How to compress files in Windows in batch file?

Question

I can compress files or folders in Windows from GUI by right clicking and selecting "Send to .. Compressed (zip) file..".

Is it possible to do same in batch file?

Solution 1

I have very good experience using 7-Zip. It's open source and does an outstanding job of compression. Lots of formats and strong encryption if you need it. It has both GUI and command line versions.

Solution 2

Your best option would be to head over to 7Zip.org, go to the download section and get the '7-Zip Command Line Version'. It supports most compression formats, is easy to use and free! A command line example to compress a bunch of files with the bak extension to ZIP format would be:

7za a -tzip tinybak.zip *.bak

Solution 3

You can use compress.exe which is built into windows, but WinRar is free and has command line based tools which I would recommend.

Comments

[Fabe]

compress.exe only supports NTFS file systems and I believe it is a separate download (comes with the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit etc)

[squillman]

WinRar is not free. As of today it's $29/license with lower prices for volume purchases. rarlab.com/shop2rarlab.php?prod=winrar

[Philip]

+1, LZMA2 gives the best compression (on average, for general files) available right now.