How can you zip or unzip from the script using ONLY Windows" built-in capabilities?

How to Zip or Unzip Files Using Windows' Built-in Capabilities

🌟 Hey there tech enthusiasts! Are you looking for a way to zip or unzip files on Windows using only the built-in capabilities? We got you covered! 🌟

The Dilemma: Zip and Unzip with No Third-Party Software

⏰ We all have been in a situation where we need to compress files into a zip format or extract files from an existing zip archive. Windows conveniently provides an option to zip files by right-clicking and selecting "Send to" followed by "Compressed (zipped) folder". Similarly, you can unzip files by double-clicking on the .zip file and extracting the contents.

But what if you want to automate this process using a script, like a .bat file? The challenge is to achieve this without relying on any third-party software installations. 🙅‍♂️

The Solution: Utilizing Windows' Powerful Commands

🔑 Good news! Windows has a powerful set of built-in commands that enable you to zip and unzip files programmatically. Let's dive into the specifics:

Zipping Files 📦

To zip files from a script, you can utilize the "Compact.exe" command-line tool available on Windows. Here's an example of using this tool in a .bat file:

:: Create a new zip file
compact.exe /c /a "C:\Path\To\Your\Files"

:: Add files to an existing zip file
compact.exe /c /a "C:\Path\To\Existing\File.zip" "C:\Path\To\Your\Files"

In the above script, replace "C:\Path\To\Your\Files" with the actual path to the files you want to zip. The /c flag specifies that compression is required, and /a denotes that the files should be added.

Unzipping Files 📦➡️📂

To unzip files programmatically, we can utilize the "Expand.exe" command. Here's how you can use it in a .bat file:

:: Extract files from a zip archive
expand.exe -f:* "C:\Path\To\Your\File.zip" "C:\Path\To\Extract\Files"

Similarly, in this script, replace "C:\Path\To\Your\File.zip" with the actual path to your zip file, and "C:\Path\To\Extract\Files" with the desired location to extract the files.

Easy-Peasy, Right? 😃

✨ You now have the knowledge to zip and unzip files using only the built-in capabilities of Windows! No need to install any additional software. ✨

Why not give it a try and simplify your file compression and extraction tasks? Share this knowledge with your friends who might find it helpful as well. Let's empower the tech community with efficient solutions! 👥🚀

Have any questions or want to share your experiences? We would love to hear from you! Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and let's start an engaging conversation. Happy zipping and unzipping! 💪💻

#zipfiles #unzipfiles #WindowsBuiltIn #NoThirdPartySoftware