Systems and methods for manipulating and managing computer archive files
A computer program for managing and manipulating archive zip files of a computer. The program includes a system and method for opening, creating, and modifying, and extracting zip archive files. The program is fully integrated into Microsoft Windows Explorer and is accessed via Explorer menus, toolbars, and/or drag and drop operations. An important feature of the program is the archive manager which may be used to open a zip file, create a new zip file, extract zip files, modify zip files, etc. The program is integrated into Microsoft Windows Explorer using the shell name space extension application program interface developed by Microsoft.
1 . A system for modifying a zip archive, said system including:
Microsoft Windows Explorer; and
a zip archive management application, wherein said zip archive management application allows a user to modify a zip archive using Microsoft Windows Explorer.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein Microsoft Windows Explorer allows said user to modify said zip archive using a pulldown menu.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein Microsoft Windows Explorer allows said user to modify said zip archive using a toolbar.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein Microsoft Windows Explorer allows said user to modify said zip archive using a drag-and-drop operation.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein Microsoft Windows Explorer allows said user to modify said zip archive using a paste operation.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein Microsoft Windows Explorer allows said user to modify said zip archive using a right-click operation.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by creating said zip archive.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by extracting a file from said zip archive.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein said file is compressed and said zip archive management application decompresses said file.
10 . The system of claim 8 wherein said file is encrypted and said zip archive management application decrypts said file.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by adding a file to said zip archive.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein said file is compressed by said zip archive management application before said file is added to said zip archive.
13 . The system of claim 111 wherein said file is encrypted by said zip archive management application before said file is added to said zip archive.
14 . The system of claim 13 wherein said encryption is asymmetric.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein said encryption uses a public key.
16 . The system of claim 15 wherein said encryption uses the X.509 format.
17 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by creating a copy of said zip archive.
18 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by digitally signing said zip archive.
19 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by splitting said zip archive.
20 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by spanning said zip archive.
21 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by forming a CRC for said zip archive.
22 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive includes storage for at least one stored option indication, and
wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by modifying said at least one stored option indication for said zip archive.
23 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive includes a data file, and
wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by creating a shortcut to said data file.
24 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by converting the contents of said zip archive to a .arj archive.
25 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip archive management application receives a .arj archive, and
wherein said zip archive management application allows said user to modify said zip archive by converting said .arj archive to a zip archive.
26 . A method for modifying a .zip archive, said method including:
providing Microsoft Windows Explorer;
providing a .zip archive management application; and
operating said .zip archive management application using Microsoft Windows Explorer to allow a user using Microsoft Windows Explorer to modify a zip archive.
27 . A system for supplementing Microsoft Windows Explorer, said system including:
Microsoft Windows Explorer; and
a .zip archive management application, wherein said zip archive management application is installed into Microsoft Windows Explorer to form a supplemented version of Microsoft Windows Explorer,
wherein said supplemented version of Microsoft Windows Explorer allows a user to modify a .zip archive.
28 . A method for supplementing Microsoft Windows Explorer, said method including:
providing Microsoft Windows Explorer;
providing a .zip archive management application;
installing said zip archive management application into Microsoft Windows Explorer to form a supplemented version of Microsoft Windows Explorer; and
allowing a user to modify a zip archive using said supplemented version of Microsoft Windows Explorer.