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[Root] / Xceed Data Manipulation Components for .NET / [Root] / Basic Concepts / [Root] / Zip and streaming capabilities / [Root] / Self-Extracting Zip Files / Converting zip and self-extracting zip files

In This Topic
    Converting zip and self-extracting zip files
    In This Topic

    A self-extracting zip file is a zip file that has the necessary information in its prefix (header) to unzip the files it contains without the need for third party applications such as WinZip ™ or even Xceed Zip for .NET. Therefore, converting a regular zip file only requires that the self-extractor binary be written in its prefix.  

    Basic concepts - Converting a zip file to a self-extracting zip file

    To convert a zip file to a self-extracting zip file, the following steps must be taken :

    • Retrieve a reference to a new or existing zip file using the ZipArchive class. 

    • Change the extension of the zip file to .EXE using the ZipArchive's Name property. 

    • Create and configure a XceedSfxPrefix object. The XceedSfxPrefix object contains all the information required to allow the file to self-extract. 

    • Assign the XceedSfxPrefix to the ZipArchive's SfxPrefix property.

    Demonstration

    The following example demonstrates how to convert a regular zip file to a self-extracting zip file.

    VB.NET Copy Code

    Imports Xceed.Zip
    Imports Xceed.Zip.Sfx
    Imports Xceed.FileSystem

    ' Retrieve a reference to an existing zip file.
    Dim zip As New ZipArchive(New DiskFile("C:\Test\Fonts.zip"))

    ' Change its extension to .EXE.
    zip.ZipFile.Name = "Fonts.exe" 

    ' Create and configure a XceedSfxPrefix object.
    Dim sfx As New XceedSfxPrefix(New DiskFile("C:\Program Files\Xceed Components\Bin\Sfx\xcdsfx32.bin"))

    sfx.DialogStrings( DialogStrings.Title ) = "Welcome to Xceed Zip for .NET!"
    sfx.DefaultDestinationFolder = "C:\"
    sfx.ExistingFileBehavior = ExistingFileBehavior.OverwriteOlderOnly

    ' Assign the prefix to the zip file.
    zip.SfxPrefix = sfx

    C# Copy Code
    using Xceed.Zip;
    using Xceed.Zip.Sfx;
    using Xceed.FileSystem;
     
    // Retrieve a reference to an existing zip file.
    ZipArchive zip = new ZipArchive( new DiskFile( @"C:\Test\Fonts.zip" ) );
     
    // Change its extension to .EXE.
    zip.ZipFile.Name = "Fonts.exe"; {{< spaces>
     
    // Create and configure a XceedSfxPrefix object.
    XceedSfxPrefix sfx = new XceedSfxPrefix( new DiskFile( @"C:\Program Files\Xceed Components\Bin\Sfx\xcdsfx32.bin" ) );
     
    sfx.DialogStrings[ DialogStrings.Title ] = "Welcome to Xceed Zip for .NET!";
    sfx.DefaultDestinationFolder = @"C:\";
    sfx.ExistingFileBehavior = ExistingFileBehavior.OverwriteOlderOnly;      
     
    // Assign the prefix to the zip file.
    zip.SfxPrefix = sfx;

    Basic concepts - Converting a self-extracting zip file to a zip file

    To convert a self-extracting zip file to a regular zip file, the following steps must be taken :

    • Retrieve a reference to a new or existing zip file using the ZipArchive class. 

    • Change the extension of the zip file to .ZIP. 

    • Set the ZipArchive's SfxPrefix property to null (Nothing in Visual Basic).

    Demonstration

    The following example demonstrates how to convert a self-extracting zip file to a regular zip file.

    VB.NET Copy Code

    Imports Xceed.Zip
    Imports Xceed.FileSystem

    ' Retrieve a reference to an existing self-extracting zip file.
    Dim zip As New ZipArchive(New DiskFile("C:\Test\Fonts.exe"))

    ' Change its extension to .ZIP.
    zip.ZipFile.Name = "Fonts.zip"

    ' Remove the prefix.
    zip.SfxPrefix = Nothing

    C# Copy Code
    using Xceed.Zip;
    using Xceed.FileSystem;
     
    // Retrieve a reference to an existing self-extracting zip file.
    ZipArchive zip = new ZipArchive( new DiskFile( @"C:\Test\Fonts.exe" ) );
     
    // Change its extension to .ZIP.
    zip.ZipFile.Name = "Fonts.zip";        
     
    // Remove the prefix.
    zip.SfxPrefix = null;    

    Things you should consider

    The main questions you should ask yourself when copying items to a zip file are:

    • Do you want to display the status of the operation? See the Events topic. 

    • Do you want to change the location of the temporary folder. Set the ZipArchive's TempFolder or DefaultTempFolder property. 

    • Do you only want to do basic zip file operations? Use the QuickZip class.

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