Updates

[tgoyette]

Which archive format will give me the most compression? Not worried how long the archive will take. I will be archiving text, pictures, mp3s

[ivan]

Hello!

Definetely 7-ZIP format, Ultra compression level (method) with Solid archive option checked. Be sure to check “Create Solid archive” if you are compressing more files, because this is the only way to save some space if you are compressing MP3 or JPEG files.

The thing is that MP3 and JPEG files are already compressed and the only way you can make archive smaller than sum of files you are compressing is to use “Solid” option.

[TBGBe]

@ivan:

Definetely 7-ZIP format, Ultra compression level (method) with Solid archive option checked. Be sure to check “Create Solid archive” if you are compressing more files, because this is the only way to save some space if you are compressing MP3 or JPEG files.

True if archiving a mixture of filetypes.

However, I have found that for an archive of ONLY jpg files - then CAB results in smaller archive.
Same for archive of ONLY mp3 files.

[eduj]

I’m new at this. I have an e-book with an extension.pdb. I don’t seem to be able to extract it. I don’t have a Palm hand held but I have an e-bookman. I
would like to change it to a text file. Can I do this with PA? I just bought the PA this week. TIA. I’m at jude50ic@charter.net

[spwolf]

@eduj:

I’m new at this. I have an e-book with an extension.pdb. I don’t seem to be able to extract it. I don’t have a Palm hand held but I have an e-bookman. I
would like to change it to a text file. Can I do this with PA? I just bought the PA this week. TIA. I’m at jude50ic@charter.net

that is probably an actual book format, there should be nothing to extract but you need an reader to read it. did you try isilo.com?

[davidsplash]

if you don’t mind not being able to update a file in the archive like cab com pression does then take a look at uha compression not supported by powerarchiver yet. it is by far the best in compression stakes and beats 7-zip hands down

[TBGBe]

@davidsplash:

if you don’t mind not being able to update a file in the archive like cab com pression does then take a look at uha compression not supported by powerarchiver yet. it is by far the best in compression stakes and beats 7-zip hands down

Not when compressing JPEG - cab is still better.
A folder containing 5 camera pictures (jpgs)

foldersize 8376868

cab 8361174
uha 8364139
7z 8411285

Edit: before someone else says it :p
rar 8377222

[davidsplash]

there is a limit on the cab archive. you are limited to the saize of ut where as uha you are not just like the zip format used to have

[Firestorm]

If you really don’t mind waiting for a “while” and the compressed files’ size isn’t too big then you could use WinRK at PWCM-level compression. Be warned though that it REALLY takes a long time but has close to 68% compression for mixed files when using its own .rk file format.

With both 7Zip and PowerArchiver i got to the results of 59,275%. I also tried compressing 5 .jpg files with 7Zip, PowerArchiver and WinRK. With WinRK it gave a 5% compression ratio, with 7Zip 1,25% and PowerArchiver 0,86%. This of course was only with 5 JPG-files as i didn’t have more for the time being, but theoretically it would show that WinRK is abt. 4 times as efficient with a single file type compared to 7Zip and abt. 6 times compared to PowerArchiver.

I would seriously recommend 7Zip as your main compressing program as it is very fast even at Ultra-encryption compared to WinRK, but if you need optimal compression for a bunch of files and dont mind waiting for a couple of hours/0,5GB then your choice is clearly WinRK. Otherwise, as said 7Zip is fast and easy.

[spwolf]

When compressing compressed files such as mp3 files (or some graphic format), compression ratios are so low that it is better to use the fastest compression just for archival purposes. I am assuming that when you wrote 0.68% for PA you mean PA zip - it is probably much better just to compress to zip with no compression since it is 10x faster than 7zip or some other format.

In any case, we are discussing compression in PA and as general rule of thumb, 7zip is the best compression in PA. But if you are compressing already compressed files, then zip is much faster and better solution.

thanks