Command-Line Functionality

ALZip supports command line compression for ALZ and ZIP files and extraction for all supported archive file types. You can easily automate repetitive tasks with batch scripts or shell calls to ALZip with your own custom software tools. (Note: The command line functionality in ALZip is not currently completely silent.)

Invoke ALZip

Add / Extract

argument

Command Switches

Source files

Target (*Optional)

alzip

-a

-[sfx|t|d|b|si#|off|

p$|af|v#|m#|an$]

<drive>:\<path>[\<filename>]

[,<drive>:\<path>[\<filename>]...]

[<drive>:\<path>[\<filename{.zip|.alz}>]]

-x

-[b|off|xr|xf|xn]

[,<drive>:\<path>\<filename>...]

[<drive>:\<path>\]

Invoke ALZip: This tells Windows to run ALZip with the parameters that follow. ALZip is automatically added to your system path when installed. If you don't know what that means, it means ALZip will work properly without any additional effort from you :-)

Add / Extract argument: This tells ALZip whether to add files to a new archive or extract from an existing archive. Not specifying the file(s) when adding will add an entire directory and its contents (like "*.*"). You must always specify the file name when extracting. You can extract different archive formats like ZIP, ALZ, and RAR all at the same time with a comma separated list of archives, e.g. alzip -x file1.zip,file2.rar,file3.alz.

Command switches: These allow you to modify the default add/extract behaviour and perform other tasks. See below for an explanation of each switch with examples.

Source files: Specify the file(s) you wish to add or extract. Separate additional files after the first with a comma and NO SPACE. You must specify the path to the files if they are not in the same directory.

Target: This is optional. Specify the path and file name. ALZip will automatically date stamp the file name if you do not specify a file name.

With "-a", an already existing complete path and file name with .zip or .alz compressed archive file extension

* Network drives are supported for -a and -x, use the normal "\\" to prefix network drives or the drive letter if mapped

Choose 1 of the elements enclosed by braces. Elements are seperated by pipes / vertical bars ( | ).

Don't confuse the forward slash character ( / ) with the backslash character ( \ ). Use the \ character for paths. It is next to your backspace key on a standard keyboard.

ALZip does not automatically overwrite archive files if ones with the same name already exist. It will create a new easily identifiable name for the new file and keep the existing file.

Ex) alzip -a "C:\My Stuff\Cool Stuff\Ice.mp3",C:\My Stuff\Cooler Stuff\Liquid Nitrogen.mp3"

- The destination archive name is automatically created in the current time-base format (year/month/day/hour/minute) (yyyymmddhhnn).

alzip -a <drive>:\<path>[\<filename>][,<drive>:\<path>[\<filename>]...] [<drive>:\<path>[\<filename{.zip|.alz}>]]

Ex) alzip -a "C:\My Stuff\Cool Stuff\Ice.mp3",C:\My Stuff\Cooler Stuff\Liquid Nitrogen.mp3" "C:\My Stuff\Cool Stuff\Cool Music.zip"

All supported compression and archive formats are supported from the command line. If the destination path does not have enough disk space, extraction will fail.

Ex) alzip -x"C:\My Stuff\Cool Stuff\Ice.zip",C:\My Stuff\Cooler Stuff\Liquid Nitrogen.rar"

- ALZip creates a new directory if one with the same name as the source archive does not exist, and extracts the archive contents to the folder.

alzip -x <drive>:\<path>\<filename>[,<drive>:\<path>\<filename>...] [<drive>:\<path>\]

- Archives are extracted to the user defined directory. If the directory does not exist, ALZip will automatically create the directory for you.

Ex) alzip -x"C:\My Stuff\Cool Stuff\Ice.zip",C:\My Stuff\Cooler Stuff\Liquid Nitrogen.rar" "New Cool Folder"

Command line with arguments	Result of command line
alzip -x c:\test.alz c:\MyFiles	c:\MyFiles\test\<contents>
alzip -x c:\test.alz,d:\test2.zip c:\MyFiles	Extracts to: c:\MyFiles\test\<contents> c:\MyFiles\test2\<contents>
alzip -x c:\Mydirectory c:\MyFiles	1) Extracts all compressed archives in 'MyDirectory' into the 'MyFiles' directory. 2) Creates new directory for each compressed archive in 'MyDirectory' c:\MyFiles\<compressed file name from 'MyDirectory'>\<contents>

Command switches let you add or change functionality in a command issued from the command prompt. You can use several command switches together by typing them successively, e.g. "-b -off".

Some switches work with both the -a (add) and -x (extract) commands, while others work with either -a or -x, but not both.

Switches for -a (add)
Switch	Description
-sfx	Self-Extractor: Create a self-extracting EXE file. Usage: alzip -a -sfx myfile.txt mysfx.exe
-t	Test: Test archive after creating Usage: alzip -a -t myfile.txt mytest.zip
-d	Delete: Delete the original files to the Windows Recycle Bin after compressing Usage: alzip -a -d myfile.txt myarchive.alz
-si[index]	Select Icon: Choose one of the 4 available icons for the self-extracting EXE. This must be used with the -sfx switch. Use "si#" where "#" is a number between 1 and 4. Usage: alzip -a -sfx -si1 myfile.txt mysfx.exe
-p[password]	Password: Password protect an archive with this switch. Passwords that contain a space must be quoted. e.g. -p"my password" Usage: alzip -a -pthisisapassword myfile.txt mysecret.zip alzip -a -p"this is a password with spaces" myfile.txt mysecret.zip
-af	Full Path: Include the full path to all added files. Usage: alzip -a -af . myarchive.zip
-v[size]	Volume Size: Set the size of the volumes in a spanned archive. Use "kb" or "mb" or "gb" for kilobytes, megabytes, or gigabytes. (They are case insensitive.) Use just a number to specify bytes exactly. Usage: alzip -a -v650mb myfile.txt myspanned.alz alzip -a -v1457664 myfile.txt myfloppy.alz alzip -a -v4.2gb myfile.txt mydvd.alz
-m[rate]	Compression Level: Set compression level from 0 to 4. 0 = maximum compression 1 = normal 2 = fast 3 = fastest 4 = no compression Usage: alzip -a -m0 myfile.txt mymaximumcompressed.zip alzip - a -m4 myfile.txt myfastzippedarchive.zip
-an[list]	Exclude List: When compressing files, exclude all the files in the list. The list is comma separated. This may be used with wild cards, e.g. -an.jpg,.doc, etc. To exclude files from subdirectories, the directory name must be used. e.g. To exclude all JPG files in a subdirectory called "images" use -an\images\.jpg Usage: To archive everything except MP3 files in the same directory: alzip -a -an.mp3 . myfiles.zip To archive everything except MP3 files in the "music" subdirectory: alzip -a -an\music\.mp3 .* myfiles.zip To archive everything except JPG files and MP3 files in the "music" subdirectory: alzip -a -an.jpg,\music\.mp3 . myfiles.zip
-xr	Exclude Recursion: Compress only files in current directory and exclude all files in subdirectories in compressed archive. For example, you need to compress all the files in the root directory, but don't want any subdirectories. Usage: alzip -x -xr . myarchive.zip

Points to Remember: When using the command line, spaces are important. Do not use any spaces in lists or paths unless you use quotes. For example:

Windows imposes path and file name length limitations. These must be followed. (less than 255 characters or less than 2,096 characters)

Both command.com on Windows 9x/Me and cmd.exe on Windows NT/2000/XP have maximum lengths for command lines. You must observe these limtations. (less than 126 characters, less than 2,096 characters, or less than 8,192 characters)