How to unzip a file using the command line? [closed]

Question

If you already have Java Development Kit on your PC and the bin directory is in your path (in most cases), you can use the command line:

jar xf test.zip

or if not in your path:

C:\Java\jdk1.6.0_03\bin>jar xf test.zip

Complete set of options for the jar tool available here.

Examples:

Extract jar file
    jar x[v]f jarfile [inputfiles] [-Joption] 
    jar x[v] [inputfiles] [-Joption]

You could use :

http://membrane.com/synapse/library/pkunzip.html

or

7zip: http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

Free byte zip: http://www.freebyte.com/fbzip/

or infozip: http://infozip.sourceforge.net/

7-Zip, it's open source, free and supports a wide range of formats.

7z.exe x myarchive.zip

Firstly, write an unzip utility using vbscript to trigger the native unzip functionality in Windows. Then pipe out the script from within your batch file and then call it. Then it's as good as stand alone. I've done it in the past for numerous tasks. This way it does not require need of third party applications, just the one batch file that does everything.

I put an example on my blog on how to unzip a file using a batch file:

' j_unzip.vbs
'
' UnZip a file script
'
' By Justin Godden 2010
'
' It's a mess, I know!!!
'

' Dim ArgObj, var1, var2
Set ArgObj = WScript.Arguments

If (Wscript.Arguments.Count > 0) Then
 var1 = ArgObj(0)
Else
 var1 = ""
End if

If var1 = "" then
 strFileZIP = "example.zip"
Else
 strFileZIP = var1
End if

'The location of the zip file.
REM Set WshShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
REM CurDir = WshShell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%%cd%%")
Dim sCurPath
sCurPath = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject").GetAbsolutePathName(".")
strZipFile = sCurPath & "\" & strFileZIP
'The folder the contents should be extracted to.
outFolder = sCurPath & "\"

 WScript.Echo ( "Extracting file " & strFileZIP)

Set objShell = CreateObject( "Shell.Application" )
Set objSource = objShell.NameSpace(strZipFile).Items()
Set objTarget = objShell.NameSpace(outFolder)
intOptions = 256
objTarget.CopyHere objSource, intOptions

 WScript.Echo ( "Extracted." )

' This bit is for testing purposes
REM Dim MyVar
REM MyVar = MsgBox ( strZipFile, 65, "MsgBox Example"

Use it like this:

cscript //B j_unzip.vbs zip_file_name_goes_here.zip

As other have alluded, 7-zip is great.

Note: I am going to zip and then unzip a file. Unzip is at the bottom.

My contribution:

Get the

7-Zip Command Line Version

Current URL

http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

The syntax?

You can put the following into a .bat file

"C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe" a MySuperCoolZipFile.zip "C:\MyFiles\*.jpg" -pmypassword -r -w"C:\MyFiles\" -mem=AES256

I've shown a few options.

-r is recursive. Usually what you want with zip functionality.

a is for "archive". That's the name of the output zip file.

-p is for a password (optional)

-w is a the source directory. This will nest your files correctly in the zip file, without extra folder information.

-mem is the encryption strength.

There are others. But the above will get you running.

NOTE: Adding a password will make the zip file unfriendly when it comes to viewing the file through Windows Explorer. The client may need their own copy of 7-zip (or winzip or other) to view the contents of the file.

EDIT::::::::::::(just extra stuff).

There is a "command line" version which is probably better suited for this: http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

(current (at time of writing) direct link) http://sourceforge.net/projects/sevenzip/files/7-Zip/9.20/7za920.zip/download

So the zip command would be (with the command line version of the 7 zip tool).

"C:\WhereIUnzippedCommandLineStuff\7za.exe" a MySuperCoolZipFile.zip "C:\MyFiles\*.jpg" -pmypassword -r -w"C:\MyFiles\" -mem=AES256

Now the unzip portion: (to unzip the file you just created)

"C:\WhereIUnzippedCommandLineStuff\7zipCommandLine\7za.exe" e MySuperCoolZipFile.zip "*.*" -oC:\SomeOtherFolder\MyUnzippedFolder -pmypassword -y -r

As an alternative to the "e" argument, there is a x argument.

  e: Extract files from archive (without using directory names)
  x: eXtract files with full paths

Documentation here:

http://sevenzip.sourceforge.jp/chm/cmdline/commands/extract.htm