Hidden in Mac OS X is the Archive Utility, a handy little application for compressing and decompressing files and folders into .zip, .cpio and .cpgz formats.
It should preserve the file exactly as it is. But this is easy to test -- just try it and see.
Max Comia
14 years ago
I accidental unzipped one of my attachments. This causes my computer not to shut down. What appears on the screen is archive utility cancels the shut down command. Another thing that continuously to appear is the frame that says unarchiving "attachments_2010_02_03.zip...
Looks like the Archive Utility crashed. Just force quit it.
Tricia O'Neill
14 years ago
My Archive Utility has crashed - so how do I force quit it? What is the procedure as I have tried and tried to shut down my computer but it just cancels the shut down command. Many Thanks.
I have a window open with title of Archive Utility. In upper left corner no red button avail. Yellow and green r avail. Message says: Unarchiving "03290000738-698413-39946.zip"... Cancel button unavailable. Force Quit does not list Archive Utility as option. Program is not located in HD-System-Library as in your video. How do I get this Utility to stop running? Mac OS X 10.4.11
It is probably in a different spot in Tiger (OS 10.4). You could simply restart -- or log in and log out. Otherwise, run Activity Monitor and see if it is there, select it and kill the process from there. But restarting does all that for you.
J hallford
13 years ago
It's not in my Activity Monitor
Sagar Shah
14 years ago
I have a Mac OS X 10.6. When I try to archive a zipped file, it automatically creates a new folder and the extracted files are within it. But, I want to extract the zipped file within another folder and with a different name? How can I do that?
Just move the files after you extract them, or rename the folder.
dustin
14 years ago
Thanks for this video! Needed help because i couldn't find it in applications. Also thanks for talking about the options. Saved me a lot of time!
Ashley
14 years ago
I am trying to open a compressed file. When I double-click on it, archive utility begins to open, but then closes. A new file is created, but when I click on that one, the same process takes place. New files are created but won't open, and the archive utility continues to close before it opens. How do I get archive utility to not crash so I can access the compressed file?
There may be something wrong with the file, or it may not be compatible with Archive Utility. Check in with the source of the file.
lorraine
13 years ago
When I try to unarchive a zip file it starts the long blue line but wont finish, cancel button is unavailable. I have to constantly force quit but never get to unarchive my file. Archive utility was working perfectly all day until it started doing this, now won't open any file. please help. Many thanks.
Yes. In Safari preferences, General, uncheck Open safe files after downloading.
Susan
13 years ago
Really appreciate it. Thanks!
Danny
13 years ago
I experienced using the archive utility yesterday and will never use it again. As a print designer working with large file that reach 1Gb is size sometimes, compression is essential when doing ftp transfers.
I found out the archive utility is very unstable, buggy, freezes the whole system and finder and overrides my stuffit software. By embedding that feature in the OS, apple rather doing us a disservice, since it is not reliable.
Been using a Mac for over 15 years btw, and am technically proficient. I use a Mac Pro 8 core + 14gb ram. So hardware requirement was not an issue.
It is part of Mac OS X. See 0:45 to see exactly where.
John Harnden
12 years ago
I have a program that is trying to load on my imac 8,1 an the program is : Unarching "Attachments_2011_08_22.zip" I have had this on the mac for over 6months and I try to load it not even knowing where it came from or how it apperaed on my screen. What shoulld I do? (it is under Archive Utility)
Not sure what you mean by "trying to load" -- Is it a file? Have you tried to delete it? Or is it just running (have you not shut down in a long time?)
John
12 years ago
What is the best method for compressing files? I've used the Archive Utility plenty of times. It works great for myself. But when I've used it to send to Mac and PC users alike, it's it or miss.
Do you have an all time favorite, cross-platform, gold star type compression utility?
My question is: does the archiver preserve acls, resrc forks, etc.
Real question, does OS X contain an archiver which preserves all file attributes IN an archive?
It should preserve the file exactly as it is. But this is easy to test -- just try it and see.
I accidental unzipped one of my attachments. This causes my computer not to shut down. What appears on the screen is archive utility cancels the shut down command. Another thing that continuously to appear is the frame that says unarchiving "attachments_2010_02_03.zip...
Looks like the Archive Utility crashed. Just force quit it.
My Archive Utility has crashed - so how do I force quit it? What is the procedure as I have tried and tried to shut down my computer but it just cancels the shut down command. Many Thanks.
Command+Option+Esc.
I have a window open with title of Archive Utility. In upper left corner no red button avail. Yellow and green r avail. Message says: Unarchiving "03290000738-698413-39946.zip"... Cancel button unavailable. Force Quit does not list Archive Utility as option. Program is not located in HD-System-Library as in your video. How do I get this Utility to stop running? Mac OS X 10.4.11
It is probably in a different spot in Tiger (OS 10.4). You could simply restart -- or log in and log out. Otherwise, run Activity Monitor and see if it is there, select it and kill the process from there. But restarting does all that for you.
It's not in my Activity Monitor
I have a Mac OS X 10.6. When I try to archive a zipped file, it automatically creates a new folder and the extracted files are within it. But, I want to extract the zipped file within another folder and with a different name? How can I do that?
Thank You.
Just move the files after you extract them, or rename the folder.
Thanks for this video! Needed help because i couldn't find it in applications. Also thanks for talking about the options. Saved me a lot of time!
I am trying to open a compressed file. When I double-click on it, archive utility begins to open, but then closes. A new file is created, but when I click on that one, the same process takes place. New files are created but won't open, and the archive utility continues to close before it opens. How do I get archive utility to not crash so I can access the compressed file?
There may be something wrong with the file, or it may not be compatible with Archive Utility. Check in with the source of the file.
When I try to unarchive a zip file it starts the long blue line but wont finish, cancel button is unavailable. I have to constantly force quit but never get to unarchive my file. Archive utility was working perfectly all day until it started doing this, now won't open any file. please help. Many thanks.
Hard to tell. Could just be one corrupt .zip file. Try restarting. Try another option (like the free Stuffit Expander).
can I use this to extract .rar files?
Because,I'm not able to select the rar file in the extact file window..
See episode 52: http://macmost.com/opening-windows-mail-attachments.html
Is there a way to download a zipped file without having the archive utility automatically extract it? So that it downloads as a .zip file?
Yes. In Safari preferences, General, uncheck Open safe files after downloading.
Really appreciate it. Thanks!
I experienced using the archive utility yesterday and will never use it again. As a print designer working with large file that reach 1Gb is size sometimes, compression is essential when doing ftp transfers.
I found out the archive utility is very unstable, buggy, freezes the whole system and finder and overrides my stuffit software. By embedding that feature in the OS, apple rather doing us a disservice, since it is not reliable.
Been using a Mac for over 15 years btw, and am technically proficient. I use a Mac Pro 8 core + 14gb ram. So hardware requirement was not an issue.
Where can i get archive utility?!?
It is part of Mac OS X. See 0:45 to see exactly where.
I have a program that is trying to load on my imac 8,1 an the program is : Unarching "Attachments_2011_08_22.zip" I have had this on the mac for over 6months and I try to load it not even knowing where it came from or how it apperaed on my screen. What shoulld I do? (it is under Archive Utility)
Not sure what you mean by "trying to load" -- Is it a file? Have you tried to delete it? Or is it just running (have you not shut down in a long time?)
What is the best method for compressing files? I've used the Archive Utility plenty of times. It works great for myself. But when I've used it to send to Mac and PC users alike, it's it or miss.
Do you have an all time favorite, cross-platform, gold star type compression utility?
Just Control+Click (or right click) and choose "compress." This creates a standard zip file.