IZArc
Encyclopedia
IZArc is a proprietary file archiver
for Microsoft Windows
developed by Bulgaria
n programmer
Ivan Zahariev. The program is freeware
and closed source. In addition to the most commonly used archive formats, like zip
, rar
, gzip
, tar.gz, bzip2
, and 7z
, IZArc handles a large number of less common formats (48 in total, see below). Another distinguishing feature of IZArc is its ability to convert archives into different formats (including CD images and conversion between self-extracting and standard archives).
, A, ACE
, ARC
, ARJ
, B64, BH,
BIN, BZ2
, BZA, C2D, CAB
, CDI, CPIO
, DEB
, ENC, GCA
, GZ
, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA
, LIB, LZH, MBF, MDF,
MIM, NRG
, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR
, RPM
, TAR
, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP
, ZOO
.
IZArc's lack of support for Unicode
limits its use across various languages . IZArc does not support ISO editing. IZArc has incomplete 7-Zip support and lacks the add, move, or update actions, as well as encryption and parameter
modification. Also unlike 7-zip, it does not appear to decipher Microsoft installer files (.msi) that include files compressed with LZX:21 and some setup files of type 7-zip.PE. While IZArc achieves a very high speed when compressing to the 7z format, and still a high speed with the widespread ZIP format, its compression is slow when handling other archive formats.
s, run from script file
s or executed from other application
s. Its newest version is 1.1 (Build 140).
called IZArc2Go. It includes all features and functions of the permanently installed version, except explorer shell-menu integration and the ability to associate file types with it.
, SoftNews, Softpedia
, WebAttack, etc., for its user-friendliness and wide archive format support.
File archiver
A file archiver is a computer program that combines a number of files together into one archive file, or a series of archive files, for easier transportation or storage...
for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
developed by Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
Ivan Zahariev. The program is freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
and closed source. In addition to the most commonly used archive formats, like zip
ZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
, rar
RAR (file format)
RAR stands for Roshal ARchive. It is a proprietary archive file format that supports data compression, error recovery, and file spanning...
, gzip
Gzip
Gzip is any of several software applications used for file compression and decompression. The term usually refers to the GNU Project's implementation, "gzip" standing for GNU zip. It is based on the DEFLATE algorithm, which is a combination of Lempel-Ziv and Huffman coding...
, tar.gz, bzip2
Bzip2
bzip2 is a free and open source implementation of the Burrows–Wheeler algorithm. It is developed and maintained by Julian Seward. Seward made the first public release of bzip2, version 0.15, in July 1996.-Compression efficiency:...
, and 7z
7z
7z is a compressed archive file format that supports several different data compression, encryption and pre-processing algorithms. The 7z format initially appeared as implemented by the 7-Zip archiver. The 7-Zip program is publicly available under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public...
, IZArc handles a large number of less common formats (48 in total, see below). Another distinguishing feature of IZArc is its ability to convert archives into different formats (including CD images and conversion between self-extracting and standard archives).
Notable features
- Archive conversionData conversionData conversion is the conversion of computer data from one format to another. Throughout a computer environment, data is encoded in a variety of ways. For example, computer hardware is built on the basis of certain standards, which requires that data contains, for example, parity bit checks....
- CD Images conversion
- Disk spanning from and to multiple disketteFloppy diskA floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
s or other removable mediaRemovable mediaIn computer storage, removable media refers to storage media which is designed to be removed from the computer without powering the computer off.Some types of removable media are designed to be read by removable readers and drives... - Creation of Multi-Volume Sets
- Merging of Multi-Volume Sets
- Creation of self-extracting archiveSelf-extracting archiveA self-extracting archive is a computer application which contains a file archive, as well as programming to extract this information. Such file archives do not require a second executable file or program to extract from the archive, as archive files usually require...
s - UnSFX (Reconversion of self-extracting .EXEEXEEXE is the common filename extension denoting an executable file in the DOS, OpenVMS, Microsoft Windows, Symbian, and OS/2 operating systems....
files to standard archives) - Broken archive repair
- UU/XX/MIMEMIMEMultipurpose Internet Mail Extensions is an Internet standard that extends the format of email to support:* Text in character sets other than ASCII* Non-text attachments* Message bodies with multiple parts...
Encode/Decode - EncryptionEncryptionIn cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
of files using Rijndael - AESAdvanced Encryption StandardAdvanced Encryption Standard is a specification for the encryption of electronic data. It has been adopted by the U.S. government and is now used worldwide. It supersedes DES...
(256-bits) encryption - Decryption of (.ize) files
- CD/DVD Images support (ISOISO imageAn ISO image is an archive file of an optical disc, composed of the data contents of every written sector of an optical disc, including the optical disc file system...
, BIN, MDF, NRG, IMG, C2D, PDI, CDI) - Integration in Windows ExplorerWindows ExplorerThis article is about the Windows file system browser. For the similarly named web browser, see Internet ExplorerWindows Explorer is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface...
context menuContext menuA context menu is a menu in a graphical user interface that appears upon user interaction, such as a right mouse click or middle click mouse operation... - Automatic installationInstallation (computer programs)Installation of a program is the act of putting the program onto a computer system so that it can be executed....
of most software distributed in archive files - Virus ScanAntivirus softwareAntivirus or anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including but not limited to computer viruses, computer worm, trojan horses, spyware and adware...
feature - Import and export settings
- Multi-language interface
- SkinnableSkin (computing)In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users....
interface
Formats
IZArc (as of version 4.1.2) currently supports the following file formats: 7-Zip7z
7z is a compressed archive file format that supports several different data compression, encryption and pre-processing algorithms. The 7z format initially appeared as implemented by the 7-Zip archiver. The 7-Zip program is publicly available under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public...
, A, ACE
ACE (file format)
In computing, ACE is a proprietary data compression archive file format developed by Marcel Lemke, and later bought by e-merge GmbH. The peak of its popularity was 1999—2001, when it provided slightly better compression rates than RAR, which has since become more popular.-WinAce:WinAce, maintained...
, ARC
ARC (file format)
ARC is a lossless data compression and archival format by System Enhancement Associates . It was very popular during the early days of networked dial-up BBS. The file format and the program were both called ARC...
, ARJ
ARJ
ARJ is a software tool designed by Robert K. Jung for creating high-efficiency compressed file archives. ARJ is currently on version 2.85 for DOS and 3.15 for Windows and supports 16-bit and 32-bit Intel architectures.ARJ was one of two mainstream archivers for DOS and Windows during early and...
, B64, BH,
BIN, BZ2
Bzip2
bzip2 is a free and open source implementation of the Burrows–Wheeler algorithm. It is developed and maintained by Julian Seward. Seward made the first public release of bzip2, version 0.15, in July 1996.-Compression efficiency:...
, BZA, C2D, CAB
Cabinet (file format)
In computing, CAB is the Microsoft Windows native compressed archive format. It supports compression and digital signing, and is used in a variety of Microsoft installation engines: Setup API, Device Installer, AdvPack and Windows Installer.Though Cabinet was originally called Diamond, its .CAB...
, CDI, CPIO
Cpio
cpio is a general file archiver utility and its associated file format. It is primarily installed on Unix-like computer operating systems. The software utility was originally intended as a tape archiving program as part of the Programmer's Workbench , and has been a component of virtually every...
, DEB
Deb (file format)
deb is the extension of the Debian software package format and the most often used name for such binary packages. Like the "Deb" part of the term Debian, it originates from the name of Debra, erstwhile girlfriend and now ex-wife of Debian's founder Ian Murdock.Debian packages are also used in...
, ENC, GCA
GCA (file format)
In computing, GCA is a freeware compression utility created in 2000 by . GCA is a compressed archive format. It has higher compression capabilities than ZIP, especially with binary files. The next generation of GCA is 'DGCA'. It is not widely used other than by some Japanese programmers for...
, GZ
Gzip
Gzip is any of several software applications used for file compression and decompression. The term usually refers to the GNU Project's implementation, "gzip" standing for GNU zip. It is based on the DEFLATE algorithm, which is a combination of Lempel-Ziv and Huffman coding...
, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA
LHA (file format)
LHA is a freeware compression utility and associated file format. It was created in 1988 by , and originally named LHarc. A complete rewrite of LHarc, tentatively named LHx, was eventually released as LH. It was then renamed to LHA to avoid conflicting with the then-new MS-DOS 5.0 LH command...
, LIB, LZH, MBF, MDF,
MIM, NRG
NRG (file format)
A .nrg file is a proprietary CD image file format used by Nero Burning ROM, a utility suite made by Nero AG, to create and burn ISO 9660 CD images.Other than Nero Burning ROM, a variety of software titles can use these image files...
, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR
RAR (file format)
RAR stands for Roshal ARchive. It is a proprietary archive file format that supports data compression, error recovery, and file spanning...
, RPM
RPM Package Manager
RPM Package Manager is a package management system. The name RPM variously refers to the .rpm file format, files in this format, software packaged in such files, and the package manager itself...
, TAR
Tar (file format)
In computing, tar is both a file format and the name of a program used to handle such files...
, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP
ZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
, ZOO
Zoo (file format)
zoo is a data compression program and format developed by Rahul Dhesi in the mid 1980s. The format is based on the LZW compression algorithm and compressed files are identified by the .zoo file extension. It is no longer widely used. Program source code was originally published on the...
.
Problems
As of version 4.0 beta 1 IZArc adds Unicode support and more 7-zip support which solves some problems mentioned below.IZArc's lack of support for Unicode
Unicode
Unicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
limits its use across various languages . IZArc does not support ISO editing. IZArc has incomplete 7-Zip support and lacks the add, move, or update actions, as well as encryption and parameter
Parameter
Parameter from Ancient Greek παρά also “para” meaning “beside, subsidiary” and μέτρον also “metron” meaning “measure”, can be interpreted in mathematics, logic, linguistics, environmental science and other disciplines....
modification. Also unlike 7-zip, it does not appear to decipher Microsoft installer files (.msi) that include files compressed with LZX:21 and some setup files of type 7-zip.PE. While IZArc achieves a very high speed when compressing to the 7z format, and still a high speed with the widespread ZIP format, its compression is slow when handling other archive formats.
Command line add-on
Command Line Add-on is a set of advanced command line tools for Windows. It can be executed by calling from batch fileBatch file
In DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows, batch file is the name given to a type of script file, a text file containing a series of commands to be executed by the command interpreter....
s, run from script file
Scripting language
A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
s or executed from other application
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
s. Its newest version is 1.1 (Build 140).
Portable version
IZArc is also available as a portable applicationPortable application
A portable application , sometimes also called standalone, is a computer software program designed to run independently from an operating system...
called IZArc2Go. It includes all features and functions of the permanently installed version, except explorer shell-menu integration and the ability to associate file types with it.
Awards
It has been awarded by several well-known download sites, such as FileTransit, SnapFilesSnapfiles
SnapFiles is a software download website that offers a selection of freeware and shareware programs along with an editorial description, a rating and screenshots that are created during the review. SnapFiles has been operating since 1997, when it was known as "WebAttack.com". The name was changed...
, SoftNews, Softpedia
Softpedia
Softpedia is an Internet web site that indexes information and provides software downloads. The site also covers major technology, science, health, and entertainment news from both external and in-house sources and provides software and game reviews. , it is one of the top 500 websites according to...
, WebAttack, etc., for its user-friendliness and wide archive format support.
External links
- IZSoftware
- Review of compression software including IZArc
- Review of IZArc in SternStern (magazine)Stern is a weekly news magazine published in Germany. It was founded in 1948 by Henri Nannen, and is currently published by Gruner + Jahr, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann. In the first quarter of 2006, its print run was 1.019 million copies and it reached 7.84 million readers according to...