Archive Manager
Archive Manager or GNOME Archive Manager (a.k.a. File Roller) is the archive manager of the GNOME desktop environment.
"Archive Manager is an application for managing archive files, for example, .zip or .tar files; it is designed to be easy to use. Archive Manager provides all the tools that are necessary for creating, modifying and extracting archives." -- Wikipedia
Archive Manager allows you to :
Archive Manager supports the following file formats:
Some additional programs or plug-ins are needed to support certain formats. I will include them below.
Archive Manager allows you to :
- create a new archive
- view the content of an existing archive
- view a file contained in an archive
- modify existing archives
- extract files from an archive
Archive Manager supports the following file formats:
- 7z (.7z)
- ar (.ar)
- ARJ (.arj)
- gzip (.tar.gz , .tgz)
- bzip (.tar.bz , .tbz)
- bzip2 (.tar.bz2 , .tbz2)
- xz (.tar.xz)
- compress (.tar.Z , .taz)
- Portable Executable (.exe, .dll)
- lzip (.tar.lz , .tlz)
- LZO (.tar.lzo , .tzo)
- JAR archives (.jar , .ear , .war)
- LHA archives (.lzh)
- RAR archives (.rar)
- StuffIt archives (.bin, .sit)
- tar
- ZIP archives (.zip)
- Zoo archives (.zoo)
- Single files compressed with gzip, bzip, bzip2, compress, lzip, LZO, xz
- ISO images (.iso) (read-only)
- DEB (.deb) (read-only)
- RPM (.rpm) (read-only)
Some additional programs or plug-ins are needed to support certain formats. I will include them below.
How To Install Archive Manager
Open your Terminal and enter the following:
sudo apt-get install file-roller
You can also download the install file from pkgs.org.
Install the following back-end programs to extend the power of Archive Manager:
sudo apt install unace rar unrar unar p7zip-rar p7zip p7zip-full zip unzip
sudo apt install uudeview mpack arj cabextract lzip lunzip lzop rzip unalz sharutils
To remove the program enter the following:
sudo apt-get remove file-roller
Open your Terminal and enter the following:
sudo apt-get install file-roller
You can also download the install file from pkgs.org.
Install the following back-end programs to extend the power of Archive Manager:
sudo apt install unace rar unrar unar p7zip-rar p7zip p7zip-full zip unzip
sudo apt install uudeview mpack arj cabextract lzip lunzip lzop rzip unalz sharutils
To remove the program enter the following:
sudo apt-get remove file-roller
You will then be able to access the program via your menu. For MATE desktop users using the Traditional menu, click on Applications, highlight Accessories, and then click on Archive Manager.
Archive Manager doesn't have a lot of exposed buttons or menus, so it looks very simple. Being simple makes it easy to learn because it's not bloated with a lot of extra features. However, thi is still a very power program.
To open a compressed file, click on the icon in the upper left corner and click on Open... when the drop-down menu appears.
When the Open dialog box appears, navigate to the location of your compressed file. Click on it to select it and then click the Open button.
You should now see the files inside the compressed file. (If Archive Manager is set to your default archive program then you should be able to double-click a compressed file within your file manager and it immediately open.)
Extracting a Compressed File
Click the Extract button on the toolbar to extract every file within the compressed file. You can also select the files you want to extract from the compressed file.
Click the Extract button on the toolbar to extract every file within the compressed file. You can also select the files you want to extract from the compressed file.
An Extract dialog box will appear allowing to change the location or folder the extracted files will be located. You can also decide if you want to extract all of the compressed files or certain files. You also have other Actions such as Keep directory structure and/or Do not overwrite newewer files. When you are ready, click the Extract button.
A small dialog box will appear to let you know the Extraction completed successfully.
You can see the four pdf files in the same folder as the Sample.zip file. It was a very simple process to extract files from a compressed file.
Creating a Compressed File
Open Archive Manager and click on the icon in the upper left corner and click on New Archive... when the drop-down menu appears.
Open Archive Manager and click on the icon in the upper left corner and click on New Archive... when the drop-down menu appears.
When the New Archive dialog box appears, give your file a name and click the drop-down arrow and select the type of compressed file. I selected the .zip file extension.
Next, click the drop-down arrow under the Location section and select the place you want to put your newly compressed file. I selected my Samples folder in my example.
If you want to add a password to your file then click the arrow to the left of Other Options. Type your password under the Password section. (I did not add a password in my example.) Click the Create button when you are ready.
You will see your new file name in the middle of the titlebar. You will now have to add files to the empty file. Click the + (Add files) icon on the toolbar to allow you to add files or insert files into your new file.
An Add Files dialog box will pop-up and allow you to select the files or folders you want to add. When you are finished click the Add button.
You will now see the files you selected within your new compressed file.
You can see the new test.zip file in my Samples folder.
You can add a password to an already created archive file. Open the archive file that you want to add your password to. Click the three dots (...) in the upper right-corner and click on Password...
A small dialog box will appear prompting you to Enter a password for "Your File Name." Type in your password and click the Save button when you're finished.
You will now see an icon of a lock to the right of each file to indicate that it is password protected. You can now close the program.
When you try to extract the files it will prompt you for the password.
Archive Manager is a nice little utility for managing your compressed files or archive files. If you need additional information about the program then click the link below to take you to the Help section of the program's website.
Feb 27, 2020
