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WinZip: Creating Self-Extracting ZIP files

WinZip is the world’s leading shareware for file compression, encryption, sharing, and data backup. WinZip archives the files and folders into .ZIP file format. WinZip provides a simple and easy-to-use interface to quickly zip and unzip the files. WinZip also provides a Self-Extractor file (.EXE format) to independently unzip the zip file.

With the help of the WinZip Self-Extractor file, you can extract (or unzip) the zip file without depending on the WinZip application.

This article explains the steps to create a WinZip Self-Extractor file (.EXE file).

This article applies to:

  • WinZip 16.5

Step 1. In order to create a WinZip Self-Extractor file, you need to first create a .ZIP file. Select the files and folders you want to ZIP using the WinZip application. Right-click on the selected files. Windows will display a context menu.

WinZip - Context menu
WinZip – Context menu

Step 2. Select WinZip from the context menu. You will find a sub-menu with WinZip-related menu items.

Step 3. Select Add to xxxxxxx.zip menu item to ZIP the selected files or folders into the .zip file.

Step 4. WinZip will start archiving the selected files and folders and create a .zip file.

Step 5. Select the created .zip file and right-click on it. Windows will display a context menu.

Step 6. Select WinZip from the context menu. You will find a sub-menu with WinZip-related menu items.

WinZip - "Create Self-Extractor" menu
WinZip – “Create Self-Extractor” menu

Step 7. Select Create Self-Extractor (.Exe) menu item. WinZip will display “WinZip Self-Extractor” dialog.

WinZip - Self-Extractor dialog
WinZip – Self-Extractor dialog

Step 8. Click on the OK button to start creating the WinZip Self-Extractor file. Once it is created WinZip will display a message to test the Self-Extractor file. It is recommended, to test the self-extractor before distributing it.

WinZip - Prompt to test Self-Extractor
WinZip – Prompt to test Self-Extractor

Click on the Yes button to start testing the self-extractor file.

Step 9. WinZip will display a dialog to test the self-extractor file. Click on Unzip button to test the self-extractor file.

WinZip - Dialog to test Self-Extractor file
WinZip – Dialog to test Self-Extractor file

WinZip will extract the files into the Unzip to folder: folder and test for the results. If the test succeeds it will display a Success message.

Now the Self-Extractor file is ready to distribute.

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WinZip: Creating Self-Extracting ZIP files

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