- Operating System
- Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7
- OS/2, eCS (Java, ver. 3) [ OR OS/2, eCS (Original Native ver. 2) ]
- Linux
- Java jar file
Development Builds (none at this time)
Description
ZipControl
is available for download here as well as at other sites. The version
available for download is the Evaluation version.
It also serves as an "update" from previous releases to the current release
of the same major version. The evaluation version is fully functional. The
only difference between the evaluation version and the Licensed version
is the Licensed version does not show the reminder window indicating that
it is an unlicensed evaluation version.
The Evaluation version may be used for twenty-one days to determine if it is software that you wish to continue to use. At the end of the evaluation period, you may purchase (license) ZipControl or remove it from your PC.
Licensed users of ZipControl receive a License Key from the place purchased, either RPF Software or a dealer. This License Key is respected by the downloaded evaluation/update ZipControl files, at least for the same major version.
Caveat. "Although we are not aware of any situation where user data may be lost or corrupted or in which archive files may be created that are not faithful storage of user-selected files and directories, we do not warrant the performance of this product and accept no responsibility for any loss or damage that may occur. The product is provided AS IS. Regular backups are good practice, especially when using any new or significantly updated software. "
Requirements. ZipControl version 3.0, the Java version, is targeted to power users, techies, and others with fairly modern computing power and sufficient memory, and especially to people who use multiple operating systems.
Java runtime version 1.4 or later. We will probably continue to use capabilities of the latest Java versions, if we believe they will be available on major OS platforms (OS/2, Linux, Windows, etc.). This means, as newer Java versions are available, the minimum Java runtime version may increase.
Computing Power. As an example, we have successfully tested on a 300 MHz, 128MB, Windows XP Pro PC. ZipControl works fine in this environment, but we expect most ZipControl users to have 1+ GHz, 512MB+ computers. Performance will vary based on computing power, memory, and operating system.
Major Known Issues
Java
runtime. A current version the Java runtime may not be on your computer.
Go to Oracle's web site: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/ and
download/install the latest version (maybe even a beta version). If your operating
system is one for which Oracle does not directly provide a Java runtime, newsgroups
for your operating system will usually have discussions of how/where to get
a comparable Java version.
Installation. We provide two methods of installation, including the most basic, raw files with instructions on what to type to start ZipControl. If you have problems with the provided native operating system installation, you may want to try downloading the raw files and starting the program from the command line, e.g., java -jar zipcontrol.jar
But, we recommend using the provided installation program (when available) to setup the environment as appropriate to each operating system, install the correct files for that operating system, and provide a single native executable for that operating system, rather than typing something like java -jar zipcontrol.jar. You will then use ZipControl.exe (or similar), as you would for native programs for your operating system.
Start-up time. Java applications are typically fairly small in size. But they require a very large runtime (the Java runtime). The time to load the Java runtime prior to running the Java application, e.g., ZipControl, requires several seconds. Java applications are part compiled and part interpreted (similar to .NET applications). The time to build the first GUI of a Java application, depending on complexity, may take a few seconds. Combined, on a slow (300 MHz) PC, it may take 11 seconds to display the Java version of ZipControl. Modern computers (1+ MHz, 512MB+) may take 4-5 seconds.
A "quick start " type option may be specified with the "-s" parameter to ZipControl. If ZipControl is started during boot-up, e.g., in the Startup folder, with the -s option, ZipControl will force the Java runtime needed by ZipControl to load and will start a non-visible stub for ZipControl. When you later need ZipControl, whether due to web-downloading a .zip file with "Open" (using ZipControl) or double-clicking a .zip file or just opening an instance of ZipControl, you will see ZipControl open in 1-2 seconds. We've noticed some operating systems open ZipControl in 1-2 seconds the very first time without using the -s option. The speed depends not only on the power of the computer, but also on the efficiency of the operating system.
The InstallZipControl program offers the "Startup Folder" option. If the installation program is not used (perhaps not available), the user is responsible for implementing the -s option.
Drag-and-Drop. Drag and drop has not been fully implemented or tested. It is believed to work properly when dragging files or directories onto the ZipControl main window (the container area, where archived files are listed) and to the Add window. Dragging files from ZipControl to other locations has not been implemented. The OS/2 Java runtimes currently available do not provide the expected level of drag and drop support for ZipControl. We will work on finding an alternative method of implementing drag and drop for OS/2 Java runtimes. Currently, you can drag from ZC's explorer "tree" to the main window.
100% Java Application. ZipControl is a 100% Java application. However, the ZipControl installation program may deliver native programs and files and it, as well as ZipControl, may call/use those native programs and files during operation. ZipControl, for example, calls the Info-ZIP group's free, open source zip and unzip command-line programs to perform the compression and de-compression of zip archive files.
Info-ZIP's programs were chosen because this volunteer group, over the years, has created native code for zip compression/de-compression for most operating systems, retaining key attributes unique to each operating system (permission structures, extended attributes, etc.).
Also, the ZipControl installation program may install operating system specific programs written by us for various purposes, e.g., launching the correct native program to "view" a specific file type, using operating system specific file "associations". ZipControl is our attempt to blend the best, proven technology to create a cross-platform zip archive management application.
File Size. The size of zip files managed by the underlying Info-ZIP programs is limited to 2 GB.
Language Translations. ZipControl currently includes two language files that are used for the GUI (Help has not been translated). One is US English and the other is German. The German translation was done for the original native product by a customer. Since ZipControl version 3.0 has some new text that has not yet been translated to German, English text may occasionally appear when the German language is the configured language (in Settings, Languages).
The creation of a new language file is fairly easy for someone familiar with English and another language, and who is also familiar with ZipControl (for proper context, tone, and technical meaning). The translator edits a copy of the English language file by overwriting the English text with the other language text. The new language file is emailed to us. We review the translation file to ensure it will operate in the ZipControl environment and possibly have a third party review the translation for typos, etc. We will include the new language files we receive from customers in the next product release.
Click Here to volunteer for language translation and receive more information on creating a new language file for ZipControl.
Tips
To see the version of Java
you are running, type in a command line window:
java -version
If the version is not 1.4 or above, acquire the required version of the Java runtime.
To see ZipControl parameters/options, type:
java -jar zipcontrol.jar -? or (if using ZipControl.exe) review on-line Help
or
java -jar zipcontrol.jar -h or (if using ZipControl.exe) review on-line Help
or
review ZipControl's on-line Help.
None of the arguments should normally be needed, except for the -s option (for use in the Startup folder). It is highly recommended that you start ZipControl with the -s option during the operating system boot. Note: The installation program offers you the option of putting ZipControl in the Startup folder with the -s option.
Additionally, a file name or series of file names can be passed as parameters to ZipControl. Filenames/paths that include spaces should be enclosed in quotes, e.g.,
java -jar zipcontrol.jar n:\downloads\thisone.zip "n:\downloads\that one.zip"
or (if using ZipControl.exe)
ZipControl n:\downloads\thisone.zip "n:\downloads\that one.zip"
The ZipControl Java jar file is:
Within ZipControl, it should not be necessary to set any of the "Settings" other than, perhaps, the default target path into which files should be unzipped and the default path where .zip files will usually be found.
Operating Systems
OS-specific
instructions. If the below file is the installation
program (InstallZipControl.exe), there is no need to download zipcontrol.jar
or any associated "helper" files; just download and run the installation
program, and it will prompt you for installation preferences and then install
ZipControl.
Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 (installation program)
NOTE: If ZipControl is installed to a "protected" directory, e.g., c:\Program Files, you may need to change the ZipControl shortcut Properties, Target, to include a path for your ZipControl properties and log files, where the operating system will permit read/write access, e.g.,
(all on one line)
"C:\Program Files (x86)\RPF ZipControl\ZipControl.exe" -p%appdata%\zipcontrol.properties -l%appdata%\zipcontrol.log
The two parameters are: -p the properties/preferences path\filename and -l (el) the logfile path\filename.
Linux (download zipcontrol.jar, ensure Java 1.4 or higher and zip and unzip programs are installed from the Linux distribution. May need to run Java from a root account first to make Java available to user accounts.)
OS/2, eCS (installation program for ZipControl ver 3)
[ OR OS/2, eCS (Original Native ver. 2) does not use Java ]OS/2 helper files (only if not using the above installation program):
[Place in same directory as zipcontrol.jar.]
unzip.exe
zip.exe
zcrunos2file.exe
zcx.exe
If you download zipcontrol.jar instead of the installation program, put it and its helper files, if any, in the same directory.
3.0.14, April 8, 2007- When dragging and dropping to a ZipControl desktop icon or an open ZipControl window, ZipControl will 1) open the .zip file, if there is only one .zip file being dragged, 2) prompt for open/add if multiple .zip files, 3) prompt if a mix of .zip and non-.zip files, or 4) add non-.zip files to an open or new .zip file.
- Corrected Eval/Agree window "painting" problems.
- Improved support for the German language, with the help of Günter Weismann.
- If a folder is selected in ZipControl's "tree" window, clicking the UnZip button will default to the target directory is the selected "tree" folder.
- Correct startup window size when run after a first time install.
- Correct several cosmetic and technical items when used in OS/2.
- Enhanced the drag and drop from the left panel tree to the main window. Multiple drag works without the Ctrl key.
- Added Copy/Paste of files from the left panel tree to the main window, when the main window file list has focus.
- Enhanced keyboard manipulation for the main window.
- Added a tree/explorer pane to the left side of the main window. The vertical divider may be dragged left/right, double-clicking on a zip file in the explorer will open that zip file in the right pane, and you can drag a single file (or multiple files using the Ctrl key) from the explorer to the right pane. If the file is a zip file, it will ask if you want to open the zip file or add it to the currently open zip file. If a zip file is not open, it will ask for the name of the new zip file you wish to be created.
- Added a text size multiplier to the Settings notebook, Options page. The user interface text size (including the Product Information page) can be changed from the Java/operating system default by specifying a text size multiplier. ZipControl should be restarted to see the changes reflected in the main window's user interface. A multiplier of 1.4 is suggested as a starting point for those who want the text to be larger. The text size multiplier may not work with the Innotek JRE.
- Changed the default behavior when tabbing into the left-side explorer tree and into the main container that displays files within a zip file from having to use Ctrl-Tab and Shift-Ctrl-Tab to instead use Tab and Shift-Tab that is used for the other user interface components.
- Added a visual indicator when the explorer tree or main container is tabbed into.
- Increased the size of the vertical divider between the explorer tree and the main files container, based on the text size multiplier in use.
- Stores the explorer tree vertical divider position and uses it on next ZipControl launch.
- Can press the Enter key in the explorer tree to open a zip file.
- Made a slight change on the system-specific case where an error dialog regarding drive A: is displayed when starting ZipControl.
- Made a change to the Windows installer to eliminate the occasional need to re-boot to complete installation.
Development
Builds
Development builds are available for those who want to experiment with features being added to ZipControl. Development builds have not been tested as much as release builds.
(None at this time.)