Easily Zip / Unzip Files using Windows Shell32

i'm glad to hear that Smile | :)

I need to extract two .zip(s) into 1 folder

This works fine:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
            'Value Strings
            Dim MD As String = Downloads & "\test.zip"
            Dim AD As String = AppData & "\test"

            'Unzip test.zip into folder
            Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
            IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(AD)
            Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(AD)
            Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(MD)
            output.CopyHere(input.Items, 16)
End Sub

But this does not:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
            'Value Strings
            Dim MD As String = Downloads & "\test.zip"
            Dim AD As String = AppData & "\test"

            'Unzip test.zip into folder
            Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
            IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(AD)
            Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(AD)
            Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(MD)
            output.CopyHere(input.Items, 16)

            'Re-value Strings
            MD = AppData & "\HMMI\test.2.zip"
            AD = AppData & "\HMMI\test"

            'Unzip test2.zip into folder
            output.CopyHere(input.Items, 16)
End Sub

How do I extract more than once in the same sub?

Figured it out-

Dim Username As String = Environment.UserName
Dim Downloads As String = "C:\Users\" & Username & "\Downloads"
Dim AppData As String = "C:\Users\" & Username & "\AppData\Roaming"

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
            'Value Strings
            Dim MD As String = Downloads & "\test.zip"
            Dim AD As String = AppData & "\testdirectory"
 
            'Unzip test.zip into folder
            Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
            IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(AD)
            Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(AD)
            Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(MD)
            output.CopyHere(input.Items, 16)
 
            'Re-value Strings
            MD = AppData & "\HMMI\test.2.zip"
            AD = AppData & "\HMMI\test"
            output = sc.NameSpace(AD)
            input = sc.NameSpace(MD)
 
            'Unzip test2.zip into folder
            output.CopyHere(input.Items, 16)
End Sub

I'm glad you figured it out.

but just for insurance you should create the output folder just like the first file i mean like this :

VB

 IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(AD)
'Re-value Strings


 output = sc.NameSpace(AD)
 input = sc.NameSpace(MD)


 'Unzip test2.zip into folder
 output.CopyHere(input.Items, 16)

Best Regards

really, this code does not compress files, it's copy in other folder , but your size is equal

It does compress files.
I've tested it before and after reading your post I've tested it again and this was the result:

A folder "AMD_VGA" has a size of 411 MB
After doing "Copyhere" the result was AMD_VGA.zip with size of 314 MB
So it was about 23.61% compression.
Just a little screenshot showing that :

http://gyazo.com/36af8d2cd2855a5ef65e1661df8195d0[^]

Best Regards

Hi, Is there any option to remove a file from the zip file. Like I want to check the size of the zip file while adding files one by one and if the size exceeds a certain limit then I need to delete the last added file, so as to create a new zip file. Any thoughts.
Thanks

Hello ,
How about pre-checking ?

i wrote this code in a hurry , there is probably better and easier ways to do it but just in case you want a working one :

        Dim startBuffer() As Byte = {80, 75, 5, 6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, _
                                     0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}

        Dim fileCount As Integer = 1

        ' the new zip files will be like this out1.zip , out2.zip , out3.zip ....
        Dim outputZIP As String = "d:\out" & fileCount & ".zip"

        ' (in bytes) put here the limit of the single zipped file
        Dim myLimit As Long = 100000 'change it!


        Dim currentLength As Long = 0
        ' will be explained later

        'Now we make our first zip file
        FileIO.FileSystem.WriteAllBytes(outputZIP, startBuffer, False)

        'Lets say that you have files that are in D:\myfiles\
        For Each myFile In IO.Directory.GetFiles("D:\myfiles\")

2:
            'I think Because Shell32 works as a separated process we can't tell if it has
            'finished its previous operation or not
            'So to check if it is still writing or not, we need to check change in size within
            ' a specific time.

            currentLength = FileLen(outputZIP)
            Threading.Thread.Sleep(50) 'if this time didn't work with you then try to increase it

            If currentLength = FileLen(outputZIP) Then
                'Now we will compare if adding this file to output zip will make it reach its limit or not 
                'If it will not reach the limit then it will be allowed to be added to the zip
                'If it will reach the limit then we will create a new zip file

                If FileLen(outputZIP) + FileLen(myFile) >= myLimit Then
                    fileCount += 1
                    outputZIP = "d:\out" & fileCount & ".zip"
                    FileIO.FileSystem.WriteAllBytes(outputZIP, startBuffer, False)
                End If


                'Now lets add our file to the output zip
                Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
                Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(outputZIP)
                output.CopyHere(myFile, 1024)


            Else
                GoTo 2

            End If

        Next

Again this might not be a good code but it works!

Best Regards

This is just an update because i wrote that code in a hurry :

instead of checking the change in size during a specific time and that was :

VB

currentLength = FileLen(outputZIP)
Threading.Thread.Sleep(50)
If currentLength = FileLen(outputZIP) Then
'
'
'

You could use the file access error check which is much more better so add this function to your program :

VB

Function isFileready(path As String) As Boolean
    Try
        Dim j As IO.Stream = IO.File.Open(path, IO.FileMode.Create)
        j.Close()
        Return (True)
    Catch ex As Exception
        Return (False)
    End Try

End Function

then to check if Shell32 has finished its operation and the final code :

VB

'
'
'
'
Do Until FileLen(outputZIP) > 22
Loop
Do Until isFileready(outputZIP) = True
Loop

If FileLen(outputZIP) + FileLen(myFile) >= myLimit Then
       fileCount += 1
       outputZIP = "d:\out" & fileCount & ".zip"
       FileIO.FileSystem.WriteAllBytes(outputZIP, startBuffer, False)
End If


    'Now lets add our file to the output zip
     Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
     Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(outputZIP)
     output.CopyHere(myFile, 1024)

Sorry for the late update

Best Regards

I Wanna Thank You For This Topic
also I sreached more for zipping files but this is easy way

no problem dude

Hi,
Thank you for such nice article.
Here is C# version.

private void Zip(string SrcFolder, string DstFile)
{
//1) Lets create an empty Zip File .
//The following data represents an empty zip file .
Byte[] startBuffer = { 80, 75, 5, 6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
// Data for an empty zip file .
System.IO.File.WriteAllBytes(DstFile, startBuffer);
//We have successfully made the empty zip file .
//2) Use the Shell32 to zip your files .
// Declare new shell class
Shell32.Shell sc = new Shell32.Shell();
//Declare the folder which contains the files you want to zip .
Shell32.Folder input = sc.NameSpace(SrcFolder);
//Declare your created empty zip file as folder .
Shell32.Folder output = sc.NameSpace(DstFile);
//Copy the files into the empty zip file using the CopyHere command .
output.CopyHere(input.Items(), 4);
}
private void UnZip(string SrcFile, string DstFolder)
{
Shell32.Shell sc = new Shell32.Shell();
//Declare the folder where the files will be extracted
Shell32.Folder output = sc.NameSpace(DstFolder);
//Declare your input zip file as folder .
Shell32.Folder input = sc.NameSpace(SrcFile);
//Extract the files from the zip file using the CopyHere command .
output.CopyHere(input.Items(), 4);
}

good job , but you need to create an output folder before the extraction otherwise it might throw error of "Reference is not set to an instance of a object".

Best Regards

//easy way to make zip files without any dlls
//version indipendent
public void MakeZip(string SourceFileName,string ZipFileName)// Zip functionality added by madhu
{
System.Diagnostics.Process scriptProc = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
if (File.Exists(SourceFileName))
{
string command = "zip " + ZipFileName + " " + SourceFileName; // Building dos commands
System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo procStartInfo = new System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo("cmd", "/c " + command);
scriptProc.StartInfo = procStartInfo;
scriptProc.Start();
int id = scriptProc.Id; //get process id
start:
System.Diagnostics.Process[] processlist = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcessesByName("cmd");
foreach (System.Diagnostics.Process theprocess in processlist)
{
if (theprocess.Id == id) //check proc id is found or not
{
goto start;
}
}
scriptProc.Close();
}
}

nice , seems working .
i will try it out as soon as possible

best regards

Hello,
Well .. it seems it can't automatically create the destination folder so you need to create it .
So the new Unzip()

VB

Sub UnZip()
        Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
        
        ''UPDATE !!
        'Create directory in which you will unzip your files .
        IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("D:\extractedFiles") 

        'Declare the folder where the files will be extracted
        Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("D:\extractedFiles")

        'Declare your input zip file as folder  .
        Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("d:\myzip.zip")

        'Extract the files from the zip file using the CopyHere command .
        output.CopyHere(input.Items, 4)
 
End Sub

Best Regards

Hi,

I have used this code of yours, and works really good.
I was Unzipping and Zipping a a single folder with .pdf files inside.

But Now, revisions was made and I will need to Unzip a HUGE Zip Folder with sub folders inside.
♦MainData Folder (Main Zip folder)
♦Data Folder(sub folder)
♦Rec01 Folder(sub folder)
♦A01 folder(sub folder)
♦inside A01 Folder are zip files
♦B01 folder(sub folder)
♦inside B01 Folder are zip files

How can I extract those zip files?

I'm having error. "Reference is not set to an instance of a object?"
Please help me.

Hello,
i see.
You just need to create the destination directory before unzipping .
because it seems it can't automatically create the destination folder .

Like this :

VB

Sub UnZip()
        Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
        'Declare the folder where the files will be extracted
        ''UPDATE !!
        'Create directory in which you will unzip your files .
        IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("D:\extractedFiles") 

        Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("D:\extractedFiles")
        'Declare your input zip file as folder  .
        Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("d:\myzip.zip")
        'Extract the files from the zip file using the CopyHere command .
        output.CopyHere(input.Items, 4)
 
End Sub

Any help , just contact me

Best Regards

Hi Sir.

I did that.

VB

IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("C:\eSOA")
Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("C:\eSOA")
Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("C:\Downloaded\myzip.zip")

myzip.zip contains about 1000 files(pdf records)

VB

This Is working very Okay

But revisions has been requested and myzip.zip now has sub folders, if i extract myzip.zip and locate the records, it will be like this..
C:\eSOA\myzip\data\rec01\jan\sec01\01
01 folder contains all the records i need.
How can I extract it?

in the debug of the code above, when i check the value of output,
output {System.__ComObject} Shell32.Folder
and the value of input is: input Nothing Shell32.Folder

output.CopyHere(input.Items, 4)
This is where i get the error : NullReferenceException was caught
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

3 days i've been trying to solve this.? Frown | :(

Help me sir.

Hello,
Ah.. sorry i didn't understand you at the first time.

You just need to give the Shell Class the full path of the required sub-zipped folder.
Like this :

VB

Sub UnZip()
       Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()
       IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("D:\extractedFiles")
       Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("D:\extractedFiles")

       'Declare your input zip file as folder  .
       ''UPDATED
       Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("d:\myzip.zip\data\rec01\jan\sec01\01")

       'Extract the files from the zip file using the CopyHere command .
       output.CopyHere(input.Items, 4)

   End Sub

I think you missed the .zip extension.

Best Regards

Hi Sir,

This is the original zip file that contains sub folders.
Description below:

C:\eSOA\BoC04152012.zip<br />
sub folders inside BoC04152012.zip <br />
DATA1 and DATA2 are the first 2 folders after BoC04152012.zip is extracted<br />
DATA1 and DATA2 contains same sub folders, <br />
DATA1\0\001\A01\000<br />
DATA1\0\001\A01\001<br />
DATA1\0\001\A01\002<br />
<br />
DATA2\0\001\A01\000<br />
DATA2\0\001\A01\001<br />
DATA2\0\001\A01\002

Inside the last sub folders of DATA1 and DATA2 are records again in zipped. Meaning that if sub folder 000 has 50 records, each record is zipped and has password... (Damn! Frown | :(

)

This is the reason why i really seek huge help!

-------------------
When the program was created and i was provided with sample zipped file. the sample zip looks like this: C:\eSOA\MySampleZip\records i need
and the codes you provided was so powerful. Smile | :)

But changes was requested and the new zip file i need to extract the records from is what i explained with C:\eSOA\BoC04152012.zip
-------------------
In an effort to find solutions.
I recreated BoC04152012.zip
it looked like this. C:\BoC04152012\DATA\0\001\A01\ the records I extracted.
and run your code.

VB

Sub Unzip
    Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell
    IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("C:\eSOA\Unzip")
    Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("C:\eSOA\Unzip")
    Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("c:\eSOA\BoC04152012.zip")
    output.CopyHere(input.Items, 4)
End Sub

Sorry for the drama. Frown | :(

I wanted to ask if there's a way that i can Unzip BoC04152012.zip, unzip(password protected) the records inside???

I tried your suggestion

VB

Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("c:\eSOA\BoC04152012.zip")

and give me the same error "no Instance of an object."

change the option of CopyHere command to 256 so you can enter password

VB

output.CopyHere(input.Items, 256)

if you have zip files inside another zip file then my suggestion is the following :

Extract the main zip file first in the windows Temporary Folder.
Now you have a normal folder with zip files inside .
extract each zip file and you are done. if the zip file has a password , you will be asked to enter it. and after that , you extract any other left file/folder ( not a zip file / folder ).

final code :

VB

Sub UnZip()
        Dim sc As New Shell32.Shell()



        'First create the Temporary folder in which you will unzip your main zip file 
        If My.Computer.FileSystem.DirectoryExists(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp") = True Then
            IO.Directory.Delete(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp", True)
            IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp")
        Else
            IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp")
        End If

        'Now extract the files

        Dim output As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp")
        Dim input As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("D:\My_Main_Zip_File.zip")
        output.CopyHere(input.Items, 256)

        'Create the output folder in which the sup-zipped folders will get unzipped
        IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("D:\extractedFiles")

        'Extract each sub-zipped folder from our temporary folder
        For Each subZipped In IO.Directory.GetFiles(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp")
            'check if the selected file is a zip file
            If FileIO.FileSystem.GetFileInfo(subZipped).Extension.ToLower = ".zip" Then
                'create dir for the sup-zipped folder and extract it 
                IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("D:\extractedFiles\" + FileIO.FileSystem.GetName(subZipped).Replace(".zip", ""))
                Dim output2 As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace("D:\extractedFiles\" + FileIO.FileSystem.GetName(subZipped).Replace(".zip", ""))
                Dim input2 As Shell32.Folder = sc.NameSpace(subZipped)
                output2.CopyHere(input2.Items, 256)
            End If
        Next
        'Now copy any other folders / files to the new 'extractedFiles' directory
        For Each normFile In IO.Directory.GetFiles(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp")
            'check if the selected file is NOT a zip file
            If FileIO.FileSystem.GetFileInfo(normFile).Extension.ToLower <> ".zip" Then
                FileCopy(normFile, "D:\extractedFiles\" + FileIO.FileSystem.GetName(normFile))
            End If
        Next
        For Each normFolder In IO.Directory.GetDirectories(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp")
                My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyDirectory(normFolder, "D:\extractedFiles\" + My.Computer.FileSystem.GetDirectoryInfo(normFolder).Name)
           
        Next



        'delete the Temporary folder
        IO.Directory.Delete(IO.Path.GetTempPath + "myzipfile_temp", True)

End Sub

if you have another sub-zipped files inside the main sub-zipped files then you need to run the code again and only change the path each loop to the next sup-zipped folded.

This is what i can do for you .

Best Regards

hmmmm i don't know .but i don't think so.
however check the link at the end of code , change the copyHere command options .
Best Regards

Hey Yassin, Thanks for the response. I have implemented the same long back. However, I just wanted to make it synchronous. I had to tweak some logic on it, to accomplish the task. Is there any inbuilt flag to make it synchronous?

No problem and nice work mate Smile | :)

.

Easily Zip / Unzip Files using Windows Shell32

Introduction

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