Archive Tool

Extract, create, and list archive files (zip, tar, gz natively; rar, 7z with system tools) using batch or single operations with optional passwords.

Extract and create archive files (zip, rar, 7z, tar, gz).

When This Skill Activates

This skill triggers when user wants to extract, create, or list archive files.

Reasoning Framework

Step	Action	Why
1	DETECT	Identify archive format (zip/tar/gz/rar/7z)
2	CHECK	Verify tools available for format
3	EXECUTE	Extract, create, or list
4	VERIFY	Confirm success, report errors

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Install

# Optional (for rar/7z support)
brew install unar p7zip

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Decision Tree

What are you trying to do?

├── Extract archive
│   └── Use: archive.py extract file.zip -o ./output
│
├── Create archive
│   └── Use: archive.py create output.zip ./folder
│
├── View contents
│   └── Use: archive.py list file.zip
│
└── Batch extract
    └── Use: archive.py extract "*.zip"

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Features

Feature	Description
Extract	zip, tar, tar.gz, tgz, gz, rar, 7z
Create	zip, tar, tar.gz
List	View archive contents
Batch	Extract multiple files

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Extract

Command

python archive.py extract <file> [-o OUTPUT] [--password PASS]

Examples

# Extract to current folder
python archive.py extract archive.zip

# Extract to specific folder
python archive.py extract archive.zip -o ./extracted

# Extract with password
python archive.py extract archive.rar --password secret

# Extract to current directory
python archive.py extract archive.7z -o ./

# Batch extract all zip files
python archive.py extract "*.zip"

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Create

Command

python archive.py create <output> <source> [--compression LEVEL]

Examples

# Create zip from folder
python archive.py create myfiles.zip ./myfolder

# Create tar from folder
python archive.py create backup.tar ./folder

# Create tar.gz
python archive.py create backup.tar.gz ./folder

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List

Command

python archive.py list <file>

Examples

# List contents
python archive.py list archive.zip

# View without extracting
python archive.py list backup.tar.gz

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Supported Formats

Format	Extract	Create	Notes
zip	✅	✅	Python stdlib
tar	✅	✅	Python stdlib
tar.gz / tgz	✅	✅	Python stdlib
gz	✅	❌	Python stdlib
rar	⚠️	❌	Requires unar
7z	⚠️	❌	Requires p7zip

⚠️ = requires system tools

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Options

Flag	Description	Default
-o, --output	Output directory	current dir
--password	Archive password	none
--compression	0-9 (zip only)	6

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Troubleshooting

Problem: "No module named 'zipfile'"

• Cause: Using Python 2
• Fix: Use python3 instead of python

Problem: "Unsupported archive format"

• Cause: Unknown format or corrupted file
• Fix: Verify file extension is correct

Problem: "Password required"

• Cause: Encrypted archive
• Fix: Use --password flag

Problem: "rar/7z extraction failed"

• Cause: Tools not installed
• Fix: brew install unar p7zip

Problem: "Permission denied"

• Cause: No write permission in output folder
• Fix: Check folder permissions or use different output path

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Self-Check

• Using correct Python (python3)
• Archive file exists and is readable
• For rar/7z: required tools installed
• Output directory exists and is writable
• Password correct (if encrypted)

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Quick Reference

Task	Command
Extract zip	python archive.py extract file.zip
Extract to folder	python archive.py extract file.zip -o ./out
Extract rar	python archive.py extract file.rar
Create zip	python archive.py create out.zip ./folder
Create tar.gz	python archive.py create out.tar.gz ./folder
List contents	python archive.py list file.zip

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