An archive utility is a software tool that allows users to create, manage and extract archives with compressed files and folders. Archiving and file compression are helpful when you need to save disk space, organize data, and transfer large files online.
By default, macOS uses its native archiver to handle archives. Archive Utility is a small system application that performs unpacking and archiving of files in the background. It usually launches automatically when you open a file in one of the supported formats. But still, capabilities of Archive Utility are somewhat limited and it only works with several formats like ZIP, CPIO and CPGZ. To work with archives of other formats and get more functionality, you should use a third-party archive utility Mac solution.
What are Archivers Commonly Used for?
As we already mentioned, archivers are designed to compress and pack files and folders into one file-container. Let’s highlight the main reasons why using archivers:
– File compression: Reducing file size helps save storage space on your Mac.
– Faster data transfers: Compressed files are ideal for sharing and transferring via email or messaging services.
– File organization: Archivers allow grouping multiple files and folders into a single archive, making it easier to organize data and reduce clutter on your computers.
– File security: Most archivers offer encryption and password protection, which increases data security and privacy.
– Data backup: Archiving important files ensures data safety and facilitates backup processes.
Best Archive Utility for Mac: Commander One
Commander One is a robust archiver that offers a flawless work with a variety of formats. The list of supported archive formats is fairly extensive. It includes ZIP, 7ZIP, TBZ, TGZ, TXZ, 7Z, etc. With Commander One, you can open archives as regular folders, manage and copy files inside the archive without having to open it.
Furthermore, the application boasts a user-friendly interface that can be tailored to your preferences. You can assign hotkeys for even smoother archiving and extracting. Want to secure your files? Commander One lets you protect your archives with password (available for ZIP and 7z).
Commander One is not just a file compression program, it’s also an excellent macOS file manager with two-pane interface that allows you to easily navigate and deal with all your files and folders. You can manage not only local files, but also those stored in cloud services and on remote servers. The app seamlessly integrates with Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and supports different web services (FTP, WebDAV). Additionally, Commander One offers Root Access, advanced search options, a built-in Terminal, and more.
It is very important to have a multifunctional archiver for Mac. Using third-party applications to manage, create, and expand archives provides many additional features beyond what macOS Archive Utility offers. Commander One will greatly enhance your workflow with its useful features for processing archives.
5 reasons why you should compress the files you use on Mac
It can take quite a bit of time to transfer these, given that data storage sites typically cannot upload more than multiple files simultaneously. With the use of Mac archiver tools, it’s easy – create an archive of your disk D and upload everything into a single file (archive). When you unpack it, you’ll have the same disk copy on the remote machine.
Compression. Most files stored on computers can be compressed with special algorithms that reduce their size. In some cases, it’s feasible to shrink the size of an archive in comparison to the original file several times. Naturally, you can only archive once it is unpacked and then delete it; however, if you have frequently used data on your hard drive, you should archive it as an efficient method of saving storage space. This post has a guideline for “How do I compress my data in Mac without difficulty?”
Safety of your data. Archive software can include details for recovery to aid in restoring the archive when the archive is damaged (for example, if it’s on damaged hard drives or an external device). This increases the size of your library. When you consider compressing files, it is unlikely that you’ll notice any difference in the dimensions of the original files. Additionally, if you want to keep your files hidden from the view of others, saving them with a password is a great option. Many archiver software programs come with this function and can quickly set up a password that secures your data. Choose a strong password for this situation, and it shouldn’t appear too obvious and simple; however, it’s important to remember it because there is no way to recover your data if you answer secret concerns. The method could be more optimal, as programs that take passwords and even crack archives surface on the Internet.
Space-saving. If your drive needs to be bigger, and you’re always insufficient space, consider keeping files you would not intend to delete or feel guilty about erasing in archives. This includes, for instance, work documents that you support stored on your computer for the event because archives contain files that cannot be deleted from the usual location on your computer. If you want to conserve space, compress files using Mac, and don’t hesitate to remove them once you have archived them. It is possible to unpack them at any point.
It is crucial to remember that not every file is reduced in size, with massive savings. For instance, the size of photographs is decreased from 100 MB to a couple of MB while at the same time, Microsoft Word documents or documents in Adobe Photoshop are compressed significantly. Adobe Photoshop graphics editors are reduced considerably, ranging between fifty and three MB. Video and music videos are also compressed; however, if the number is substantial, you may add it to your archive.
Transfer of files. Transferring files via the Internet, such as via e-mail or Skype, makes joining the entire folder in the message impossible. We can only attach the individual files or images. This is why it’s practical to create a single archive from various elements to transmit when the archiver can help. For example, you could communicate the entire folder “Holiday pictures” all at once and create one single file, an archive. Also worth noting is that the transmission of this file is faster than normal as the file dimensions have decreased.
The Unarchiver
Another suggestion. The procedure is fairly simple; it is possible to unzip files and save them to your Desktop. The most significant benefit is that no corrupted code is created after the extraction. You will not have to worry about filenames that are unclear. It is possible to give it a shot.
In the above intro, we hope you’ll know the right one to suit your needs. If you are an author, I’d prefer an easier one that can be operated easily, and it would be great if the interface were simple. Thanks to this guide, you will discover the most effective unarchive application for macOS.