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PKZIP 2.5 Command Line Reference PKZIP Command Line Reference

This document was created to introduce you to the command line version of PKZIP. One of the significant differences between this version of PKZIP and previous versions of PKZIP/PKUNZIP is the consolidation of compression and extraction (zip/unzip) functionality into a single program. In other words, the same program compresses and extracts files. Additionally, the command line syntax has been changed. This was done to make PKZIP easier to understand and use for the novice and power user alike. Hopefully, you will find all of the functionality of previous versions of PKZIP with a simpler more intuitive user interface.

If you have used earlier command line versions of PKZIP (e.g. PKZIP 2.04g), you may find the PKZIP Command Line Translation Table helpful.

Please keep in mind that although this document does include basic information to help you get started using PKZIP, it is not a user's manual. The Registered and Licensed versions of PKZIP come with extensive documentation including a comprehensive user's manual. The PKZIP User's Manual includes such things as tutorials as well as in depth discussions of PKZIP's advanced features.

PKZIP Usage:

Usage: pkzip25 [command] [options] zipfile [@list] [files...]

Examples:

     View .ZIP file contents: pkzip25 zipfile

     Create a .ZIP file: pkzip25 -add zipfile file(s)...

     Extract files from .ZIP: pkzip25 -extract zipfile

These are only basic examples of PKZIP's capability

PKZIP Command Reference:

An alphabetical listing of available PKZIP commands and options follows. You may wish to scroll through the entire list or click on one of the hyperlinks below to go directly to the specified command/option section.

PKZIP Commands:
Add 

Comment 

Configuration 

Console

Default 

Delete 

Extract 

Fix

Header 

Help 

License 

Print

Sfx 

Test 

Version 

View

PKZIP Options:
204 

After 

Attributes 

Authenticity 

Before 

Comment 

Decode 

Directories 

Encode 

Exclude 

Fast 

Filetype 

Header

ID 

Include 

Level 

Links 

ListChar 

ListSfxTypes 

Locale  (OS/2) 

Locale  (DOS/UNIX) 

Lowercase 

Mask 

Maximum 

More 

Move

NameSfx 

NameType 

NoExtended 

NoFix 

Normal 

NoZipExtension 

OptionChar 

Overwrite 

Password 

Path 

Permission 

Preview 

Recurse

Sfx 

Shortname 

Silent 

Sort 

Span 

Speed 

Store 

Temp 

Times 

Translate 

Volume 

Warning 

Zipdate

This document contains reference information on every PKZIP command and option. For each command/option, the following information is provided:
 
Category: Represents:
Name/Description The full name of the command/option and a brief description of what that command/option does. 

If the command/option can be configured (defaulted) in the Configuration file, the word "configurable" appears after the description.

Value(s)  The value(s) associated with this command/option, including the "default" value for each. 

If a command/option does not have an associated value, the phrase "no suboptions" appears. 

Example usage An example of how to include this command/option in your PKZIP command line, including possible abbreviations. For most options, you can abbreviate the command/option. These abbreviations are illustrated in the examples used in this appendix.
Used with This command can be used for compression, extraction, viewing, testing, a combination, or as a stand-alone (none of the above). 

Note: Most commands and options documented here work in all versions of PKZIP. In instances where a command, option, or suboption is specific to a platform or operating system, the document will indicate as much. (e.g. UNIX, DOS, OS/2).

Information on each command/option follows:
 
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
204 

turns on PKZIP for DOS 204g compatibility 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -204 save.zip * add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
add 

add files to a .ZIP file 

configurable

all - compress new files and all existing files 

freshen - compress only files that exist in the .ZIP and that have changed 

update - compress new and update existing files 

incremental - compress only files that have the archive attribute on and subsequently turns off the archive attribute (DOS, OS/2) 

-incremental - compress only files that have the archive attribute on and does not turn off the archive attribute (DOS OS/2) 

----------------------------- 

default = all

pkzip25 -add save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -add=freshen save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -add=increm save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -add=-increm save.zip *.doc

stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
after 

process files that are newer than, or equal to, a specified date 

configurable

any date in format specified in Country-Settings or the locale option 

e.g. the US date format is: 

mmddyy 

or 

mmddyyyy 

----------------------------- 

no default value

for compression: 

pkzip25 -add -aft=091595 save.zip *.doc 

for extraction: 

pkzip25 -ext -after=091595 save.zip *.doc

add, extract, delete, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
attributes 

stores files with the specified file attribute information in the .ZIP file 

configurable 

(DOS, OS/2)

hidden - compress hidden files 

system - compress system files 

readonly - compress read-only files 

all - compress all types of files 

none - don’t compress files that have hidden, system, or read-only attributes; overrides the default attributes setting in config file 

----------------------------- 

default = readonly 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = all

pkzip25 -add -attr=system,hidden save.zip * add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
authenticity 

embed Authenticity Verification (AV) information in the .ZIP file 

note: this option may only be used if you have received and installed AV information for your fully registered copy of PKZIP from PKWARE, Inc.

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -auth save.zip *.doc add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
before 

process files that are older than a specified date 

configurable

any date in format specified in Country-Settings or the locale option 

e.g. the US date format is: 

mmddyy 

or 

mmddyyyy 

----------------------------- 

no default value

for compression: 

pkzip25 -add -bef=091595 save.zip *.doc 

for extraction: 

pkzip25 -ext -bef=091595 save.zip *.doc

add, extract, delete, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
comment 

include a text comment for individual files within a .ZIP file 

configurable

all - all files within .ZIP file 

unchanged - only existing files that have not changed 

add - only new files 

freshen - only existing files  

update - existing and new files 

none - turn off comment  

----------------------------- 

default = add

pkzip25 -add -com=all save.zip *.doc  add, stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
configuration 

define default values for most PKZIP commands/options

any configurable command or option specified in the previous chapters 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -config -extract=freshen 

to see the current configuration values, type: 

pkzip25 -config

stand-alone 
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
console 

perform a "mock" extract and display files on your screen

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -console save.zip *.txt stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
decode 

instructs PKZIP to verify the encoding scheme (e.g. UUEncoded file) and process archived files in the event that PKZIP is unable to detect the file type automatically 

note: PKZIP will normally detect different encoding schemes and automatically process archived files; a command line option is usually not necessary to enable this feature

no suboptions  

-----------------------------  

no default value

pkzip25 -extract -decode save.hqx  extract, test, view 
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
default 

reset the original defaults for the commands-options in the config file

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

to reset all defaults: 

pkzip25 -default 

stand-alone 
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
delete 

remove files from a .ZIP file

file(s) to delete 

----------------------------- 

no default value

for individual files: 

pkzip25 -del save.zip doc1.txt 

for a specific file pattern:  

pkzip25 -del save.zip *.doc

stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
directories 

store directory path names during compression, or recreate directory path names while extracting 

includes subdirectories (recurse) 

configurable 

note: using this command is the same as combining the path and recurse commands

current - store path information relative to the current path 

root or full - store the entire path beginning at the root directory 

specify - store the path information for each file being compressed (or recreates for each file being extracted), as specified on the command line 

relative - store the directory path relative to the current working directory of the drive(s) specified (DOS) 

none - overrides directory path information in configuration file 

----------------------------- 

default = none 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = current

compression example (assumes you are in "/wp"): 

pkzip25 -add -dir=root save.zip wp/docs/* 

the path stored would be "wp/docs/*" 

pkzip25 -add -dir=current save.zip wp/docs/* 

the path stored would be: "docs/*" 

extraction example:  

pkzip25 -ext -direct save.zip /* 

note: UNIX users should utilize the include option or place quotation marks around wildcard designations to bypass automatic wildcard expansion by the shell, which may restrict your pattern search 

add, extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
encode 

creates archive in the UUEncode format 

note: PKZIP will create two files when the encode option is invoked; a .ZIP archive (e.g. save.zip) as well as UUEncoded version of the .ZIP file (e.g. save.uue) are created

no suboptions 

-----------------------------  

no default value

pkzip25 -add -encode save.zip * add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
exclude 

exclude files from being compressed or extracted 

configurable 

note: you must specify a sub-option (e.g. file pattern or list file name preceded by an appropriate list character "@") with the exclude option

the file(s) or file pattern (for example, *.doc) being excluded 

----------------------------- 

no default value

compression example: 

pkzip25 -add -excl=*.doc save.zip 

extraction example: 

pkzip25 -ext -excl=*.txt save.zip 

setting exclude default: 

pkzip25 -config -excl=*.txt 

note: when you use the exclude option with the configuration command, PKZIP prompts you to configure the exclude default for add and/or extract operations

add, extract, delete, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
extract 

extract files from a .ZIP file 

configurable

all - all files in .ZIP file 

freshen - only files in the .ZIP file that exist in the target directory and that are "newer" than those files will be extracted 

update - files in the .ZIP file which already exist in the target directory and that are "newer" than those files as well as files that are "not" in the target directory will be extracted 

----------------------------- 

default = all

pkzip25 -ext=up save.zip  stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
fast 

set the level of compression to "fast" or level 2  

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -fast save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -fast

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
filetype 

processes files with the specified file type information in the .ZIP file 

(UNIX) 

note:a "-" before a filetype sub-option tells PKZIP to exclude the specified filetype(s) regardless of the default configuration setting (e.g. -filetype=-hidden will exclude hidden files regardless of the default configuration setting)  

hidden - include/exclude filenames that have a dot "." in the first position of the filename (e.g. .profile) 

pipe - include/exclude pipe files. These are files having a file mode starting with "p" (e.g. prwxrw-rw-) 

slink - include/exclude symbolic links. These are files having a file mode starting with "l" (e.g. lrw-rw-rw-) 

hlink -include/exclude hard linked files. These are linked files that are not symbolic links. They are files with a link count >1 

none - exclude all of the above file types; Generally, this option should be followed by one, or more, file types. This results in just the type(s) specified being included in the ZIP file. For example, -filetype=none, pipe results in only PIPE files being included 

all - include all of the above file types 

regular - include/exclude regular files 

----------------------------- 

default = regular

pkzip25 -filetype=all save.zip add, extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
fix 

recover a corrupt .ZIP file

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -fix save.zip stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
header 

create a comment for a .ZIP file, which will appear in the header area of the .ZIP file 

configurable

a text string or file specified with a list file character (e.g. @) that represents the header information  

----------------------------- 

no default value

to include specific text: 

pkzip25 -add -hea save.zip *.doc 

note: when you type this command, PKZIP will prompt you for the header text 

to include an existing file: 

pkzip25 -add -hea=@text.doc save.zip *.doc

add, stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
help 

display Help for PKZIP

any command or option for which help is desired 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -help 

pkzip25 -help=add 

in this example you are specifying a specific command (add) for which you wish to view the Help file

stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
id 

preserve the user ID (UID) and/or group ID (GID) on extraction 

(UNIX) 

note: the user who extracts files with preserved UID and GID information must have the same UID as is archived in the .ZIP file or root (superuser) file privileges 

userid - retain the user ID on extraction 

groupid - retain the group ID on extraction 

all - retain both the user ID and group ID on extraction 

none - retain neither the user ID or group ID on extraction 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -extract -id=userid save.zip extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
include 

include files to compress or extract 

configurable 

note: you must specify a sub-option (e.g. file pattern or list file name preceded by an appropriate list character "@") with the exclude option

the file(s) or file pattern (for example, *.doc) being included 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -include=*.doc save.zip 

in this example, only .doc files will be compressed 

pkzip25 -config -include=*.txt 

in this example, you are setting up .txt files as the files that you always want to compress or extract, until you change the default or override from the command line with the exclude option 

note: when you use the include option with the configuration command, PKZIP prompts you to configure the include default for add and/or extract operations

add, extract, delete, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
level 

set the level of compression 

configurable

any digit from 0 through 9, with 0 being no compression at the fastest speed, and 9 being the most compression at the slowest speed 

----------------------------- 

default = level 5 (normal)

pkzip25 -add -lev=9 save.zip *.doc add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
license 

display the product license information for PKZIP

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -lic stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
links 

specify that linked files be followed or preserved in a .ZIP archive 

(UNIX) 

note: following a link results in a larger .ZIP file since two copies of file data are compressed as though each link is a separate file

hlink - hard links will be followed (stored) rather than preserved 

slink - symbolic links will be followed (stored) rather that preserved 

all - symbolic and hard links will be followed rather than preserved 

none - symbolic and hard links will be preserved 

----------------------------- 

default = none

pkzip25 -add -filetype=hlink   -links=hlink save.zip 

this example compresses regular and hard linked files as well as duplicates link and file data for each hard linked file added to the .ZIP file 

add, filetype 

note: you must use both the add command and filetype option with the links option 

Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
listchar 

set the list character to the specified ASCII character for list files 

configurable

any valid single character 

----------------------------- 

default = @

pkzip25 -config -listchar=+ add, extract, delete, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
listsfxtypes 

display a list of the types of SFX files that can be created with PKZIP

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -listsfxtypes  stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
locale 

change the system locale environment value that defines the valid formats for all date and time fields entered using PKZIP 

configurable 

(OS/2)

a valid country name (e.g. us, germany, france) 

environment - PKZIP will attempt to use the environment variable defined by the operating system 

----------------------------- 

default = US 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = environment

pkzip25 -config -locale=germany 

pkzip25 -add -locale=germany test.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -add -locale=environment test.zip *.doc

add, extract, delete, test, view 
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
locale 

set the default PKZIP time and date settings to match your system time and date formats 

configurable 

(DOS, UNIX)

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

default = (time=12-Hour; date=MMDDYY)

pkzip25 -config -locale 

pkzip25 -add -locale test.zip *.doc

add, extract, delete, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
lowercase 

extracts file name(s) in lower case regardless of how it was originally archived  

(UNIX)

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -extract -lowercase save.zip *  extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
mask 

remove file attributes of files within a .ZIP file or when extracting 

note: you can only remove the attributes that have been stored, as defined by the attribute command 

configurable 

(DOS, OS/2)

hidden - hidden attributes 

system - system attributes 

readonly - read-only attributes 

none - no attributes (turns off attribute mask in the PKZIP Configurations Settings file for this instance only) 

all - all attributes 

----------------------------- 

default (compress) = none 

default (extract) = all 

default if used on command line without a sub-option (compress and extract) = all

pkzip25 -add -attr=hidden  
-mask=hidden save.zip 

pkzip25 -extract -mask=none save.zip  

pkzip25 -config -mask=hidden 

note: when you use the mask option with the configuration command, PKZIP prompts you to configure the mask default for add and/or extract operations  

add, extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
maximum 

set the level of compression to the highest level, but lowest speed 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -max save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -max

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
more 

pause after one screen of output and prompt to continue 

configurable

the number of rows of information you want to consist of a screen 

----------------------------- 

default = one screen of information

pkzip25 -view -more=22 save.zip 

pkzip25 -config -more 

note: when you use the more option with the configuration command, PKZIP prompts you to configure the more default for add, extract, and/or view operations

all commands
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
move 

remove the files from the source drive after compression (files will reside only in .ZIP file) 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -move save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -move 

note: if the move option is enabled by default in the configuration file, PKZIP will display a confirmation prompt every time you attempt to modify the configuration file

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
namesfx 

specify a file name when converting to a self-extracting file

a valid file name (e.g. filename.exe)  

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -sfx -namesfx=test.exe docs.zip sfx
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
nametype 

specify the format in which you wish to extract file(s) 

configurable  

(OS/2)

auto - auto-detection of file system and extraction format 

short - files are extracted in 8+3 format 

long - files are extracted in same format that they were originally added in 

----------------------------- 

default = auto 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = short

pkzip25 -extract -nametype=long test.zip /temp extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
noextended 

suppress the storage of extended attribute information (excluding file permission attributes) when adding files or suppress the storage of file permission attributes when extracting files  

note:by default PKZIP will suppress ownership (e.g. UID/GID) attributes on extraction; you may use the id option to preserve these attributes

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -noextended save.zip * add, extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
nofix 

suppress the "attempt to fix" prompt if PKZIP encounters errors in a .ZIP file 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -nofix save.zip *.doc add, extract, delete, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
normal 

set the level of compression to 5; for the best balance of compression and speed  

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -normal save.zip 

pkzip25 -config -normal

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
nozipextension 

suppress the adding of a .ZIP extension to the .ZIP file name 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -nozipextension file.ibm *.doc all commands
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
optionchar 

set the option character to the specified ASCII character 

configurable

any valid single character 

----------------------------- 

default = - (dash)

pkzip25 -opt=+ +add save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -option=+

all commands
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
overwrite 

determine whether or not to overwrite files on your hard drive with the files being extracted 

configurable 

prompt - prompt every file individually on whether to overwrite a file that has the same name as the one being extracted 

all - overwrite all files that have a corresponding file on the hard drive 

never - never overwrite a file that has a corresponding file on the hard drive 

----------------------------- 

default = prompt 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = all

pkzip25 -ext -over=all save.zip  extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
password 

include a password with your .ZIP file 

configurable

your password, or no value 

----------------------------- 

no default value

to include password in the command: 

pkzip25 -add -pass=beowulf save.zip 

to have PKZIP prompt you for a password "after" you type the command: 

pkzip25 -add -pass save.zip

add, extract, test
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
path 

store directory path names for files within a .ZIP file 

configurable

current -stores the path from the current directory 

root/full - store the entire path beginning at the root of the drive; also referred to as "full" path 

specify - store the path as specified in your pkzip command  

relative - store the directory path relative to the current working directory of the drive(s) specified (DOS) 

none - no path information stored 

----------------------------- 

default = none 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = current

assuming in you are in "/temp": 

pkzip25 -add -path=root save.zip docs/* 

(the complete path is stored including "temp/docs/") 

pkzip25 -add -path=current save.zip wp/docs/* 

(the path stored would be "docs/wp") 

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
permission 

restores and/or sets the mode of a file on extraction 

(UNIX) 

note: PKZIP will automatically restore read, write, and execute permission attributes (assuming they have been stored in the .ZIP file) on extraction; the permission option is only necessary if you wish to restore other attributes (e.g. Set user ID, Set Group ID, sticky bit) or modify permissions and/or other attributes, stored with the archived files, on extraction

octal mode value 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -extract -permission save.zip 

in this example PKZIP will preserve all permissions as well as other attributes on extraction 

pkzip25 -extract -permisssion=4111 save.zip * 

in this example PKZIP will preserve and/or attempt to modify all permissions as well as other attributes on extraction 

note: the permissions option can only add permissions; it cannot take away permissions from an existing mode setting; the noextended option used in conjunction with your umask setting may be used to suppress permission attributes

extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
preview 

preview the results of a set of commands or options without actually performing the task represented by that command/option

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -preview save.zip  add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
print 

print a file within a .ZIP file 

(DOS, OS/2)

the print device use, for example, "lpt1" 

----------------------------- 

default = the default printer on your system

pkzip25 -print=lpt1 save.zip readme.txt 

if you do not specify a print device, the "default" printer is used

stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
recurse 

search subdirectories for files to compress 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -rec save.zip addendum.doc 

note: UNIX users should utilize the include option or place quotation marks around wildcard designations to bypass automatic wildcard expansion by the shell, which may restrict your pattern search

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
sfx 

create a self-extracting .ZIP file (.EXE file), or convert an existing .ZIP file to a .EXE file 

configurable 

note: for a listing of available self extractors, use the listsfxtypes option

dosfull - create a DOS- formatted self-extractor 

jrdos - create a DOS junior self-extractor 

win16 - create a Windows 16-bit self-extractor 

----------------------------- 

default = (create an sfx native to the operating system)

for a new .ZIP file: 

pkzip25 -add -sfx save 

to convert an existing .ZIP file: 

pkzip25 -sfx save.zip

add, stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
shortname 

convert .ZIP file name in long file name format to a DOS or equivalent "short" file name 

note: PKZIP includes sub-options for both OS/2 and DOS because of the differences in the way each OS handles short file names 

configurable

dos - convert .ZIP file to a dos-equivalent short file name 

os2 - convert .ZIP file to an -equivalent short file name 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -short=dos save.zip add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
silent 

suppress all screen display output 

configurable 

note: errors and warnings are displayed whether the silent option is specified or not, however, prompts for other PKZIP operations are not displayed (e.g. Password)

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -silent save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -silent 

note: if the silent option is enabled by default in the configuration file, PKZIP will display a confirmation prompt every time you attempt to modify the configuration file

all commands
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
sort 

sort files within .ZIP file based on specific criteria (for example, by file size) 

configurable 

note: the crc and ratio sub-options will not work with the add command and sort option 

crc - sort by CRC value 

date - sort by file date of file 

extension - sort by file extension 

name - sort alphabetically by name 

natural - sort in the order that the file was compressed 

ratio - sort by compression ratio 

size - sort by the original, uncompressed size of the file ("length" in display) 

none - do not sort (same as natural) 

----------------------------- 

default = natural 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = name

pkzip25 -add -sort=date save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -sort=date 

note: when you use the sort option with the configuration command, PKZIP prompts you to configure the mask default for add, extract, and/or view operations

add, extract, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
span 

forces disk spanning in the event that PKZIP is unable to detect the fact that destination directory is on removable media 

note: the spanning process should proceed automatically; a command line option is usually not necessary to enable this feature 

(DOS, OS/2)

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -span a:\save.zip *.doc add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
speed 

sets the level of compression to 1, which is the least but fastest compression 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -speed save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -speed

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
store 

sets the level of compression to 0 (no compression), and only stores the files within the .ZIP file 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -store save.zip *.doc 

pkzip25 -config -store 

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
temp 

creates the temporary .ZIP file required by PKZIP, on specified drive  

note: the temp option only works when updating an existing .ZIP file

the drive and/or path. 

e.g. C: or /root/temp 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -add -temp=Z:\PUBLIC test.zip *.txt 

this example updates the .ZIP file test.zip and uses the Z:\PUBLIC directory location for the temp file 

pkzip25 -add -temp=/temp test.zip *.txt 

this example updates the .ZIP file test.zip and uses the /temp directory location for the temp file 
 

add
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
test 

test the integrity of files within a .ZIP file 

configurable

all - all files in .ZIP file will be tested 

freshen - only those files in the .ZIP file which already exist in the extract directory and that have a file modification date newer that the files already in the directory will be tested 

update - files in the .ZIP file which already exist in the target directory and that are "newer" than those files and files that are "not" in the target directory will be tested 

----------------------------- 

default = all

pkzip25 -test save.zip stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
times 

specify whether file access, creation, and modification times are to be preserved 

(DOS, UNIX) 
 

access - restores the time of last access to file(s) on extraction 

modify - restores the time of last modification to file(s) on extraction 

create - restores the time of creation to file(s) on extraction (DOS) 

all - all file times are restored 

none - file times are not restored 

------------------------------- 

default = none 

pkzip25 -extract -times=access save.zip  extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
translate 

analyze text files in a .ZIP file and if necessary translate the carriage return/newline sequence for compatibility with a specified operating system 

(UNIX) 

none - no translation is performed on text files 

dos - translates text files so lines end with a return/newline pair as per the DOS standard 

mac - translates text files so lines end with a single carriage return as per the MacOS standard 

unix - translates text files so lines end with a single newline as per the UNIX (i.e. POSIX) standard 

-------------------------------  

default = none 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = native operating system compatibility translation

pkzip25 -extract -translate=unix save.zip  extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
version 

determine the version of PKZIP you are running 

note: PKZIP also returns the version number to the shell by way of setting the error level; the version number value is passed directly to the shell and as such is not viewable by the user 

major - returns the major version number of the release 

minor - returns the minor number of the release (e.g. - if the version number is 2.5.1, the value returned is 5) 

step - returns the step, or patch value. (e.g. - if the version is 2.04.01, the step value returned is 1) 

----------------------------- 

default = major

pkzip25 -version  stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
view 

display information about the files within a .ZIP file, for example, the compressed size of a file 

configurable

brief - present information in the most compact manner 

details - present information in the most detailed manner 

normal - present information in the normal manner 

----------------------------- 

default = normal

pkzip25 -view save.zip stand-alone
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
volume 

store/restore the volume label with the .ZIP file 

configurable 

(DOS, OS/2)

a drive letter (for example, C) 

----------------------------- 

default = no volume label 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = current drive

pkzip25 -add -volume=C save.zip *.docs add, extract
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
warning 

pause after every warning, and prompt you to continue or not 

configurable

no suboptions 

----------------------------- 

no default value

pkzip25 -ext -warn save.zip * add, extract, test, view
Name/Description: Value(s): Example usage: Used with:
zipdate 

set the file modification date of the .ZIP file  

configurable

newest - set to the date of the "newest" file within the .ZIP file 

oldest - set to the date of the "oldest" file within the .ZIP file 

retain - retain the original date of the .ZIP file (the date on which the .ZIP file was created) 

none - disable the .ZIP file date in the config file, and set the .ZIP date as the last modification date 

----------------------------- 

default = the current date 

default if used on command line without a sub-option = retain

pkzip25 -add=update  
-zipdate=retain save.zip *.txt
add
 

PKZIP Command Line Translation Table
 
PKZIP 2.04 Command: PKZIP 2.50 Command/Option
pkzip pkzip25 -add
-b<drive:path> -temp=drive:path
-c/-C -comment(all,unchanged,add,freshen,update,none)
-d -delete
-e[x|n|f|s|0] -level (0-9)
-ex -maximum
-en -normal
-ef -fast
-es -speed
-e0 -store
-f -freshen
-h -help
-i -add=incremental
-i- -add=-incremental
-j<h,r,s> -mask=all (hidden,system,readonly)
-J<h,r,s> -mask=none (default)
-k -zipdate=retain
-m[u|f] -move (with /add=update or /add=freshen)
-o -zipdate (newest,oldest,retain,none)
-p -path (current,relative,specify)
-P -path=full
-r -recurse
-rp/-rP -directories (current,full,relative,specify,none)
-s[password] -password (or -password=xxxx)
-t<date> -after=mmddyy (or mmddyyyy)
-T<date> -before=mmddyy (or mmddyyyy)
-u -add=update
-v -view (brief,details,normal)
-w<h,s>W<h,s> -attributes (hidden,system,readonly,all,none)
-x<filename -exclude=filename
-x@listfile -exclude=@listfile
-z -header
-& -span (to force if not detected)
-$[d] -volume=drive
pkunzip pkzip25 -extract
-c[m] -console (-more)
-d -directories
-e[r][c|d|e|n|p|s] -sort (crc,date,extension,name,ratio,size,natural,none)
-f -extract=freshen
-h -help
-j<h,r,s> -mask=all (default) (hidden,system,readonly)
-J<h,r,s> -mask=none
-n -extract=freshen
-o -overwrite (prompt,all,never)
-p[a/b][c][#] -print
-s[password] -password (or -password=password)
-t -test (all,freshen,update)
-v -view (brief,details,normal)
-x<filespec> -exclude=filename
-x@listfile -exclude=@listfile