rZip / docs / creation-and-editing

Creating, Editing and Converting Archives

Creating new archives, direct in-place editing with Trash backup protection, macOS system junk stripping, and format conversion.

Creating New Archives (⌘N)

From the Welcome window, File menu, or by pressing ⌘N, rZip opens the archive creator sheet (CreateArchiveView):

  1. Adding Content: Drag files or folders from Finder into the creation sheet.
  2. Container Format:
    • 7z: LZMA2 compression delivering the highest space savings, with optional AES-256 header and filename encryption.
    • ZIP: Universal compatibility across macOS, Windows, and Linux, with modern AES-256 password security.
    • TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.XZ, TAR.BZ2: Standard packages for UNIX, Linux servers, and software distribution.
    • Important note: The RAR format cannot be created by rZip because RAR compression is proprietary to RARLAB and protected by commercial patents.
  3. Compression Level: From None / Fast to Ultra (multi-core LZMA2 compression maximizing disk space savings).
  4. Volume Spanning: Split archives into uniform parts for email attachment limits (e.g. 25 MB), cloud storage, or physical media.

Automatic macOS System Junk Stripping

Standard macOS archiving in Finder bundles hidden system files:

  • .DS_Store (Finder window layout and view preferences).
  • __MACOSX directories and resource fork wrappers ._filename.
  • Spotlight indexing files (.Spotlight-V100) and local trash folders (.Trashes).

[!NOTE] rZip automatically filters and strips all proprietary macOS hidden files during creation and archive editing, producing clean, cross-platform packages ready for Windows and Linux recipients. While browsing archives in rZip, press ⇧⌘. to toggle system file visibility.

In-Place Archive Editing

You do not need to unpack an archive to disk to modify its contents in ZIP, 7z, or TAR formats:

  • Add Files (⌥⌘A): Drag new files directly into the rZip window or use the Add to Archive… menu command.
  • Delete Files (⌘⌫): Select items and press ⌘ + Backspace to delete them.
  • Rename Files: Select an item in the list and edit its name directly.

Safety Backups in the Mac Trash

To eliminate risk during in-place archive modifications:

  • Before applying any destructive changes to an archive on disk, rZip automatically deposits an exact backup copy of the original archive in the Mac Trash (~/.Trash).
  • If you need to revert changes, simply open the Trash and click Put Back.

Format Conversion Between Archives

Select Convert to Another Format… from the File menu or toolbar:

  1. rZip extracts the active archive into a private, secure staging folder (ConversionStaging in rZip-Convert).
  2. The creation sheet appears configured in conversion mode.
  3. Choose your desired target format (e.g. convert a proprietary RAR archive into a modern 7z or universal ZIP file), adjusting compression and encryption parameters.
  4. The converted archive is saved beside the original without altering the source file.
  5. If the original archive was password-protected, rZip automatically transfers the password and filename encryption settings to the new archive.
  6. The temporary conversion staging folder is immediately purged upon completion.