How to Make a Zip File: The Ultimate Guide to Zip File Creation

make zip file tar file

TAR files are the most common form of compressed file in use today. They can be used to compress a wide variety of files, including text documents, audio, and video data, as well as programs themselves.

TAR files are also used to store backups of the files that exist on a hard drive, create virtual machines, and even be used for data transfer between computers. However, it can be hard to figure out how to do this when you don't know the right steps or software.

This guide will teach you how to make a TAR file in Windows using WinZip.

What is a TAR file?

A TAR (Tape Archive) file is a UNIX file archive format widely used to store and share files over the internet. It can contain anything from images, videos, or installation software distributed online in one place.

TAR is also useful for storing vital information about each file, such as user permissions which includes the date of access/modification and directory structures, among other things too!

There are several different types of TAR file formats, including TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ, and TAR.XZ, each with its encryption schemes and compression methods that make them especially useful for specific purposes.

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Table of Contents

  1. What is a TAR file?
  2. How to make TAR file in Windows
  3. How to make TAR.GZ file in Windows
  4. Get started with WinZip

How to make a TAR file in Windows using WinZip

TAR files are primarily used in Unix and Linux systems, equivalent to ZIP files for Windows systems. Though they serve the same purpose, it can be hard to figure out how to create a TAR file in Windows using WinZip. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to go about it:

  • Step 1: Download and install WinZip from the official WinZip website. Ensure you have the correct version for your operating system and that it is compatible with the file types you want to compress.
  • Step 2: Once installed, click on "File" > "Open". Browse through all the directories until you find the one containing all of the files you want to include in your tar archive.
  • Step 3: Once you've located all the files you want to compress into tar, select them all, then right-click on one of the files and go to "WinZip > Add To Archive."
  • Step 4: Give your new TAR file a name and an extension.
  • Step 5: You'll then be prompted with some options for how you would like the compression on your new TAR archive to be handled. These include: "Maximum Compression," "Maximum Speed," and "No Compression." Choose whichever option you prefer and click "OK."
  • Step 6: A new window pops up, which allows you to choose how the archive should be split up. You can opt for either "Split by file type," "Split by volume," or "Split on files.
  • Step 7: Once that's done, click again on WinZip > Add To Archive and then continue adding all of the other files you want compressed into your tar.
  • Step 8: Once you have finished selecting all of the files you want to be included in your TAR, click "OK" one last time and then give your ZIP file a name and location.
  • Step 9: Once you have named your TAR file, a small window should appear asking you how many volumes you would like to compress into the tar. The more volumes included in the tar, the longer it will take for it to be compressed and uploaded over an internet connection.
  • Step 10: After clicking "OK," WinZip will start working on compressing all of your files into a tar archive, and then it should automatically give you a notification once this is completed.

How to make a TAR.GZ file in Windows using WinZip

Another type of TAR file is the TAR.GZ which has a .tar.gz extension. This type of file compression is most commonly used on Linux-based operating systems across the web. Making a TAR.GZ file follows the same format as a TAR file, but this time it is compressed with the GZIP algorithm, making it much smaller in size.

Get started with WinZip

The TAR file is a type of compression archive created in Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It offers an alternative to ZIP files for archiving data on computers with Unix-like operating systems. This article has provided you with the ultimate guide to making your TAR file using WinZip so you can get started right away! Get in touch today if you have any questions. You can also download a free trial to get started.

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