What is a self-extracting archive?

Self-extracting archive is an executable file (.exe) which contains whole ZIP archive file (from which it was created) and software to extract (unpack) the archive.

What is the self-extracting archive useful for?
User can extract files from a self-extracting archive without need of any other software (ZIP unpacker) or knowing how to use a separate unzip utility. Thus self-extracting archives are particularly suited for distribution of software to beginning users who are not familiar with the concept of ZIP files. Or you can use it when transporting ZIP archive to computer where you are not sure that needed ZIP software is installed.

Can I use it to support my installation software?
Using our Altap Self-Extractor and its many options, you can compress your installation software. After the installer is extracted, Altap Self-Extractor automatically starts the installation or execute any other command you have specified.

What does Altap Self-Extractor look like?
See the following screenshots from Windows NT 4.0. Click on a thumbnail to see its full version.

Main Dialog

Unpacking in Progress

Altap Self-Extractor Description
Altap Self-Extractor is a regular Win32 application (it runs on Windows 95/98/ME and Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista) that displays a dialog box when is running. This dialog box makes it easy for the user to change the target ("extract to") directory before unzipping the files in the self-extracting file. Optionally, you can tell to hide the dialog box, when creating the self-extracting archive. There are many configurable options, see below.

Features:

ZIP format compatibility, including older ZIP formats.
Extracting also encrypted files.
Spanned (multi-volume) self-extracting archives support.
Multiple language self-extractors.
Ability to start self-extracting archive with administrative privileges on Windows Vista (this will trigger UAC). It allows to unpack files also to write-protected folders (e.g. Program Files).
Custom title and text in the main self-extractor dialog.
Option to display a message box with user defined text when self-extractor starts.
Option to display a special message box for a long messages (e.g. license agreements).
Custom icon in self-extractor dialog and the executable file.
Custom text of the "extract" button.
Altap Self-Extractor could start program, open document or http link when an extraction is finished.
Ability to run standard .inf files as an alternative to setup programs.
Remove files extracted in a temporary folder when the started program is finished.
Remove files in a temporary folder even if the install program involves a reboot.
Ability to wait for another program than launched one before temporary files are removed.
Option to specify as target directory the current directory, temporary directory, 'Program Files', 'Windows', 'System' or directory specified by any environment variable or registry entry.
Option to specify a subdirectory to create in the target directory when extracting self-extracting archive.
Options to start extraction automatically, to hide main Altap Self-Extractor dialog, to suppress summary message box and to automatically overwrite files in the target directory.
Easy and user friendly environment for creating self-extracting archives in Altap Salamander using ZIP plugin (see screenshots 1 and 2 ).
Creating self-extracting archives from also command line (see Zip2Sfx).

The Altap Self-Extractor executable is packed in a compact sfx package (file, usually with extension .sfx) with the language dependent data (like texts in the main dialog, etc.). For each supported language there is a one standalone sfx package. Sfx packages are distributed with ZIP plugin and Zip2Sfx.

Supported languages:

Czech
English
German
Slovak

How can I get Altap Self-Extractor?
Altap Self-Extractor is distributed with ZIP plugin for Altap Salamander and with a command line tool Zip2Sfx, you can get these programs on download page.

Difference between licensed and unlicensed version
Unlicensed version of Altap Self-Extractor may be used only for evaluation purposes in trial period of 30 days. It has all functions and features of licensed version. For unlimited creating and using of these self-extracting archives, you must obtain a license of Altap Self-Extractor.