| name | archive-7z |
| description | Use when listing, extracting, or creating archives (.zip, .jar, .7z, .tar.gz, etc.) and unzip/jar are unavailable. Covers 7z list, extract, and add commands with common switches. |
Archive operations with 7z
The system has no unzip or jar — use 7z for all archive operations.
Why
7-Zip handles zip, jar, 7z, tar, gz, and many other formats. It is the single
archive tool available on this machine.
Commands
List contents
7z l <archive>
- Add
-r to recurse into nested archives.
- Add
-slt for technical details (sizes, CRC, timestamps) in list output.
Extract
7z x <archive>
x preserves directory structure (use e to flatten, not recommended).-o<dir> — extract to a specific directory (no space after -o).
Example: 7z x archive.zip -o/tmp/extracted-y — assume Yes on all overwrite prompts (useful in scripts).-p<password> — for encrypted archives.
Add / create
7z a <archive> <files...>
- Format is inferred from the extension (
.zip, .7z, .tar.gz, etc.).
-r — recurse subdirectories.-mx<N> — compression level 1 (fastest) .. 9 (ultra). Default is 5.-p<password> — encrypt archive with password.
Other commands
| Command | Purpose |
|---|
7z t <archive> | Test archive integrity |
7z d <archive> <files> | Delete files from archive |
7z u <archive> <files> | Update files in archive |
7z h <files> | Calculate hash values |
Common formats
| Extension | Format detection |
|---|
.zip | ZIP |
.jar | ZIP (Java archive) |
.7z | 7-Zip native |
.tar.gz | gzip-compressed tar |
.tar | uncompressed tar |
(verified against 7z --help, 7-Zip 26.02 x64)
