Compressing Multiple Files Using 7-Zip via Command Line

7-Zip is a popular open-source file archiver that supports a wide range of file formats, including the popular .zip, .7z, and .rar. If you need to compress multiple files on your computer, especially when working in an environment where GUI tools are not available or preferred, 7-Zip's command-line interface can be an efficient solution. This article will guide you through compressing multiple files using 7-Zip's command-line options.

Setting Up the Environment

To get started, make sure 7-Zip is installed on your system. The installation should be done in the default directory, and the program should be configured to match your architecture (x86 or x64).

Locating the 7-Zip Executable

Upon installation, 7-Zip's executable file will be located in a directory like:

C:Program Files7-Zip7z.exe (for x64 architecture) C:Program Files (x86)7-Zip7z.exe (for x86 architecture)

Compressing Files with 7-Zip

Here is how to compress multiple files using 7-Zip via the command line:

Open the Command Prompt (CMD) or PowerShell with administrative privileges. Type in the 7-Zip command to specify the operation you want to perform. The general format of the command is: c:path_to_7z7z operation archive_name file_paths

Replace the placeholders with the appropriate values:

path_to_7z: The path to your 7-Zip executable (e.g., C:Program Files7-Zip7z.exe) operation: The operation you want to perform, such as archiving with a archive_name: The name of the resulting archive (e.g., archive.7z) file_paths: The paths to the files you want to compress (e.g., file1 file2 file3 ... fileN) placed in the current directory

Specific Commands

Compressing Files to a .zip File

If you want to compress multiple files by default into the .zip format, the command would look like this:

c:Program Files7-Zip7z a file1 file2 file3 ... fileN

Compressing Files to a .7z Archive

If you want to use the default .7z format, which generally provides better compression, the command would be:

c:Program Files7-Zip7z a archive.7z file1 file2 file3 ... fileN

Choosing the Compression Format

The default compression format can vary based on the files you are compressing. The .7z format is generally preferred for higher compression ratios and better preservation of file attributes. The .zip format, while less compressive, is more universally recognized and supported by various software tools.

Conclusion

This article has covered the basics of using 7-Zip for compressing multiple files via a command-line interface. By following these steps, you can efficiently manage your files and ensure they are backed up and stored in an effective manner. Whether you use .zip or .7z, 7-Zip provides a powerful tool for various compression needs and can be a valuable addition to your system administration or file management arsenal.

Further Reading

7-Zip Official Documentation: Command-Line Basics: