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WinRAR storing file paths

There is an option whether to store full paths or relative paths while compressing files using WinRAR.

What is meant by this? What exactly do the various options on creating a RAR file?

Solution

  • Well, this question is off-topic here on Stack Overflow as it is not a question related to programming.

    And by pressing key F1 or clicking on button Help the appropriate help page for the active dialog opens where the File paths option is explained briefly, too. However, I answer the question nevertheless.

    Let's say you have a file and directory structure as this in root of drive C:

    • Temp
      • FolderToArchive
        • Folder A
          • File X
          • File Y
          • File Z
        • Folder B
          • File A
          • File B
          • File C
        • File 1
        • File 2
        • File X

    You select the folder with name FolderToArchive and click on button Add in the toolbar.

    Store relative paths creates an archive containing:

    FolderToArchive\Folder A\File X
FolderToArchive\Folder A\File Y
FolderToArchive\Folder A\File Z
FolderToArchive\Folder B\File A
FolderToArchive\Folder B\File B
FolderToArchive\Folder B\File C
FolderToArchive\File 1
FolderToArchive\File 2
FolderToArchive\File X

    This is like using command line option -ep1 on running RAR or WinRAR from command line.

    Store full paths creates an archive containing:

    Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder A\File X
Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder A\File Y
Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder A\File Z
Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder B\File A
Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder B\File B
Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder B\File C
Temp\FolderToArchive\File 1
Temp\FolderToArchive\File 2
Temp\FolderToArchive\File X

    This is like using command line option -ep2 on command line.

    Do not store paths creates an archive containing:

    File X
File Y
File Z
File A
File B
File C
File 1
File 2
File X

    There are two File X in archive without path. This is of course problematic on extraction.

    The equivalent command line option is -ep.

    Store full paths including the drive letter creates an archive containing:

    C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder A\File X
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder A\File Y
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder A\File Z
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder B\File A
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder B\File B
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\Folder B\File C
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\File 1
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\File 2
C_\Temp\FolderToArchive\File X

    The appropriate command line option is -ep3.

    See text file Rar.txt in program files folder of WinRAR where an explanation of all the command line options for console version RAR can be found. Help of WinRAR contains also a description of all commands and options specific for GUI version WinRAR.