is an older command line archive identifier and extraction utility. It's principal strength lies in its ability to identify countless archive/compression formats- from the familiar PKZIP, to the more exotic EXE packers. It also identifies many non-archive file types. Identification is based on file signatures- not extensions. Archive format subversions can also be identified (e.g., PkZip 0.9 vs. 2.x). Individual files within archives can be extracted or viewed (displayed to standard output). External archivers required. Doesn't appear to have an option for virus scanning.
Jup is highly configurable: new archivers can be added to its predefined list of file formats. But this requires some effort (reading the long documentation, determining file signatures of archive formats.). You could conceivably add other file formats besides archivers for file identification purposes only. A simple, command line Win3 version of Jup is included, as is a smaller version of JUP which is quicker but doesn't id subversions or compile configuration files. The default configuration includes 92 file types and 133 identifiers (not all are archive formats):
[SFX ARX][SFX ARJ][SFX RAR][SFX PLL][SFX UC2][SFX LHA] [SFX LZH][SFX LZS][SFX SQZ][SFX ZIP][SFX ZIP][SFX ARC] [SFX PAK] [SFX DWC] [SFX JRC] [SFX CHZ][SFX ARK][SFX PAC] [SFX SMH][SFX ZOO][NLM] [HYP] [PAK] [ARC] [PLL] [ARK] [CHZ][YAC][ARC][ARJ][HA][GZIP][COMP][ARX][MAR][LHA(rc)] [LZS][PutGet][HAP][LIM][LBR][MD][Codec][HPK][KAT][UC2] [TAR][ZIP][ZOO][SQZ][RAR][SAR][DWC][ZAR][JRchive][Jarcs] [BSA][ARI][PAC][Quantum][Crush][AIN][PSA][Sonarc] [VocPak][Sqwez][Shorten][KBOOM][MsComp][OpSmash] [PnPack][IbmPack] [MsCab] [AMG] [ComPressed EXE] [NEW EXE][DOS DRIVER][DOS EXE][DOS COM][MacPit] [Amiga][Swag][PGP][RSC][MSG][PIF][Write][PCX][BMP][TIFF] [IMG][GIF][WAVE][TXT]. Usage: JUP <archive> [<archive> ..] [</options> ..] [<files> ..] F.........FAST! search only for real archives H.........show current configuration I[+]......identify [subversions] only (*default*) C[datnam].force JUP configuration with <datnam> U[binnam].use JUP configuration of <binnam> G<passwd>.password to extract archive W<outpth>.path to output the archive files D, S......display file(s) on standard output device L, V......list/view archive contents Q[+]......quiet[er] mode, suppresses shell output P.........use embedded paths while unpacking R, O......replace existing files T.........test archive integrity E, X......extract archive files without overwriting
Author: Jens Weynans (1995) Cardware.
download jup170us.zip (130K)
3. MUP- command line archive identifier, lister and unpacker with easy configuration.
* * * *
MUP is a command line archive identifier, lister, and unpacker similar in function to JUP. However, all archive configuration options can be easily modified using the configuration screen. Optional virus scanning is available using external scanners. Also includes option to test integrity of files.
MUP supports 19 archive formats (AIN, ARC, ARJ, DWC, GFB, HAP, HPK, HYP, JAR, LIM, LZH, MD, PAK, PUT, RAR, SQZ, UC2, ZIP, ZOO) and 5 SFX (EXE) formats (ARJ, LZH, RAR, SQZ, ZIP). External archivers are required. Author: Morten Isaksen (1997).
Switches:
T: Test the archive for CRC errors L: List the file(s) in the archive P: A pause between each archive D: Deletes the archive(s) after unpacking it if no error has occurred I: Identify archive file(s) U: Unpack each archive in a directory named the same as the archive file but without the extension V: Check for virus with all 3 virus scanners after unpacking Vx: Check for virus with virus number x (1-3) after unpacking E=: Enter file(s) to extract from archive (E=*.exe : Unpacks all *.EXE files in the archive)
download mup122.zip (35K)
4. FASTI- Easy ZIP, ARJ, LZH unpacker creates directories for contents of each archive.
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Fast Inflate (FASTI) represents a quick, "hands free' method of automatically uncompressing all ZIP, ARJ and LZH files in the current directory. The contents of each archive will be placed in a newly created subdirectory with the name of the archive. FASTI also recreates directory structures included within archives. There is no prompting when this program is run, so be prepared prior to running FASTI on a directory containing numerous archives. FASTI can also scan for viruses using the McAfee or F-Prot AV scanner programs. Running FASTI with the prune parameter removes all created subdirectories (see docs for caution notes). Requires external unpackers and virus scanners. Author: Brad Bahr. (1994); Suggested by M. Van Erp.
download fasti18.zip (21.5K)
ARCHIVE IDENTIFIERS
These programs can id (but not list contents of) unknown archives. (Also see: File Identifiers)
1. SH Archive Identifier- (aka SHAID, Archid) Command line archive identifier.
* * * * * [added ?1997 updated 08-09-00]
The SH Archive Identifier (executable name is Archid) can identify nearly any archive format in use today, including many self-extracting archives (those which have an *.exe extension). Recognizes ~170 archives and ~76 executable archives. SHAID returns error levels specific to each archive type and has obvious uses in batch files.
v. 2.70 (07-00) - added 54 new archive id's and 30 new sfx archive id's.
Author: Eero T. Heinonen, Finland (2000) Home Page.
download shaid270.zip (40K)
IDArc- Identifies ~160 different archive formats; Win9x LFN support.
unrated [added 3-4-99 updated 04-14-01]
Revise description
04-20-01: v1.66 (04-01) available. See docs for version history.
download idar166e.exe (56K, English)
download idarc166.exe (56K, Deutsch)
Version with coprocessor emulator (for 286/386/486SX) available from Home Page.
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