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We use it every day. There are many data compression algorithms in use today, with the most common being ZIP, LHA, and ARJ.
There are several vendors, both commercial and shareware, who are producing PKZIP 2.04g compatible compression libraries. Oddly enough, PKWARE isn't one of them. A compression package also exists for LHA.
Several new data compression programs have recently emerged on the scene; RAR (Russian Archiver) and JAR (From Robert Jung, the author of ARJ). JAR is currently my favorite archiver, as it packs data very tight and runs very fast. At present JAR is only available as a 16-bit DOS or a 32-bit console application.
| addZip | Abbrevia | Xceed Zip | DynaZip | Delphi Zip | Info-Zip | zLib |
| UnRAR | LZHCompressor | TCompLHA | TCompress | PKWare | VCLZip | ZipTV |
This is the most affordable and feature filled set of DLL based compression libraries currently for sale anywhere, with a site license selling for a mere $160.00 US.
The addZIP Compression Library package contains a set of 16 and 32-bit, PKZIP 2.04g compatible, data compression libraries.
These libraries can be used with Visual Basic 3.0/4.0/5.0/6.0, Delphi 1.0/2.0/3.0/4.0, and C/C++.
The addZIP Compression Library package is the most affordable PKZIP 2.04g compatible data compression toolkit available on the market today. It's features include:
The addZIP Compression Libraries are distributed as shareware, and has an evaluation period of 30 days. Three registration packages are available*:
* Please refer to the addZIP documentation for the latest registration information
For the latest information on addZIP, please visit the addZIP Compression Library Home Page.
This set of compression components is 100% Delphi code. There is nothing extra to distribute and install. These components work with Delphi 1, 2, 3 and C++Builder.
The features of Abbrevia include:
Abbrevia is priced at $199.00 US, and comes with full source code and no royalties.
For more information on Abbrevia, visit the Abbrevia product information page.
The Xceed Zip Compression library is a PKZIP 2.04g compatible product which uses two fast and compact .DLL files that do the Zipping and Unzipping.
A 32-bit ActiveX control is included in the package, as are Delphi 1.0 to 4.0 and C++Builder 1.0 and 3.0 VCL wrappers.
The features of Xceed Zip include:
Xceed Zip is priced at $199.00 US.
Xceed Zip Self-Extractor Module is priced at $199.00 US.
Combo Package (Xceed Zip and Xceed Zip Self-Extractor Module) is priced at $299.00 US.
For more information on Xceed Zip, visit the Xceed Zip product information page.
DynaZip is a set of royalty-free compression libraries can read and write files compatible with the latest version (2.04G) of PKZIP from PKWare, Inc.
A 32-bit ActiveX control is included in the package, as are Pascal and Delphi 1, 2, 3 interface units and sample applications.
The features of DynaZip include:
DynaZip is priced at $249.00 US for the 16-bit toolkit, $299.00 US for the 32-bit toolkit, or $384.00 US for both toolkits.
For more information on DynaZip, visit the DynaZip product information page.
This set of compression libraries is freeware, based on the efforts of the Info-Zip group.
The Delphi ZIP compression library package is much easier to use than the current offering produced by the Info-Zip group.
The features of DelZip include:
For more information on Delphi Zip, visit the Delphi ZIP Home Page.
This set of compression libraries is freeware produced directly by the Info-Zip group.
The Info-Zip compression libraries are currently available as 16-bit or 32-bit DLL's.
Michael Slack has created a set of interface files for the latest Info-Zip DLL's.
The zLib compression library is a freeware produced directly by two of the key figures behind the Info-Zip group.
The zLib compression libraries are currently available as 32-bit DLL's and static libraries, or a 32-bit ActiveX control.
zLib DLL Delphi sample provided by Don Hatlestad. zLib OCX Delphi sample provided by Mark Nelson.
RAR has one of the highest compression rates currently available. Included with the 32-bit distribution of WinRAR (current release is 2.01) is the unRAR DLL.
The sample code in the archive below shows how to decompress RAR archives using Delphi and the unRAR DLL. Sample code provided by Jorge Rojas Mata.
TLZHCompressor is a freeware Delphi component for Delphi 1 through 3. TLZHCompressor uses a combination of LZSS compression and adaptive Huffman coding to achieve a result similar to LHARC 1.x.
Also included in this archive is another Delphi component, TLZHBatch. TLZHBatch allows you to use TLZHCompressor to store multiple compressed files in a single archive. Self-Installing and self-extracting archives can also be created.
TCompLHA helps you create and manage archives compatible with the popular freeware LHArc 1.1 and LHA utilities.
Simple one-step methods such as Scan, Compress, Expand, Delete and Verify make archive management very easy.
The features of TCompLHA include:
TCompLHA is priced at $NZ90 (approx. $65 US). Source code for the CompLHA unit is available for an additional $NZ59 (approx. $40 US). The source for TSegLHA unit (disk spanning) is available for $NZ49 (approx $35 US).
For more information on TCompLHA, visit the TCompLHA product information page.
TCompress provides native components for Delphi and C++ Builder supporting easy creation of multi-file compressed archives, as well as database, file and in-memory compression using streams.
Two compression methods (RLE and LZH) are built in, with "hooks" for the easy addition of custom compression formats. Compressed file protection using keys is supported.
The features of TCompress include:
TCompress is priced at $NZ90 (approx. $65 US). Source code for the Compress unit is also available for an additional $NZ59 (approx. $40 US). The Compctrl unit (database components) source is $NZ49 (approx. $34 US).
For more information on TCompress, visit the TCompress product information page.
The PKWARE Data Compression Library provides DLL based compression components compatible with Delphi 1 and 2 .
The PKWARE Data Compression Library oddly enough does not directly create PKZIP compatible compressed files. There is a way to create PKZIP compaible files with these libraries, but it is not the default behavior of this package.
The features of the PKWARE Data Compression Library include:
For more information on PKWARE Data Compression Library, visit the PKWARE Data Compression Library product information page.
VCLZip is a full featured zip/unzip component set that works with Delphi versions 1.0 through 4.0.
This set of compression components is 100% Delphi code. There is nothing extra to distribute and install.
The features of VCLZip include:
VCLZip's is currently priced at only $49.95!!!
For more information on VCLZip, visit the VCLZip product information page.
ZipTV by Microchip Data Systems. ZipTV is the most feature filled data compression suite currently available for Delphi 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 and C++ Builder.
ZipTV currently supports more than 46 compression and decompression algorithms from the most widely used utilities
from Dos, Win95/98/NT, and Unix.
The features of ZipTV include:
ZipTV is currently priced at only $99.95 for the standard edition, with the subscription edition being priced at $149.95.
For more information on ZipTV, visit the ZipTV product information page.