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Archives

DCommander treats ZIP archives like folders for quick browsing and extraction. You can also create new ZIP archives from any selection.

Scope: ZIP and ZIP-derived containers only (e.g., .zip, some ZIP-based bundles).
Not supported: RAR, 7z, or other non-ZIP formats. In-place editing/recompress is not supported.

Browse inside ZIPs​

  • Open a .zip like a folder (⏎ Return or double-click).
  • Navigate and preview files with Quick Look (Space).
  • Copy files out with F5 (to the opposite pane’s path).
note

You cannot modify the contents of a ZIP in place. To change files, extract → edit → create a new ZIP.

Extract archives​

There are two easy ways:

  • Copy out (fastest): Open the ZIP, select items, press F5 to copy them to the other pane.
  • Extract to…: Right-click the ZIP → Extract and choose a destination path.

Verification: After extraction, use the Info bar (counts/sizes) or see checksums for critical deliveries.

Create ZIP archives​

  1. Select files/folders in a pane.
  2. Press ⌥F5 (Compress) or use Compress from the context menu.
  3. Choose the ZIP filename and destination (typically the opposite pane).
tip
  • For reproducible results, compress from a clean working folder.
  • Include a small README.txt and a checksum file alongside large ZIPs.

Common workflows​

Package assets for delivery​

  • Select the release folder → ⌥F5 Compress → output to the right-pane “Deliverables” folder.

Review an incoming ZIP​

  • Open the ZIP, preview samples with Space.
  • F5 to extract only the needed subfolders into your working directory.

Replace files in an archive​

In-place editing isn’t supported.

  • Extract the relevant files → edit locally → ⌥F5 Compress into a new ZIP.

Performance & limits​

  • Browsing and extracting large ZIPs is I/O-bound. Work from local SSD where possible.
  • On network shares, extract to a local pane first, then copy to the remote destination.
  • Very deep trees or huge single-file entries can slow preview—use Quick Look sparingly and extract first if needed.

Troubleshooting​

  • “Nothing happens when opening a ZIP” → Refresh (⌘R) and retry; ensure the file isn’t locked by another process.
  • “Cannot copy into ZIP” → Expected limitation. Extract, modify, then Compress into a new archive.
  • “RAR/7z won’t open” → Not supported. Convert with an external tool, then manage the ZIP in DCommander.