Two Kinds of Self-Extracting Zip Files
WinZip Self-Extractor 3.1 can create two kinds of self-extracting Zip files:
Standard Self-Extracting Zip Files
Standard self-extracting Zip files are easy to build and are ideal for sending documents, graphics, and other files to co-workers and associates. They are also suitable for simple software installation. They can display a greeting message when they are run. You can control the default "Unzip To" folder, whether the Overwrite files without prompting box is checked by default, and can specify a command to run after the unzip operation completes.
Self-Extracting Zip Files for Software Installation
Self-extracting Zip files for Software Installation take a bit more work to set up, but provide a more professional looking installation. You can customize the text displayed in the self-extracting Zip file's dialog box. The self-extracting Zip file will use the user's TEMP or TMP environment variable to create a temporary folder, unzip the files into the folder, run your setup program, wait for it to complete, then delete the temporary folder created in the first step.
Detailed Differences Between Standard and Self-Extracting Zip Files for Software Installation
| Standard | Software Installation | |
|---|---|---|
| Receiver controls "Unzip To" folder | Yes | No; a temporary folder is created and later deleted |
| Receiver controls whether a command is run after the unzip operation completes | Yes | No; the specified command is always run after the unzip operation completes |
| Receiver controls whether files are overwritten automatically | Yes | Not applicable; files are unzipped into a newly created temporary folder |
| Optional greeting message is displayed when self-extracting Zip file is executed | Yes | Yes |
| German and English versions available | Yes | Yes |
| Unzipped files are automatically deleted when command completes | No | Yes |
| Icon is configurable | Yes | Yes |
| Dialog text is configurable | No | Yes |
To create a Standard self-extracting Zip file, select the Standard self-extracting Zip file radio button in the second Wizard panel. When using command line parameters, Standard self-extracting Zip files are created unless you specify the -setup switch.
To create a self-extracting Zip file for Software Installation, select the Self-extracting Zip file for Software Installation radio button in the second Wizard panel. Or, when using command line parameters, specify the -setup switch.
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