Source files are compressed into the package using one of the following compression "methods": Zip, 7-Zip and Cabinet. Each one has its own parameters and in order to describe the latter, we will use the following icons to represent each method:
Compression Method | Cabinet | 7-Zip | Zip |
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The compression method can be changed at any time according to your needs. You can even compare which one provides you with the smallest package. Which compression method to use?
| If you are unfamiliar with a compression method, you can get further information by clicking on the following links: |
Storing path information 
If your source files are coming from different source folders, then the path in addition to the filename of each file should be stored within the archive. When a file is unpacked, the folder corresponding to the stored path is first created and then the file is placed in it.
To allow Paquet Builder to store path information within the archive, turn on the option "Store Path Information".
When this option is activated, Paquet Builder will store the entire path information for each file (full directory but without the drive letter).
Example 1:
If the source file was "C:\My Documents And Settings\Alpha\My Documents\My Results\Report 26.pdf", the stored path would be "My Documents And Settings\Alpha\My Documents\My Results" for the "Report 26.pdf" file.
When extracting this file, the package would first create the folder "%DESTPATH%\My Documents And Settings\Alpha\My Documents\My Results\" where %DESTPATH% is the destination path selected by the end user, and then place the file in that folder.
Now you may only want to store a "part" of the file path, in other words a path relative to a root folder. In this case, you need to activate the "Use Paths Relative To" option and specify a root folder. See the following example:
Example 2:
Our source file is still "C:\My Documents And Settings\Alpha\My Documents\My Results\Report 26.pdf". If you choose "C:\My Documents And Settings\Alpha\My Documents\" as the root folder, Paquet Builder will only store the path relative to it, in other words: "My Results". When extracting this file, the package would create the folder "%DESTPATH%\My Results" and then place the "Report 26.pdf" file in that folder.
The path to the root folder has been "cut off" when storing path information.
This option will work fine if all source files are in sub-folders of the root folder (i.e. the path for each file begins with the path to the root folder). Otherwise if a file is not in a sub-folder of the root folder, its entire path information will be stored.
| It is important to store path information if your source files may contain files with the same filename but in different folders. |
Compression method and properties
Choosing a compression method
Use the "Compression Method" combo box to select between Cabinet, 7-Zip or Zip.
Please note that changing the compression method automatically resets the settings that depend on it (like the options below, the source archive file, password protection...).
The initial compression method is selected when you create a project.
It determines whether sub directories will be recursed to look for files to be compressed when zipping with a wildcard mask. Use this option if you wish sub directories to be traversed. The use of this option is provided for backward compatibility and should not be used anymore.
When enabled, this will force any long file and pathnames to be stored in DOS 8.3 format. This is useful if you plan to unzip the files onto a WIN3.X system where long filenames are not valid. Not very useful but available if you want to create a Zip archive for Win3.X users only. This option should be used only for archive files!
Lets you select how hard the compression algorithms will try to compress your files.
- For ZIP compression
You can use the track bar to determine it. If the value is near "Store", there is no compression (STORED) which is useful for adding things like other zip files (which will compress very little if any) to an archive. A value near "Best" will compress the slowest, but the compression ratio will be the highest. - For Cabinet compression
You can choose between three options: MSZIP, LZX and STORE. The Store option will store the files inside the archive without compressing them. MSZIP is a compression algorithm similar to the PKZIP and the InfoZip group's Zip code compression. Finally LZX, the strong compression algorithm introduced with Cabinets, is the best one: if you plan to compress your files, then use LZX. You can note that LZX many times beats ZIP, RAR2, ARJ and other old compression algorithms. - For 7-Zip compression
Paquet Builder provides you with five options: the Store option will store the files inside the archive without compressing them. Fast compresses the fastest possible (really compresses, does not only store). Normal offers a fast and good compression. Maximum and Ultra offer one of the best compression ratio: they easily beat ZIP, CAB, RAR3, ACE, ARJ, SQX and other compression algorithms. Using Maximum is recommended.
Note: using 7z-Ultra level requires 350 MB of RAM at least! Decompression also requires a lot of RAM.
You can change the compression method according to your needs: which compression method to use?
Cabinet packages use the Cabinet.dll API functions to extract their contents. Most of the time, you do not need to include this file (it will increase your package size), because it is shipped with Microsoft (R) Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003 Server, Vista and future higher versions. Windows 95 users can also have it if they installed Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 minimum.
How it works: if the Cabinet.dll file is missing on the user computer, but it is stored in the package, the latter will create a local copy and uses it. Otherwise if it is not stored, then the package displays an error message telling end users where they can download a copy of the Cabinet.dll file.
You can always download the Microsoft Cabinet SDK containing the dll at:
http://www.gdgsoft.com/download/relfiles.aspx
If it is enabled, the 7-Zip encoder creates an archive in solid mode: all files will be compressed as one continuous data stream. Usually compressing to solid archive improves compression ratio. Highly recommended if you create Self-Extracting packages.