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 interacting with a .zip archive, said system including:
a graphical user interface provided by an internet browser; and
a .zip archive management application, wherein said .zip archive management application allows a user to modify a .zip archive using said internet browser.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein said internet browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein said internet browser is Netscape.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein said zip management application is accessible using a plug-in to said internet browser.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface allows said user to modify said file archive using a pulldown menu.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface allows said user to modify said file archive using a toolbar.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface allows said user to modify said file archive using a drag-and-drop operation.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface allows said user to modify said file archive using a paste operation.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface allows said user to modify said file archive using a right-click operation.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by creating said file archive.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by extracting a file from said file archive.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein said file is compressed and said file archive management application decompresses said file.
13 . The system of claim 11 wherein said file is encrypted and said file archive management application decrypts said file.
14 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by adding a file to said file archive.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein said file is compressed by said file archive management application before said file is added to said file archive.
16 . The system of claim 14 wherein said file is encrypted by said file archive management application before said file is added to said file archive.
17 . The system of claim 16 wherein said encryption is asymmetric.
18 . The system of claim 17 wherein said encryption uses a public key.
19 . The system of claim 18 wherein said encryption uses the X.509 format.
20 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by creating a copy of said file archive.
21 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by digitally signing said file archive.
22 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by splitting said file archive.
23 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by spanning said file archive.
24 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by forming a CRC for said file archive.
25 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive includes storage for at least one stored option indication, and
wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by modifying said at least one stored option indication for said file archive.
26 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive includes a data file, and
wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by creating a shortcut to said data file.
27 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by converting the contents of said file archive to a .arj archive.
28 . The system of claim 1 wherein said file archive management application receives a .arj archive, and
wherein said file archive management application allows said user to modify said file archive by converting said .arj archive to a file archive.