Zip for VB.Net? [Resolved]

Hi there,

I have been looking for a way to zip files and directories up within vb.net.

I have heard of the CdSharp open source libraries but have been unable to get it to work. I have also heard of Xceed Zip class but that cost alot for something simple which i need to get done.

Has anyone got the zip to work? Can i make use of the in build zip in winXP?

Cheers

If you have winzip on your machine then you could always use that (with command line arguments) to do it. Winzip has comprehensive commandline support and should work without any visible interface.

You couls call it with

VB Code:

Process.Start("Winzip.exe myfile.txt myzip.zip /args go here")

you could have a look at
#ziplib
It's released under the GPL, however I haven't tried it myself.

Some suggestions in this thread.

cheers...i will try the winzip route

I usually recommend the #zip utility when this question comes up. It's easy to use and doesn't require winzip on the user's machine.

Also, I think if the user has an unregistered version of Winzip, they may be prompted with the Evaluation Version box.

I think it unwise to assume anything about the destination machine that is not specifically under your control. If you know for sure that WinZip will be there then great, but otherwise...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wossname

If you have winzip on your machine then you could always use that (with command line arguments) to do it. Winzip has comprehensive commandline support and should work without any visible interface.

You couls call it with

VB Code:

Process.Start("Winzip.exe myfile.txt myzip.zip /args go here")

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The thing is that i would like to be able to change the name of the file and what i am zipping but it does not work?

VB Code:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim source As String
        source = "C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZZIP.EXE -rp hi.zip " & DatabasePath
        Process.Start(source)
    End Sub

Any ideas how to string build it up?

Not sure if this is the right way, but i have done it via a batch file

VB Code:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim source As New System.Text.StringBuilder
        If IO.File.Exists(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat") Then
            IO.File.Delete(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat")
        End If
 
        Dim sw As StreamWriter = IO.File.CreateText(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat")
        source.Append("C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZZIP.EXE -rp hi.zip " & DatabasePath)
        sw.WriteLine(source.ToString)
        sw.Close()
        Process.Start(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat")
        IO.File.Delete(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat")
    End Sub

I have made a temp batch file and have run it then deleted it after usage....

Anyone has a better solution?

Oh by the way....if your command line has spaces in it ,,,you have to put " before and after the path...

Corrected code:

VB Code:

Dim sw As StreamWriter = IO.File.CreateText(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat")
            'For the winzip, we will potentially put this path into a config file. 
            source.Append(Chr(34) & "C:\program files\winzip\WZZIP.EXE" & Chr(34) & " -rp ")
            source.Append(Chr(34) & Me.txtOutputFolder.Text)
            source.Append(Date.Now.Day & "-")
            source.Append(Date.Now.Month & "-")
            source.Append(Date.Now.Now.Year & "-Database.zip" & Chr(34) & " ")
            source.Append(Chr(34) & DatabasePath & Chr(34))
            sw.WriteLine(source.ToString)
            sw.Close()
            Process.Start(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat")
            IO.File.Delete(Application.StartupPath & "\run.bat") 'Remove the file.

When calling Process.Start with one argument, you must use the file name only. If you are trying to start a process and you want to pass commandline arguments to it, you use an overload of Process.Start that takes two arguments. The first is the file name and the second is the commandline arguments.

VB Code:

Process.Start("C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZZIP.EXE", "-rp hi.zip " & DatabasePath)

Is this 2003 code?

Yes, that is the same code in 2003.

rgr
What is the DatabasePath variable?

That is the name of the file to zip I'd assume. Just check the commandline arguments of the WZZIP.EXE by typing at the command prompt "WZZIP.EXE /?"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RobDog888

That is the name of the file to zip I'd assume. Just check the commandline arguments of the WZZIP.EXE by typing at the command prompt "WZZIP.EXE /?"

---

Not sure what you mean by that.

I found this

Quote:

---

Adding Files

"The command format is:

winzip32 [-min] action [options] filename[.zip] files

where:

-min specifies that WinZip should run minimized. If -min is specified, it must be the first command line parameter.

action
-a for add, -f for freshen, -u for update, and -m for move. You must specify one (and only one) of these actions. The actions correspond to the actions described in the section titled "Add dialog box options" in the online manual.

options
-r corresponds to the Include subfolders checkbox in the Add dialog and causes WinZip to add files from subfolders. Folder information is stored for files added from subfolders. If you add -p, WinZip will store folder information for all files added, not just for files from subfolders; the folder information will begin with the folder specified on the command line.

-ex, -en, -ef, -es, and -e0 determine the compression method: eXtra, Normal, Fast, Super fast, and no compression. The default is "Normal". -hs includes hidden and system files. Use -sPassword to specify a case-sensitive password. The password can be enclosed in quotes, for example, -s"Secret Password".

filename.zip
Specifies the name of the Zip file involved. Be sure to use the full filename (including the folder).

files
Is a list of one or more files, or the @ character followed by the filename containing a list of files to add, one filename per line. Wildcards (e.g. *.bak) are allowed.

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They way i followed it dosn't seem to work correctly

Code:

---

  Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
            Process.Start("C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZZIP.EXE", "-rp C:\Documents and Settings\toe\Desktop\WinZip\Document.zip" & "Document.txt")
    End Sub

---

Error:
"System cannot find the find the file specified"

While trying to zip this file

("C:\Documents and Settings\toe\Desktop\WinZip\Document.txt")

Can you see what iam doing wrong?

thanks
toe

mmmm, maybe it only works with the pro version

Quote:

---

The WinZip Command Line Support Add-On is a FREE add-on for users of WinZip Pro with a valid license.

---

winzip.com

As I stated in my post a few years ago, if you are trying to Zip from .Net, you can use the #Ziplib library. It is free.

http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SharpZipLib/

This code will zip a folder of files using WinXP built in compression:

Code:

---

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

        Dim srcfolderString As String
        Dim dstfolderString As String = "c:\ZippedFolder.zip"

        'get folder to zip
        Dim fbd As New FolderBrowserDialog
        If fbd.ShowDialog() = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then

            srcfolderString = fbd.SelectedPath

            'create empty zip file
            Dim fileContents() As Byte = {80, 75, 5, 6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}
            My.Computer.FileSystem.WriteAllBytes(dstfolderString, fileContents, False)

            Dim objShell As New Shell32.ShellClass
            Dim objFolderSrc As Shell32.Folder
            Dim objFolderDst As Shell32.Folder
            Dim objFolderItems As Shell32.FolderItems

            objFolderSrc = objShell.NameSpace(srcfolderString)
            objFolderDst = objShell.NameSpace(dstfolderString)
            objFolderItems = objFolderSrc.Items
            objFolderDst.CopyHere(objFolderItems, 20)

        End If

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You also need to add a reference to Microsoft Shell Controls And Automation

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nbrege

This code will zip a folder of files using WinXP built in compression:

Code:

---

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

        Dim srcfolderString As String
        Dim dstfolderString As String = "c:\ZippedFolder.zip"

        'get folder to zip
        Dim fbd As New FolderBrowserDialog
        If fbd.ShowDialog() = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then

            srcfolderString = fbd.SelectedPath

            'create empty zip file
            Dim fileContents() As Byte = {80, 75, 5, 6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}
            My.Computer.FileSystem.WriteAllBytes(dstfolderString, fileContents, False)

            Dim objShell As New Shell32.ShellClass
            Dim objFolderSrc As Shell32.Folder
            Dim objFolderDst As Shell32.Folder
            Dim objFolderItems As Shell32.FolderItems

            objFolderSrc = objShell.NameSpace(srcfolderString)
            objFolderDst = objShell.NameSpace(dstfolderString)
            objFolderItems = objFolderSrc.Items
            objFolderDst.CopyHere(objFolderItems, 20)

        End If

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You also need to add a reference to Microsoft Shell Controls And Automation

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Thanks for that

What will the end user need to unzip a folder using WinXP built in compression: EG net frame work 2.0 only?

I tried your example on a new folder i placed on the desktop and got "Access to the path 'C:\Documents and Settings\toe\Desktop\New Folder' is denied."

Any ideas?


Negative0

I will check that out what you stated n your post a few years ago if i carnt use the WinXp built in compression.

thanks