WinTar is a very simple 32-bit windows tarball archiver. As a windows user, it is very easy to use.

Here lists some important tasks that users often perform:

Viewing archive file

To perform this task you can:

  »   Navigate the target folder in the File List pane and double chick the archive file which you want to view its contents. WinTar will list its contents in the Folder pane and the File List pane window. If the file could not be recognised by WinTar, it will execute the related program to open the file.

or

  »   Select menu File | Open archive. When the Open dialog displayed, navigate to the target folder and select the archive which you want to view. the archive's contents will display in the Folder pane and the internal File List pane window.

If you double click a folder instead of a file in the File List Pane window, WinTar will display folder's contents in the File List Pane like Windows Explorer. The Folder Pane and the Address combo box will update to reflect the folder's location.

Either in File management mode or in Archive management mode, if there are image files in the File List, select the file will display the image in preview pane.

Archiving files

First, you need to run WinTar. Double-click or press Enter on the WinTar icon. You can also start it from the Windows "Start menu": enter "Programs" then "WinTar" and then run the "WinTar" item.

When WinTar is running, it displays a list of files and folders in the current folder. you can navigate to the folder that you want to add files and folders to the archive. After you select the files and folders and then do the following:

  »    Select menu File | New archive and then select the archive file format from the popup menu, e.g. Tar file.

or

  »    Click the main toolbar button New popup tag. When the popup menu displayed, select the target archive file format.

These two methods will display the New Achive dialog. Navigate the folder you want to save the archive file, enter the archive file name in the File Name text box. At this point, you also have a chance to select the target archive format at the next Save File Type and Archive Format combo boxes. You may select the compression method from the Compression combo Box, e.g. gzip, or leave it as Using global options. Select None method, the archive will perform but do not apply compression, including Zip and CAB archive.

After click the OK button at the New Archive dialog, If you have selected files and/or folders on the first step, the Archive File Option dialog will display (the Globle Options controls this behavior). After select some archive options and click OK button, the archive process starts.

If you did not select files and/or folders in the file list on the first step, WinTar will display the Add Files dialog. In the Add Files dialog, navigate the folder that you want to add files and folders to the target archive. The Add Files dialog suppots select files and/or folders feature, you can simultaneity select files and/or folders in the file list box. Or you can enter wildcard character in the File Name text box, the Add with wildcard button will select the appropriate files and folders.

There are some other options you can select on the Add Files dialog: Update Mode option will applied when the archive have the same entry name. The Encrypt, Include system and hidden files and split file options will apply to ZIP and CAB archives.

When you have selected the files and/or folders, which you are going to archive and appropriate options, click Add or Add with wildcard button, WinTar will start the archive process.

During the archiving process, a window will be displayed showing operation statistics. If you wish to break the archiving process, click on the Cancel button in the command window. When archiving is completed, the command window disappears and the newly created archive becomes the currently displayed file.

Extracting archive files

In order to extract files using WinTar you must first open the required archive or select the archive file in File List pane window. This may be achieved in one of several ways:

  »    Target the archive file in the file list pane and select the archive file.

  »    Double-click or press Enter on the archive name in Windows shell (Explorer or Desktop). If WinTar was associated with archives, an archive will be opened in WinTar. You may associate WinTar with archives after installation using File Association dialog;

  »    Double-click or press Enter on the archive name in WinTar window;

  »    Run WinTar from the command line with a single parameter - the archive name.

If an archive is opened in WinTar, its contents are displayed. Select files and folders, which should be extracted. You may do this using Shift + arrow keys or Shift + left mouse button as in Windows Explorer and other Windows programs.

Having selected one or more files, select File | Extract Archive menu or click Extract to button at the main toolbar, or press Alt+E , enter the destination folder in the dialog box and click on OK. This dialog box also offers a few advanced options for archive extraction.

During the extraction process, a window will be displayed showing operation statistics. If you wish to break the extraction process, click on the Cancel button in the command window.