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A http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_%28file_format%29 ZIP file is a popular, decades-old file format used for file compression and archiving. Commonly,
such files have a
extension and are used to reduce the size of one or more files and/or to archive multiple files and folders into a single file.
Additionally, the contents of a ZIP file can optionally be encrypted and viewable only by those who know the password. Both Microsofts Windows and Apples Mac OS
provide built-in operating system support for opening, reading, and creating ZIP files.
In a recent project I needed to create ZIP files from an ASP.NET application on the fly. Specifically, there was a web page that listed of series of data files that
were created by an external process. Users visiting this page select a file to download, which then displays a dialog box in their browser, allowing them to open
the file or save it to their hard drive. This user interface worked for most of our users, as they were only interested in downloading one or two files at most.
However, some of our users needed to download upwards of 20 files. For them, clicking a download link, saving it to their hard drive, and repeating, 20 times, was
frustrating and time consuming. To improve this user interface we created the notion of "download profiles," which allow users to associate a name - like
"Accounting Files" - with a collection of file types that are available for download. After creating a "download profile," a user could then choose to download all
available files that belong to that profile. This would create a ZIP file with the appropriate files and display a dialog box in the users browser, allowing them to
open or save the ZIP. With this enhancement, our power users can now download their 20 files with one mouse click.
This article starts with a look at different ways to create ZIP files in an ASP.NET application, but then focuses on using the free and open-source
http://dotnetzip.codeplex.com/ DotNetZip library . Read on to learn more!
http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/articles/092910-1.aspx" class="readmore Read More >
View the full article
such files have a
Code:
.zipAdditionally, the contents of a ZIP file can optionally be encrypted and viewable only by those who know the password. Both Microsofts Windows and Apples Mac OS
provide built-in operating system support for opening, reading, and creating ZIP files.
In a recent project I needed to create ZIP files from an ASP.NET application on the fly. Specifically, there was a web page that listed of series of data files that
were created by an external process. Users visiting this page select a file to download, which then displays a dialog box in their browser, allowing them to open
the file or save it to their hard drive. This user interface worked for most of our users, as they were only interested in downloading one or two files at most.
However, some of our users needed to download upwards of 20 files. For them, clicking a download link, saving it to their hard drive, and repeating, 20 times, was
frustrating and time consuming. To improve this user interface we created the notion of "download profiles," which allow users to associate a name - like
"Accounting Files" - with a collection of file types that are available for download. After creating a "download profile," a user could then choose to download all
available files that belong to that profile. This would create a ZIP file with the appropriate files and display a dialog box in the users browser, allowing them to
open or save the ZIP. With this enhancement, our power users can now download their 20 files with one mouse click.
This article starts with a look at different ways to create ZIP files in an ASP.NET application, but then focuses on using the free and open-source
http://dotnetzip.codeplex.com/ DotNetZip library . Read on to learn more!
http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/articles/092910-1.aspx" class="readmore Read More >
View the full article
