Ubuntu Software Center: 7zip

Okay, I promised you that I would go over some/most applications available in the Ubuntu Software Center. First up is 7zip located under the Accessories. Here is the information:

7zip is a “windows-only” compression tool, serving as an alternative to Winzip. This 7zip install is a command-line only port of the original application. It was created by a developer, not the original creator. It can open several different formats including zip, rar, rpm, iso, and tar. As well as many others. Here is the most important part, it opens 7z files.

Again, remember that it is command-line only!

Okay, install the application by clicking on install and authenticating the install with your root password.

You can review the installatin by clicking on “In Progress” on the left side of the Ubuntu Software Center window.

Now you are ready to use 7zip, here is a sample command line:

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7z a -t7z /home/user/Desktop/SomeFolder.7z /home/user/Desktop/SomeFolder -mx5

Here is a breakdown of that command. Replace “/home/user/Desktop/SomeFolder.7z”  with the location of the file (“/home/user/Desktop/”) and the desired name of the output file (“SomeFolder.7z”). Replace the second directory (“/home/user/Desktop/SomeFolder”) with the directory of the folder you want to compress (“/home/user/Desktop/”) and the name of the folder (“SomeFolder”). You can also use a command-line generator to accomplih this and save yourself some time.

Another way of doing thing is by using the Ubuntu interface itself. 7zip nicely integrates, here is how.

Right-click a folder you want to compress and click on “compress”. This will pull up a dialog:

Click on create and you’ll be done. The other options include an option to password-protect the file, and split it into volumes.

That’s it! I hope you enjoy this program, it’s rather useful!