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How to Gzip Files on Windows

7-Zip can be used to create more than 7z compressed files, it can also create GZip compressed files and directories. GZip can compressed a single file on its own, however if you need to compress a directory an extra step is required where the directory is first archived with the help of tar and then compressed with GZip. This tutorial will cover single file compression and directory compression.

First Things First

Download 7zip from http://www.7-zip.org/ and install the application.

Gzip Single File

Start the 7zip application and browse the location where the file you want to compress is located. Right click on the file_name > 7-Zip > Add to archive… Gizp Windows For Archive format: select gzip and click on OK to start compressing. Gzip Windows Compression progress. Gzip Windows The file is now compressed. Gzip Windows

Gzip Directory

Compressing a directory takes an extra step, first you need to create a tar of the directory you want to compress. Gzip Windows Select the source directory > 7-Zip > Add to archive… Gzip Windows For Archive format: select tar and click on OK. Gzip Windows Progress being displayed. Gzip Windows Once again go back to 7-Zip select the new tar file(filename.tar) > 7-Zip > Add to archive… Gzip Windows For Archive format select gzip and click on OK. Gzip Windows Progress being displayed. Gzip Windows The resulting compressed directory with the new extension ending in .tar.gz. Gzip Windows

Conclusion

While GZip files may not be all that common in Windows they are commonly used in other operating systems like Linux and FreeBSD. This post is specially useful since many Linux installation only have support for GZip, including support for Zip and 7z is not even an option. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below.

Homepage: http://www.7-zip.org/

, — Aug 15, 2012