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Main menu - File - Pack... |
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Activating the menu item "File → Pack..." or the shortcut "Alt+F5" opens the dialog "Pack files". In FreeCommander packing files can be done, either with its by default integrated pack plugin "fcZip", or with external plugins embedded in the menu item "Tools → Settings → Archiver plugins" tab "WCX". Archiver or packing programs compress one or several files in an archive file and unpack them.
The "Pack files" dialog contains the tabs
the information bar
and the buttons

Selected item(s)
The content displayed under "Selected item(s)" differs according to the number of items to be packed:
If several files (and/or folders) are selected, the number of files (and/or folders) is displayed under "Selected item(s)".
from
The folder from where the items are to be packed is displayed under "from".
Target

a selection list with the favorite folders is shown. Clicking a folder overwrites the contents of the input field with the clicked folder.
or the F4 key, the "Browse for folder" dialog is shown. Selecting a folder and activating "OK" overwrites the contents of the input field with the selected folder.Include only files of this type:

a selection list is shown, with the last inputs (filters) in this field and the text "<RegExp>:" (to enter regular expressions). Clicking a row in this selection list overwrites the contents of the input field with the contents of the clicked row.
a selection list with filters (defined under the menu item "Folder → Filter → Set filter") is shown. Selecting a filter overwrites the contents of the input field with "<Filter>:" + "contents of the filter".Encrypt
If this option is checked and the FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip" is used, the contents of the archive file is encrypted. After activating the button "Run" a password with at least five characters for the unpacking process has to entered in the following dialog:

This password has to be confirmed subsequently in the following dialog:

The encryption method can be changed (if the FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip" is used) after activating the button "Configure..." in the tab "ZIP-Packer fcZip". If another pack plugin is used, encrypt can be activated (if this program supports this feature) in the individual dialog opened with the button "Configure...".
Create self extracting archive
If this option is checked and the FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip" is used, a self extracting archive is created. The necessary self-extracting (SFX) stub can be changed (for the FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip") after activating the button "Configure..." in the tab "WCX". If another pack plugin is used, "Create self extracting archive" can be activated (if this program supports this feature) in the individual dialog opened with the button "Configure...".
Create one archive per file
If this option is checked, not only one archive file containing all files and folders is created, but a separate archive file is created per file to be packed.
Move to archive
If this option is checked, on creating the archive file(s), the packed files and folders are deleted from their original folder.
Archive format
The desired archive format can be selected after clicking the combo box "Archive format". All archive formats can be chosen that are assigned to at least one "Archive plugin" under the menu item "Tools → Settings → ArchivePlugins" in the tab "WCX" (the identical dialog is shown under the tab "WCX" that is shown after activating the button "Configure..." in the "Pack files" dialog). The topmost, active pack plugin with the selected format (assigned under "WCX" in the column "Extensions") is used.
The most recently used archive format is saved and is displayed as default at the next start of the packing program.
The tab "Files" lists all files and folders to be packed with their paths.

Button 
Activating the button
reloads all files and folders. This may be useful if they can be processed from various workspaces.
Quick filter bar 
The quick filter provides the possibility to decrease the number of files to be packed (it is not applied to folders).
to
.
After activating the button
a selection list is shown, with the last inputs (filters) in this field. Clicking the button
activates the highlighted filter.

activates the quick filter, changes the button to
and refreshes the contents of the information bar Waiting for starting operation on: ...files ...folders.
deactivates it and switches the button back to
.Under the tab "Settings" further settings for the packing process can be defined.

Auto close for successful operation
If this option is checked, the "Pack files" dialog is closed automatically, as soon as all pack processes are successfully completed.
Auto close for canceled operation
If this option is checked, the "Pack files" dialog is closed automatically, after one pack process was canceled.
Auto minimize when starting the operation
If this option is checked, the "Pack files" dialog is minimized automatically, after the button
was activated.
Perform operation using unbuffered I/O (recommended for very large file transfers)
This option is not relevant for the packing process.
Information bar: Waiting for starting operation on: ...files ...folders
In the "Pack files" dialog the information bar (lowest window line) "Waiting for starting operation on: ...files ...folders" shows the information how many files and folders are to be packed. On opening the dialog the bar is invisible. Whenever the tab "Files" or the button "Run" are activated, the files and folders to be packed are loaded and their number is calculated and shown. The number of files and folders shown in the information bar can be different from the number shown under "Selected item(s)". The differences may result from:
Pressing the button
adds the packing operation to the operations queue and starts the processing of the operations queue.
Activating the button
in the operation queue bar opens the operations queue dialog.
File operations via the operations queue are described in the chapter Operations queue.
Under the button "Configure..." the packing process can be configured, depending on the used archiver plugin.
Used pack plugin
The desired archive format can be selected after clicking the combo box "Archive format" in the tab "Pack files". All archive formats can be chosen that are assigned to at least one "Archive plugin" under the menu item "Tools → Settings → ArchivePlugins" in the tab "WCX" (the identical dialog is shown under the tab "WCX" that is shown after activating the button "Configure..." in the "Pack files" dialog). The topmost, active pack plugin with the selected format (assigned under "WCX" in the column "Extensions") is used.
FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip"
If the FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip" is used, activating the button "Configure..." calls the dialog of the menu item "Tools → Settings → ArchivePlugins".
Other pack plugins
If an other pack plugin (than the FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip") is used, activating the button "Configure..." calls (if this program supports this feature) the configuration dialog of this program.
After activating the button
the pack process for all items to be packed is started directly. If an other pack plugin (than the FreeCommander pack plugin "fcZip") is used, a window depending on the program may be started. The following procedure is than carried out in the background.
If the archive file to be created already exists in the target folder a dialog with the question "Archive already exists. Overwrite?" is shown. Confirming with "Yes" starts the packing process. After the successful completion of the packing, the existing archive file is overwritten.
The "Pack files" dialog shows the following modifications:

The "Pack" dialog and its modifications are visible only, if the option "Auto minimize when starting the operation" (in the tab "Settings") is not checked. The tab "Settings" is invisible during the pack process.
Pause
Clicking this option checks it and suspends the pack process. Clicking it again unchecks the option and continues the pack process.
Cancel
After activating the button
(during the pack process) the request "Do you really want to cancel the operation?" is shown. After confirming the request, the "Pack files" dialog is closed (without further pack processes). Already completed archive files remain.
Pack progress
The pack progress is visualized as follows:
Pack status of the items
In the item list each item is preceded by an icon that shows the pack status of the item:
Item not yet packed
Item packed successfully
An error has occurred during the pack process of this item.The message bar shows the actually packed item.
Activating the button "Cancel", cancels the packing process and closes the "Pack files" dialog.