ZipGenius
Encyclopedia
ZipGenius is a freeware
file archiver
developed by Matteo Riso of M.Dev Software for Microsoft Windows
. It is capable of handling nearly two dozen file formats, including all the most common formats, as well as password-protect archives and work directly with CD-R
/RW drives. It is presented in two editions: standard and suite. While the suite edition includes optional modules of the ZipGenius project (oriented to experts and power-users), the standard setup package simply includes the main ZipGenius application.
ZipGenius was first released as Mr. Zip 98 to a strict group of users, and renamed ZipGenius in March 1998. In April 1999, its first public release was made. ZipGenius's latest release is version 6.3.1.2590 , containing a large number of fixes, the majority of which are bug fixes not visible at first glance.
devices (scanners and digital cameras), file extraction to CD/DVD
burner (only under Windows XP
), an FTP client (FTPGenius), and ZGAlbum. ZGAlbum allows users to create slideshows with pictures, which can be loaded from a folder or imported through a TWAIN device.
ZipGenius also fully integrates with Windows Explorer
shell. User interface and functions have been placed in multiple locations. Program functions can be accessed either from a menu of buttons on the main toolbar, or from a drop-down menu. They can be customized to suit user preferences.
ZipGenius 6 is capable of opening a variety of formats commonly used with Linux
, such as RPM, TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ, GZ and 7Z.
As regards data security, the archive history file is encrypted, the most recently used files list can be enabled (always or per-session) or disabled, and CryptoZip 2.1 gives encryption algorithms to lock user archives. Users can create self-locking/self-erasing archives and can choose to encrypt files with one of four algorithms (CZIP, Blowfish, Twofish, Rijndael AES). Also, CZIP files no longer depends on ZipGenius because users can create executable CZIP (.EXE) files which will allow the user to send encrypted archives to people who do not use ZipGenius.
ZipGenius is reported to be still under development. It is claimed that Matteo Riso, the main developer, is focusing on next release, whose codename is Miky2007, and that a new version of the software will be still branded as ZipGenius (but it is not clear if it will have a "7" or "2007" beside it). The only sure news was that ZipGenius will ship as "developed by WinInizio Software Team", marking the fact that ZipGenius is now a product of WinInizio.it, a wide IT community board, where Matteo Riso is an admin.
ZipGenius is hosted at zipgenius.it, but in 2008 the WinInizio Software team put zipgenius.com online in order to offer an international website for users not speaking Italian. WinInizio.it hosts also a wide support section — in both Italian and English. On July 1, 2009, website ZipGenius.it has been totally redesigned upon the MODx web application. On July 6, 2009, ZipGenius 6.1.0.1010 was released to the public.
executable compressor, which is used to compress ZipGenius main executable. If UPX.exe is in ZipGenius program folder, users will get an extra compression level while creating new ZIP archives: Brutal+UPX. Many executable files (EXE, DLL, OCX) are distributed as they are after code compilation, so they may have a larger size than necessary.
ZipGenius supports the 7-Zip
compression format, conceived by Igor Pavlov
, which can compress files more than standard ZIP
or RAR compression formats. 7-Zip is often recommended for compressing multimedia files such as videos and MP3s.
ZipGenius supports OpenOffice.org
/StarOffice
documents. OpenOffice.org applications produce their own files in a special format: they are .ZIP archives with a custom file extension containing some XML files, which OpenOffice.org programs merge together to rebuild the original documents. ZipGenius complies with this feature, and allows users to manage those files as if they were common ZIP files. In addition, users can optimize them: OpenOffice.org does not use the maximum compression level available for .ZIP format, but ZipGenius does. When users optimize an OpenOffice.org document with ZipGenius, the gain is from 5 to 10 KB of size reduction (depending by the content of the OpenOffice.org file) because ZipGenius will recompress the document with the "Brutal" compression level.
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...
file archiver
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...
developed by Matteo Riso of M.Dev Software 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...
. It is capable of handling nearly two dozen file formats, including all the most common formats, as well as password-protect archives and work directly with CD-R
CD-R
A CD-R is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by Philips and Sony. CD-R is a Write Once Read Many optical medium, though the whole disk does not have to be entirely written in the same session....
/RW drives. It is presented in two editions: standard and suite. While the suite edition includes optional modules of the ZipGenius project (oriented to experts and power-users), the standard setup package simply includes the main ZipGenius application.
ZipGenius was first released as Mr. Zip 98 to a strict group of users, and renamed ZipGenius in March 1998. In April 1999, its first public release was made. ZipGenius's latest release is version 6.3.1.2590 , containing a large number of fixes, the majority of which are bug fixes not visible at first glance.
Features
ZipGenius features include: support for TWAINTWAIN
TWAIN is a standard software protocol and applications programming interface that regulates communication between software applications and imaging devices such as scanners and digital cameras....
devices (scanners and digital cameras), file extraction to CD/DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
burner (only under Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
), an FTP client (FTPGenius), and ZGAlbum. ZGAlbum allows users to create slideshows with pictures, which can be loaded from a folder or imported through a TWAIN device.
ZipGenius also fully integrates with Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer
This 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...
shell. User interface and functions have been placed in multiple locations. Program functions can be accessed either from a menu of buttons on the main toolbar, or from a drop-down menu. They can be customized to suit user preferences.
ZipGenius 6 is capable of opening a variety of formats commonly used with Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, such as RPM, TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ, GZ and 7Z.
As regards data security, the archive history file is encrypted, the most recently used files list can be enabled (always or per-session) or disabled, and CryptoZip 2.1 gives encryption algorithms to lock user archives. Users can create self-locking/self-erasing archives and can choose to encrypt files with one of four algorithms (CZIP, Blowfish, Twofish, Rijndael AES). Also, CZIP files no longer depends on ZipGenius because users can create executable CZIP (.EXE) files which will allow the user to send encrypted archives to people who do not use ZipGenius.
ZipGenius is reported to be still under development. It is claimed that Matteo Riso, the main developer, is focusing on next release, whose codename is Miky2007, and that a new version of the software will be still branded as ZipGenius (but it is not clear if it will have a "7" or "2007" beside it). The only sure news was that ZipGenius will ship as "developed by WinInizio Software Team", marking the fact that ZipGenius is now a product of WinInizio.it, a wide IT community board, where Matteo Riso is an admin.
ZipGenius is hosted at zipgenius.it, but in 2008 the WinInizio Software team put zipgenius.com online in order to offer an international website for users not speaking Italian. WinInizio.it hosts also a wide support section — in both Italian and English. On July 1, 2009, website ZipGenius.it has been totally redesigned upon the MODx web application. On July 6, 2009, ZipGenius 6.1.0.1010 was released to the public.
File formats
ZipGenius is able to handle the open source UPXUPX
UPX, the Ultimate Packer for eXecutables, is a free and open source executable packer supporting a number of file formats from different operating systems.- Compression :...
executable compressor, which is used to compress ZipGenius main executable. If UPX.exe is in ZipGenius program folder, users will get an extra compression level while creating new ZIP archives: Brutal+UPX. Many executable files (EXE, DLL, OCX) are distributed as they are after code compilation, so they may have a larger size than necessary.
ZipGenius supports the 7-Zip
7-Zip
7-Zip is an open source file archiver. 7-Zip operates with the 7z archive format, but can read and write several other archive formats. The program can be used from a command line interface, graphical user interface, or with Microsoft Windows shell integration. 7-Zip began in 1999 and is actively...
compression format, conceived by Igor Pavlov
Igor Pavlov
Igor Vladimirovich Pavlov is a Russian pole vaulter.He won the silver medal at the 2003 Summer Universiade, and in the following years he became indoor champion on national, European and World level. He finished fourth both at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2005 World Championships, the former...
, which can compress files more than standard 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...
or RAR compression formats. 7-Zip is often recommended for compressing multimedia files such as videos and MP3s.
ZipGenius supports OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
/StarOffice
StarOffice
StarOffice, known briefly as Oracle Open Office before its discontinuation in 2010, is a proprietary office suite. It was originally developed by StarDivision which was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 1999...
documents. OpenOffice.org applications produce their own files in a special format: they are .ZIP archives with a custom file extension containing some XML files, which OpenOffice.org programs merge together to rebuild the original documents. ZipGenius complies with this feature, and allows users to manage those files as if they were common ZIP files. In addition, users can optimize them: OpenOffice.org does not use the maximum compression level available for .ZIP format, but ZipGenius does. When users optimize an OpenOffice.org document with ZipGenius, the gain is from 5 to 10 KB of size reduction (depending by the content of the OpenOffice.org file) because ZipGenius will recompress the document with the "Brutal" compression level.