Does Windows have a built-in ZIP command for the command line? [closed]

Question

Since Windows Explorer (since at least Windows XP) has some basic support for ZIP files, it seems like there should be a command-line equivalent, but I can't seem to find any sign of one.

Is there such a creature, or do I need to stick with third-party tools?

Answer 1

It's not built into Windows, but it's in the Resource Kit Tools as COMPRESS,

C:\>compress /?

Syntax:

COMPRESS [-R] [-D] [-S] [ -Z | -ZX ] Source Destination
COMPRESS -R [-D] [-S] [ -Z | -ZX ] Source [Destination]

Description:
Compresses one or more files.

Parameter List:
-R Rename compressed files.

-D Update compressed files only if out of date.

-S Suppress copyright information.

-ZX LZX compression. This is default compression.

-Z MS-ZIP compression.

Source Source file specification. Wildcards may be
used.

Destination Destination file | path specification.
Destination may be a directory. If Source is
multiple files and -r is not specified,
Destination must be a directory.

Examples:

COMPRESS temp.txt compressed.txt
COMPRESS -R *.*
COMPRESS -R *.exe *.dll compressed_dir

Answer 2

Not that I'm aware of. As far as third party tools goes, 7zip has a pretty nice command line interface and the binary can be distributed with your app in the app's directory, so you don't have to rely on it being installed ahead of time.

Answer 3

Powershell does. See:

http://blogs.msdn.com/daiken/archive/2007/02/12/compress-files-with-windows-powershell-then-package-a-windows-vista-sidebar-gadget.aspx

JR

Answer 4

Another solution found on superuser site use windows native com object in .bat file:

http://superuser.com/questions/110991/can-you-zip-a-file-from-the-command-prompt-using-only-windows-built-in-capabili

Answer 5

It should be "COMPACT.EXE". It can be found in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 and is already in the PATH environment. No need to use those from the resources kit.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490884.aspx

Answer 6

Take a look at WinZip Command Line. http://www.winzip.com/prodpagecl.htm

It's not part of Windows, but it works.

Alternatively, you could write your own using Python.

Answer 7

I was a fan of 7zip, but have switch to using WinRAR, solely for the reason that I can script the creation and updating of self extracting zips with WinRAR easier than I can with 7zip.

Yes I know 7zip does it, however after hours of trying to get it to work properly, I tried WinRAR and within 15mins had it working. http://www.rarlab.com/rar_archiver.htm