Article 2919 of alt.comp.compression: ********* ARCHIVE COMPARISON TEST (A.C.T.) - SEPTEMBER 1996 ********* * Author: JEFF GILCHRIST * * A.C.T. released since September 1992. * * * * ### TOP 50 ENTRIES VERSION OF A.C.T. ### * *********************************************************************** * A.C.T. may be re-posted or distributed only if the contents are * * not changed under any circumstances and the contents are posted * * in their entirety. * *********************************************************************** ########################### PLEASE READ ############################### A.C.T. is now on the World Wide Web (WWW)! It can be accessed at: http://www.mi.net/act/act.html This is the best way to view A.C.T. since it is in a graphical format and most authors have a link to their e-mail address. There are also links to FTP sites to download most of the archivers. Finally, there is a link to my e-mail address to send me any comments or suggestions. *** TOP 50 ENTRIES VERSION OF A.C.T. *** To reduce clutter and bandwidth on the Internet, I have decided to post the 'Top 50 Entries' version of A.C.T. Most people are interested in the newer and better compression programs. The FULL version of A.C.T. is still available on the WEB page, official FTP sites, and via FINGER. (Basically it is available everywhere else) ####################################################################### The following is a test I did on several archivers to compare their performance against others. For the following tests with single file types, I used a 486DX4-75 with 20 megabytes of RAM. No disk CACHE was used at all! For the timing, Ultra Precision Command Timer v1.6 by Erik de Neve was used. The operating system used was DOS 6.22. I compressed the tested files from my hard drive to a 2 megabyte RAM drive. LEGEND OF SYMBOLS USED ---------------------- + = Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. - = Indicates the version of the software tested will be removed from the listing next month. * = Indicates the version of the software tested has changed either in speed or compression size since the previous month. 8 = Indicates the archiver was tested using 8 megabytes of RAM. B = Indicates the archiver with the best compression O = Indicates the archiver with the best speed/compression ratio F = Indicates the archiver with the fastest compression Q = Indicates the archiver with the quickest extraction *** PART 1 - SINGLE FILE TESTS *** TEXT File Test - Uncompressed Size 768,771 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- B X1 0.94h ->X xem4l2 0 m 32.8 sec 219,691 bytes 71.4% X1 0.94h ->X xem3 0 m 33.7 sec 219,827 bytes 71.4% ACB 1.23c (u)f 3 m 51.9 sec 224,527 bytes 70.8% ACB 1.23c (b)f 2 m 30.0 sec 226,610 bytes 70.5% 8 ACB 1.14a (b)f 2 m 36.8 sec 227,416 bytes 70.4% HA 0.999b e2 0 m 34.8 sec 235,767 bytes 69.3% ACB 1.23c (B)f 1 m 15.7 sec 241,251 bytes 68.6% 8 BSArc 2.0.0 -++ 0 m 46.7 sec 244,049 bytes 68.3% + RKIVE 1.2 -m5 0 m 52.8 sec 252,112 bytes 67.2% CODEC 3.21 -c10 0 m 42.4 sec 252,375 bytes 67.2% X1 0.94h ->X xem7 0 m 18.0 sec 255,553 bytes 66.8% + RKIVE 1.2 -m3 0 m 34.1 sec 257,652 bytes 66.5% O HAP 4.03 3 0 m 13.2 sec 260,103 bytes 66.2% HAP 3.05bp (none) 0 m 18.3 sec 260,103 bytes 66.2% QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 29 m 40.3 sec 263,747 bytes 65.7% QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 11 m 03.7 sec 271,960 bytes 64.6% + RKIVE 1.2 (none) 0 m 26.4 sec 273,040 bytes 64.5% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md512 1 m 47.8 sec 279,704 bytes 63.6% + RKIVE 1.1 -m7 3 m 33.2 sec 282,464 bytes 63.3% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256 1 m 25.4 sec 284,230 bytes 63.0% QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 2 m 00.1 sec 284,721 bytes 63.0% QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 1 m 44.8 sec 287,179 bytes 62.6% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md512 0 m 27.3 sec 293,003 bytes 61.9% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 0 m 49.7 sec 299,072 bytes 61.1% ARI 1.13u -m5 -hz30 3 m 29.7 sec 299,997 bytes 61.0% ARI 1.13u -m5 -t16 3 m 21.2 sec 300,037 bytes 61.0% RAR 2.0 -m5 0 m 30.1 sec 301,306 bytes 60.8% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 -jh 0 m 27.9 sec 301,771 bytes 60.7% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0 m 36.6 sec 302,022 bytes 60.7% UC v2.37 beta (Max Compress) 0 m 35.5 sec 302,026 bytes 60.7% LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 31.7 sec 302,820 bytes 60.6% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 18.6 sec 304,182 bytes 60.4% ARI 1.13u -m3 -hz30 1 m 21.5 sec 304,248 bytes 60.4% + RKIVE 1.1 (none) 0 m 58.9 sec 304,303 bytes 60.4% RAR 2.0 (none) 0 m 16.6 sec 305,914 bytes 60.2% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 36.1 sec 306,697 bytes 60.1% LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 14.7 sec 309,326 bytes 59.8% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 21.6 sec 310,872 bytes 59.6% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 20.1 sec 311,187 bytes 59.5% SUPERPACK 2.0 (Max) 0 m 49.3 sec 311,274 bytes 59.5% AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 51.3 sec 311,279 bytes 59.5% UC v2.37 beta (Default) 0 m 16.4 sec 311,412 bytes 59.5% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 17.4 sec 311,412 bytes 59.5% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 27.1 sec 312,016 bytes 59.4% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 26.9 sec 312,330 bytes 59.4% INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -9 -j 0 m 17.6 sec 312,371 bytes 59.4% WINZIP'95 6.1 (Max Compress) 0 m 21.7 sec 312,371 bytes 59.4% INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j 0 m 17.9 sec 312,395 bytes 59.4% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 15.1 sec 312,604 bytes 59.3% GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0 m 23.5 sec 312,915 bytes 59.3% Winner for best compression : X1 0.94h Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.04g Winner for best overall : HAP 4.03 EXE File Test - Uncompressed Size 425,488 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- B ARI 1.13u -m5 -hz30 2 m 44.9 sec 92,744 bytes 78.2% ARI 1.13u -m5 -t16 2 m 39.9 sec 92,955 bytes 78.2% ARI 1.13u -m3 -hz30 0 m 26.4 sec 93,500 bytes 78.0% + RKIVE 1.2 -m3 0 m 16.9 sec 95,021 bytes 77.7% + RKIVE 1.2 (none) 0 m 12.3 sec 95,117 bytes 77.6% + RKIVE 1.2 -m5 0 m 20.2 sec 95,780 bytes 77.5% ACB 1.23c (u)f 1 m 01.7 sec 96,598 bytes 77.3% ACB 1.23c (b)f 0 m 42.8 sec 96,866 bytes 77.2% QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 11 m 00.2 sec 97,105 bytes 77.2% QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 3 m 46.5 sec 97,315 bytes 77.1% ACB 1.14a f 0 m 43.7 sec 97,897 bytes 77.0% ACB 1.23c (B)f 0 m 23.3 sec 98,389 bytes 76.9% RAR 2.0 -m5 0 m 14.7 sec 98,576 bytes 76.8% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256 0 m 21.5 sec 98,734 bytes 76.8% O RAR 2.0 (none) 0 m 05.0 sec 99,652 bytes 76.6% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md256 0 m 06.6 sec 99,760 bytes 76.6% + RKIVE 1.1 -m7 0 m 48.7 sec 101,008 bytes 76.3% + RKIVE 1.1 (none) 0 m 18.6 sec 101,084 bytes 76.2% X1 0.94h ->X xem1 0 m 17.4 sec 101,410 bytes 76.2% 8 YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 17.2 sec 101,419 bytes 76.2% QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 0 m 25.2 sec 101,443 bytes 76.2% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 19.9 sec 101,448 bytes 76.2% QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 0 m 26.4 sec 101,456 bytes 76.2% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 14.2 sec 101,496 bytes 76.1% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 18.5 sec 103,213 bytes 75.7% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0 m 27.2 sec 103,488 bytes 75.7% UC v2.37 beta (Max Compress) 0 m 26.6 sec 103,508 bytes 75.7% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 13.1 sec 103,645 bytes 75.6% CODEC 3.21 (none) 0 m 04.9 sec 103,710 bytes 75.6% SUPER PACK 2.0 (Max) 0 m 21.6 sec 103,806 bytes 75.6% AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 23.1 sec 103,811 bytes 75.6% LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 08.7 sec 103,828 bytes 75.6% GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0 m 18.2 sec 103,832 bytes 75.6% WINZIP'95 6.1 (Max Compress) 0 m 16.3 sec 103,929 bytes 75.6% INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -9 -j 0 m 15.8 sec 103,929 bytes 75.6% INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j 0 m 15.6 sec 103,953 bytes 75.6% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 04.8 sec 104,147 bytes 75.5% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 06.7 sec 104,249 bytes 75.5% LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 03.4 sec 104,500 bytes 75.4% AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 04.1 sec 104,858 bytes 75.4% ARJ 2.50a -jm -e 0 m 14.7 sec 104,976 bytes 75.3% ARJ 2.55alpha -jm -e 0 m 14.9 sec 104,976 bytes 75.3% BSArc 2.0.0 -+1 0 m 17.7 sec 105,024 bytes 75.3% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 30.2 sec 105,088 bytes 75.3% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 14.3 sec 105,120 bytes 75.3% GZIP 1.2.4 (none) 0 m 05.9 sec 105,196 bytes 75.2% LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\ 0 m 06.7 sec 105,214 bytes 75.3% INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -j 0 m 04.6 sec 105,402 bytes 75.2% INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j 0 m 04.6 sec 105,478 bytes 75.2% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 06.8 sec 105,514 bytes 75.2% Winner for best compression : ARI 1.13u Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.04g Winner for best overall : RAR 2.0 EXE Pack File Test - Uncompressed Size 341,444 bytes The EXE Pack test compares programs that compress .EXE files and still allows them to execute. The .EXE file used in this test is GWS.EXE found in The Graphic Workshop v7.0e by Alchemy Mindworks Inc. The UNCOMP. TIME data shows the amount of time it takes to uncompress and run the executable file. This time was calculated using a utility called BENCH 0.01beta written by Michal Weis (weis@elf.stuba.sk). The results for ACB, RAR and PKZIP are listed only to show how normal archivers compression ratios compare with EXE Packers. UNCOMP. ARCHIVER COMP. TIME TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO OPTIONS -------- ---------- -------- --------------- ----- ------- + ACB 1.23c 66.70 sec N/A 118,656 bytes 65.2% N/A -8 ACB 1.13b 46.40 sec N/A 121,505 bytes 64.4% N/A + RAR 2.0 07.40 sec N/A 123,274 bytes 63.9% N/A -8 RAR 1.55 08.60 sec N/A 125,374 bytes 63.3% N/A + PKZIP 2.04g 05.30 sec N/A 129,216 bytes 62.2% N/A -8 PKZIP 2.04g 06.50 sec N/A 129,222 bytes 62.2% N/A +B WWPACK 3.05b3 -v- 27.99s 0.2103 s 125,422 bytes 63.3% U E P - WWPACK 3.05b2 -v- 28.03s 0.2107 s 125,422 bytes 63.3% U E P + WWPACK 3.05b3 27.93 sec 0.2103 s 125,447 bytes 63.3% U E P - WWPACK 3.05b2 28.06 sec 0.2103 s 125,447 bytes 63.3% U E P + WWPACK 3.05b3 -f 27.18s 0.1597 s 127,626 bytes 62.6% U E P O UCEXE 2.4 04.69 sec 0.1609 s 129,141 bytes 62.2% U P AINEXE 2.2 03.34 sec 0.3389 s 131,941 bytes 61.4% - XPACK 1.46 -4 10.59 sec 1.5205 s 132,878 bytes 61.1% U E P + XPACK 1.49 -4 10.83 sec 1.5204 s 132,878 bytes 61.1% U E P Q COMPACK 4.5 05.66 sec 0.0846 s 134,012 bytes 60.8% U AVPACK 1.22 03.70 sec 0.1205 s 136,672 bytes 60.0% U E P + XPACK 1.49 -5 04.72 sec 0.1225 s 139,015 bytes 59.3% U E P - XPACK 1.46 -5 05.10 sec 0.1226 s 139,015 bytes 59.3% U E P PKLITE 2.01 03.93 sec 0.1528 s 139,731 bytes 59.1% U E P RJCRUSH 1.10 03.72 sec 0.1866 s 141,187 bytes 58.7% PGMPAK 0.13 08.61 sec N/A 142,560 bytes 58.2% DIET 1.45f 02.75 sec 0.2128 s 142,771 bytes 58.2% U DIET 1.45f -g 02.75 sec 0.1710 s 142,874 bytes 58.2% U LZEXE 0.91 03.93 sec 0.1297 s 143,432 bytes 58.0% U P PACKWIN 1.0 03.91 sec 0.1297 s 143,489 bytes 58.0% TINYPROG 3.9 16.83 sec 0.1209 s 144,080 bytes 57.8% E P F CRUNCH 1.0 02.32 sec 1.7773 s 218,048 bytes 36.1% AXE 2.2 03.41 sec 0.3932 s 248,365 bytes 36.1% Winner for best compression : WWPACK 3.05b3 Winner for fastest compression: CRUNCH 1.0 Winner for quickest extraction: COMPACK 4.5 Winner for best overall : UCEXE 2.4 OPTIONS: U - The EXE Packer has the ability to uncompress the .EXE file back into its original form. E - The EXE Packer has the ability to encrypt the .EXE file P - The EXE Packer has the ability to add error protection data so it can inform the user if the file has been changed in any way (ie: infected by a virus) 669 File Test - (8 bit, 8 Channel) Uncompressed Size 1,314,481 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- B WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -mm -md1024 0 m 39.9 sec 591,827 bytes 55.0% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -mm 0 m 30.6 sec 592,076 bytes 55.0% O RAR 2.0 -m5 -mm 0 m 24.1 sec 592,549 bytes 54.9% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -mm 0 m 21.5 sec 593,036 bytes 54.9% HAP 4.03 3 0 m 28.0 sec 620,685 bytes 52.8% + RKIVE 1.2 (none) 0 m 58.5 sec 622,764 bytes 52.6% ACB 1.23c (u)f 7 m 57.7 sec 625,053 bytes 52.4% + RKIVE 1.1 -mm2 1 m 55.5 sec 625,463 bytes 52.4% + RKIVE 1.1 (none) 1 m 55.4 sec 625,490 bytes 52.4% X1 0.94h ->X xem3 1 m 49.4 sec 626,228 bytes 52.4% + RKIVE 1.2 -m3 1 m 15.7 sec 626,756 bytes 52.3% X1 0.94h ->X xem4l2 1 m 56.0 sec 628,286 bytes 52.2% + RKIVE 1.1 -m7 6 m 59.8 sec 628,378 bytes 52.2% ACB 1.14a (b)f 5 m 39.3 sec 636,132 bytes 51.6% HA 0.999b e2 2 m 06.2 sec 636,442 bytes 51.6% ACB 1.23c (b)f 5 m 04.0 sec 636,774 bytes 51.6% BSArc 2.0.0 -++ 2 m 28.9 sec 659,941 bytes 49.8% CODEC 3.21 -c10 2 m 26.6 sec 662,663 bytes 49.6% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 2 m 27.9 sec 684,650 bytes 47.9% UC v2.37 beta (Max Compress) 2 m 26.8 sec 684,772 bytes 47.9% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 2 m 33.5 sec 691,175 bytes 47.4% ACB 1.23c (B)f 2 m 29.5 sec 691,658 bytes 47.4% X1 0.94h ->X xem7 0 m 31.5 sec 694,031 bytes 57.2% HAP 3.05bp (none) 0 m 56.2 sec 704,531 bytes 46.4% QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 101 m 05.3 sec 714,809 bytes 45.6% QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 55 m 40.0 sec 719,128 bytes 45.3% ARI 1.13u -m5 -hz30 5 m 44.6 sec 735,462 bytes 44.0% ARI 1.13u -m5 -t16 5 m 30.7 sec 735,574 bytes 44.0% ARI 1.13u -m3 -hz30 2 m 21.4 sec 736,710 bytes 44.0% QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 3 m 14.3 sec 738,137 bytes 43.8% QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 2 m 30.7 sec 738,987 bytes 43.8% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 43.4 sec 769,923 bytes 41.4% RAR 2.0 -m5 0 m 40.3 sec 770,558 bytes 41.4% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 51.3 sec 770,759 bytes 41.4% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 46.4 sec 770,880 bytes 41.4% UC v2.37 beta (Default) 0 m 26.9 sec 773,180 bytes 41.2% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 37.4 sec 773,318 bytes 41.2% RAR 2.0 (none) 0 m 24.7 sec 773,527 bytes 41.2% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 27.3 sec 773,386 bytes 41.2% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 28.2 sec 774,780 bytes 41.1% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 25.0 sec 775,005 bytes 41.0% LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 50.4 sec 775,226 bytes 41.0% LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\ 0 m 31.8 sec 776,210 bytes 40.9% AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 20.4 sec 776,613 bytes 40.9% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 38.6 sec 778,244 bytes 40.8% SPLINT 2.1 (none) 0 m 34.0 sec 778,534 bytes 40.8% GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0 m 35.3 sec 779,706 bytes 40.7% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 15.1 sec 779,886 bytes 40.7% ARJ 2.50a -e 0 m 21.6 sec 780,605 bytes 40.6% ARJ 2.55alpha -e 0 m 21.8 sec 780,605 bytes 40.6% Winner for best compression : WinRAR 2.0beta3 Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.04g Winner for best overall : RAR 2.0 BMP File Test - (24bit, 620x300x16M) Uncompressed Size 558,054 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- +B RKIVE 1.2 -m3 -mm2 0 m 24.4 sec 196,534 bytes 64.8% + RKIVE 1.1 -m7 -mm2 1 m 47.3 sec 202,253 bytes 63.8% O HAP 4.03 3 0 m 12.6 sec 203,223 bytes 63.6% UC v2.37 beta (Max Compress) 1 m 00.9 sec 209,556 bytes 62.4% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 1 m 01.7 sec 209,560 bytes 62.4% X1 0.94h ->X xem4l2 0 m 58.2 sec 215,044 bytes 61.5% X1 0.94h ->X xem6 1 m 00.1 sec 216,332 bytes 61.2% ACB 1.23c (u)f 2 m 05.4 sec 219,185 bytes 60.7% ACB 1.23c (b)f 1 m 24.1 sec 222,013 bytes 60.2% ACB 1.14a (b)f 1 m 25.4 sec 223,341 bytes 60.0% + RKIVE 1.2 -m3 0 m 26.5 sec 225,703 bytes 59.6% X1 0.94h ->X xem7 0 m 14.9 sec 226,012 bytes 59.5% + RKIVE 1.1 -m7 1 m 55.0 sec 226,489 bytes 59.4% HA 0.999b e2 1 m 02.2 sec 228,372 bytes 59.1% + RKIVE 1.2 (none) 0 m 23.5 sec 230,327 bytes 58.7% RAR 2.0 -m5 -mmf 0 m 08.5 sec 230,450 bytes 58.7% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -mmf -md256 0 m 09.0 sec 230,463 bytes 58.7% + RKIVE 1.1 (none) 0 m 41.7 sec 232,754 bytes 58.3% ACB 1.23c (B)f 0 m 43.8 sec 235,402 bytes 57.8% CODEC 3.21 -c10 1 m 01.9 sec 238,875 bytes 57.2% ARI 1.13u -m5 -hc63k 2 m 06.8 sec 240,974 bytes 56.8% ARI 1.13u -m5 -hz30 1 m 54.7 sec 241,061 bytes 56.8% ARI 1.13u -m3 0 m 41.2 sec 241,573 bytes 56.7% QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 27 m 06.9 sec 246,934 bytes 55.8% QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 6 m 34.5 sec 249,954 bytes 55.2% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256 0 m 27.9 sec 253,090 bytes 54.6% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md256 0 m 11.8 sec 255,595 bytes 54.2% QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 0 m 41.2 sec 255,982 bytes 54.1% QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 0 m 38.4 sec 257,768 bytes 53.8% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 1 m 30.2 sec 258,766 bytes 53.6% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 09.8 sec 261,852 bytes 53.1% UC v2.37 beta (Default) 0 m 09.3 sec 261,864 bytes 53.1% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 23.4 sec 262,213 bytes 53.0% HAP 3.05bp (none) 0 m 27.4 sec 262,589 bytes 52.9% RAR 2.0 -m5 0 m 12.1 sec 263,239 bytes 52.8% SUPER PACK 2.0 (Max) 0 m 21.3 sec 264,508 bytes 52.6% AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 23.4 sec 264,513 bytes 52.6% RAR 2.0 -ep 0 m 07.3 sec 265,233 bytes 52.8% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 16.6 sec 265,504 bytes 52.4% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 18.6 sec 266,007 bytes 52.3% AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 06.4 sec 267,892 bytes 52.0% SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0 m 07.9 sec 267,935 bytes 52.0% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 10.8 sec 268,173 bytes 51.9% LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\ 0 m 09.5 sec 268,339 bytes 51.9% SUPER PACK 2.0 (Normal) 0 m 07.4 sec 269,249 bytes 51.8% AMGC 2.2 (none) 0 m 08.5 sec 269,254 bytes 51.8% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 05.1 sec 269,693 bytes 51.7% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 09.7 sec 270,073 bytes 51.6% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 06.5 sec 270,404 bytes 51.5% PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0 m 06.2 sec 271,355 bytes 51.4% Winner for best compression : RKIVE 1.2 Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.04g Winner for best overall : HAP 4.03 *** PART 2 - MULTIPLE FILE TESTS *** I compressed a directory containing 21 files totalling 3,255,838 bytes on my hard drive to a 2 megabyte RAM drive. This directory contained the original files from the Calgary Corpus archive (CALGARYCORPUS.ZIP) which contains text, binary and graphical files. I used a 486DX4-75 with 20 megabytes of RAM to do this test. No disk CACHE was used at all! For the timing, Ultra Precision Command Timer v1.6 by Erik de Neve was used. The operating system used was DOS 6.22. Here are my results: ARCHIVER SWITCHES EXTRACT TIME COMPRESS TIME COMPRESSED SIZE -------- -------- ------------ ------------- --------------- B ACB 1.23c (u)f 13 m 27.6 sec 13 m 07.4 sec 815,850 bytes ACB 1.23c (b)f 9 m 10.6 sec 8 m 51.5 sec 823,058 bytes X1 0.94h ->X xem6ob 3 m 16.1 sec 2 m 58.7 sec 826,094 bytes 8 ACB 1.14a (b)f 9 m 50.6 sec 9 m 41.4 sec 831,676 bytes X1 0.94h ->X xem4l2 2 m 55.4 sec 2 m 38.9 sec 836,761 bytes X1 0.94h ->X xem3 2 m 56.6 sec 2 m 42.4 sec 840,237 bytes ACB 1.23c (B)f 5 m 11.1 sec 4 m 55.6 sec 865,742 bytes HA 0.999b e12 2 m 44.8 sec 4 m 30.3 sec 883,651 bytes HA 0.999b e2 3 m 03.2 sec 3 m 01.7 sec 884,305 bytes + RKIVE 1.2 -m5 0 m 57.0 sec 3 m 01.2 sec 887,810 bytes + RKIVE 1.2 -m3 0 m 53.2 sec 1 m 56.6 sec 895,701 bytes QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 1 m 11.6 sec 135 m 27.5 sec 905,520 bytes CODEC 3.21 -c10 3 m 27.8 sec 3 m 12.1 sec 920,906 bytes + RKIVE 1.2 (none) 0 m 57.7 sec 1 m 29.4 sec 928,818 bytes QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 1 m 13.1 sec 37 m 59.2 sec 934,429 bytes WinRAR 2b3-m5-mm-md1024-s0 m 10.9 sec 7 m 37.3 sec 948,230 bytes + RKIVE 1.1 -m7 0 m 49.3 sec 11 m 35.3 sec 955,848 bytes O HAP 4.03 3 1 m 07.6 sec 0 m 57.7 sec 969,576 bytes HAP 3.05bp (none) 1 m 45.3 sec 1 m 34.3 sec 969,576 bytes QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 1 m 12.5 sec 7 m 09.5 sec 972,250 bytes WinRAR 2b3 -m5-mm-md1024 0 m 12.1 sec 4 m 14.1 sec 972,847 bytes - QUANTUM 0.96 (none) 1 m 14.5 sec 5 m 04.3 sec 981,912 bytes QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 1 m 14.0 sec 5 m 11.1 sec 981,912 bytes WinRAR 2b3 -mm-md1024-s 0 m 11.4 sec 1 m 40.6 sec 985,965 bytes ARI 1.13u -m5 -ho 0 m 22.4 sec 12 m 21.1 sec 1,008,440 bytes RAR 2.0 -m5 -mm -s 0 m 16.5 sec 1 m 45.0 sec 1,011,311 bytes ARI 1.13u -m5 -t16 0 m 23.3 sec 10 m 06.4 sec 1,015,699 bytes + RKIVE 1.1 (none) 0 m 51.6 sec 3 m 13.1 sec 1,016,757 bytes ARI 1.13u -m3-ho-hz30 0 m 22.1 sec 4 m 47.6 sec 1,018,423 bytes 8 UC2 v3.0 PRO o25 (Max) 0 m 16.0 sec 94 m 51.3 sec 1,022,160 bytes YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 38.1 sec 1 m 56.7 sec 1,022,810 bytes HPACK 0.79a0 -df 0 m 37.5 sec 11 m 42.7 sec 1,023,107 bytes RAR 2.0 -m5 0 m 14.3 sec 1 m 38.7 sec 1,025,600 bytes UC v2.37 beta (Max Comp) 0 m 17.6 sec 2 m 06.6 sec 1,026,592 bytes UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Comp) 0 m 17.7 sec 2 m 08.1 sec 1,026,612 bytes 8 CRUSH 1.8+UC2 -n -u 0 m 27.9 sec 2 m 13.5 sec 1,032,742 bytes LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 13.7 sec 1 m 27.9 sec 1,035,887 bytes Q ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 10.7 sec 1 m 25.7 sec 1,038,117 bytes RAR 2.0 -ep 0 m 15.5 sec 0 m 48.1 sec 1,040,803 bytes ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 11.6 sec 0 m 53.1 sec 1,047,190 bytes UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 18.7 sec 0 m 53.9 sec 1,053,814 bytes UC v2.37 beta (Default) 0 m 16.5 sec 0 m 53.0 sec 1,053,828 bytes LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 13.6 sec 1 m 08.0 sec 1,054,168 bytes LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 13.6 sec 0 m 41.3 sec 1,054,477 bytes HA 0.999b e 0 m 35.5 sec 1 m 31.8 sec 1,054,534 bytes LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 13.3 sec 0 m 57.2 sec 1,056,022 bytes CRUSH 1.8+HA -n -h 0 m 49.9 sec 1 m 54.4 sec 1,057,050 bytes GZIP 1.2.4+TAR -9 0 m 40.2 sec 1 m 53.3 sec 1,060,868 bytes SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 16.4 sec 1 m 49.7 sec 1,062,541 bytes WINZIP'95 6.1 (Max Comp) 0 m 12.1 sec 1 m 15.7 sec 1,063,059 bytes INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -9 -j 0 m 20.4 sec 1 m 08.3 sec 1,063,143 bytes Winner for best compression : ACB 1.23c Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.04g Winner for quickest extraction: ARJZ 0.15 Winner for best overall : HAP 4.03 * Please note that the switches listed above apply only during compression and not during extraction. In the second multiple-file test, I took 130 small TEXT files totalling 1,121,394 bytes and compressed them using the same method as before. ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- B ACB 1.23c (u)f 2 m 43.5 sec 194,658 bytes 82.6% ACB 1.23c (b)f 1 m 49.7 sec 196,461 bytes 82.5% 8 ACB 1.14a (b)f 2 m 02.6 sec 198,095 bytes 82.3% ACB 1.23c (B)f 0 m 59.9 sec 206,786 bytes 81.6% QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 33 m 37.1 sec 217,425 bytes 80.6% QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 12 m 08.4 sec 225,912 bytes 79.9% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md1024 -s 1 m 22.9 sec 229,243 bytes 79.6% QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 1 m 59.2 sec 231,001 bytes 79.4% QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 1 m 38.8 sec 236,638 bytes 78.9% X1 0.94h ->X xeum6ob 2 m 35.6 sec 235,384 bytes 79.0% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md1024 -s 0 m 34.9 sec 235,525 bytes 79.0% X1 0.94h ->X xeum7 0 m 36.0 sec 240,853 bytes 78.5% X1 0.94h ->X xeum4l2 0 m 53.7 sec 243,353 bytes 78.3% ARI 1.13u -m5 -ho 9 m 13.8 sec 243,749 bytes 78.3% ARI 1.13u -m3 -ho -hz30 3 m 10.2 sec 245,009 bytes 78.2% RAR 2.0 -m5 -s 0 m 31.7 sec 249,977 bytes 77.7% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 43.7 sec 250,453 bytes 77.7% 8 UC2 v3.0 PRO o25 (Max Comp) 86 m 44.6 sec 254,368 bytes 77.3% 8 CRUSH 1.8+UC2 -n -u 0 m 42.7 sec 255,452 bytes 77.2% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0 m 53.7 sec 255,704 bytes 77.2% UC v2.37 beta (Max Compress) 0 m 52.5 sec 255,714 bytes 77.2% O AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 14.8 sec 257,940 bytes 77.0% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 13.4 sec 259,469 bytes 76.9% UC v2.37 beta (Default) 0 m 21.7 sec 261,756 bytes 76.7% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 22.9 sec 261,820 bytes 76.7% CRUSH 1.8+HA -n -h 0 m 31.0 sec 267,784 bytes 76.1% CRUSH 1.8+ZIP -n 0 m 21.0 sec 272,135 bytes 75.7% SARJ 1.21 (none) 0 m 34.4 sec 274,685 bytes 75.5% HPACK 0.79a0 -df -u 1 m 05.8 sec 277,775 bytes 75.2% CRUSH 1.8+ARJ -n -j 0 m 26.5 sec 285,953 bytes 74.5% GZIP 1.2.4+TAR -9 0 m 35.2 sec 288,466 bytes 74.3% TAR 3.20 + GZIP cvf.9 0 m 37.4 sec 289,565 bytes 74.2% CODEC 3.21 -c10 1 m 23.6 sec 307,488 bytes 72.6% 8 BSArc 2.0.0 -++ 1 m 03.6 sec 309,872 bytes 72.4% HA 0.999b e12 3 m 03.6 sec 310,135 bytes 69.8% HA 0.999b e2 2 m 30.1 sec 310,201 bytes 69.8% HAP 4.03 3 0 m 23.8 sec 324,165 bytes 71.1% HAP 3.05bp (none) 0 m 54.5 sec 324,165 bytes 71.1% ARI 1.13u -m5 -t16 4 m 05.7 sec 339,009 bytes 69.8% HA 0.999b e1 1 m 08.8 sec 339,170 bytes 69.8% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 0 m 43.3 sec 340,280 bytes 69.7% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 20.5 sec 344,261 bytes 69.3% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 16.3 sec 344,714 bytes 69.3% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 28.1 sec 346,162 bytes 69.1% LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 14.0 sec 346,140 bytes 69.1% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 35.7 sec 346,142 bytes 69.1% 8 BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0 m 15.4 sec 346,563 bytes 69.1% LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 12.1 sec 347,474 bytes 69.0% SUPER PACK 2.0 (Max) 0 m 30.9 sec 347,592 bytes 69.0% WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256 0 m 36.6 sec 347,757 bytes 69.0% Winner for best compression : ACB 1.23c Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.04g Winner for best overall : AIN 2.2 ### LOCATING ARCHIVERS FOR DOWNLOAD ### The easiest way to download the archivers listed in A.C.T. is to use the WWW version of A.C.T. If you cannot access the WWW then most of the archivers can be found on the following four FTP sites. Try them in this order: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack (10 Anonymous Users 13:00-06:00 GMT) ftp.kiae.su /msdos/arcers (20 Anonymous Users Allowed) ftp.simtel.net /pub/simtelnet/msdos/arcers (900+ Anon Users Allowed) ftp.coast.net /SimTel/msdos/archiver (400+ Anonymous Users Allowed) garbo.uwasa.fi /pc/arcers (100 Anonymous Users Allowed) ELF.STUBA.SK MIRROR SITES ------------------------- ftp.vse.cz /pub/msdos/SAC/pc/pack (Czech) ftp-beer.bke.hu /vol1/pub/sac/pc/pack (Hungary) ftp.cs.tu-berlin.de /pub/msdos/mirrors/stuba/pc/pack (Germany) ftp.pwr.wroc.pl /pub/pc/sac/pack (Poland) http://192.217.228.45:80/pub/sac/pack.htm (USA) sunsite.univie.ac.at /pub/compression/ftp.elf.stuba.sk (Austria) EXE-PACKER SITES: ---------------- ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack ftp.simtel.net /pub/simtelnet/msdos/execomp garbo.uwasa.fi /pc/execomp ftp.kiae.su /msdos/execomp ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As you may or may not have noticed, I have been releasing these test results about once a month. I have decided to release the results near the beginning of each month and name these tests A.C.T. * Please note that the best overall selection is based entirely on the archiver's compression/speed ratio. It is NOT based on the reliability, price, technical support or the options available in the archiver. I have decided to add an Options List which shows what archivers support certain major options. If you think I should add another category to the list or you see an error, please let me know. If there is an error, please tell me what switch will activate the command that I missed. ---------------------------- OPTIONS LIST ------------------------------ MULTI MIN. WIN95 DISK AUTH. 'SOLID' DATA CPU/ LONG ARCHIVER SPAN VERI. CRYPT ARCHIVES SFX PROT GUI RAM FILES -------- ----- ----- ----- -------- --- ---- --- ------ ----- ACB 1.23c X X-??? X X 486/16 ACB 1.14a X X-??? X X 486/8 AIN 2.2 X X-??? x86 AMGC 2.2 X X-??? x86 AR 1.10 x86 ARC 6.02 X-??? x86 ARI 1.13u X X-??? X X X x86 ARJ 2.50a X X X-XOR X x86 ARJ 2.55alpha X X X-GOST X X x86 X ARX 1.00 x86 BSARC 2.0.0 X X x86 CODEC 3.21 X-??? X x86 CROSSEPAC 1.35 x86 CRUSH 1.8 X x86 DWC 5.10 X-??? X x86 GAS 2.0 x86 GZIP 1.2.4 x86 HA 0.999b x86 MULTI MIN. WIN95 DISK AUTH. 'SOLID' DATA CPU/ LONG ARCHIVER SPAN VERI. CRYPT ARCHIVES SFX PROT GUI RAM FILES -------- ----- ----- ----- -------- --- ---- --- ------ ----- HAP 3.05bp x86 HAP 4.03 X x86 HPACK 0.79a0 X X X-PGP X X x86 HYPER 2.6 x86 INFO-ZIP 2.1 * X-??? X x86 X JAM - May1996 X-??? x86 JRCHIVE 1.10 X X x86 LARC 3.33 X x86 LHA 2.67 X 386 LHARK 0.3o X-??? X x86 LIMIT 1.2 x86 MDCD 1.0 x86 NULIB 3.24 x86 PAK 2.51 X X-??? X X x86 PKZIP 2.04g X X X-??? X x86 PUT 3.41 X x86 QUANTUM 0.97 X 386 MULTI MIN. WIN95 DISK AUTH. 'SOLID' DATA CPU/ LONG ARCHIVER SPAN VERI. CRYPT ARCHIVES SFX PROT GUI RAM FILES -------- ----- ----- ----- -------- --- ---- --- ------ ----- QUARK 1.0beta X X-??? X x86 RAR 2.0 X X X-??? X X X X x86 X RKIVE 1.2 386/4 SAR 1.0 x86 SARJ 1.20 X X X-XOR X X x86 X SPLINT 2.1 X-??? x86 SQWEZ 2.2 X X x86 SQZ 1.08.3 X x86 SUPER PACK 2.0 X X-??? X X x86 TAR 3.20+ X x86 TSCOMP 1.3.21 x86 UC2 3.0 PRO * X X-3DES % X X X x86 X UC 2.37 beta * X X-3DES % X X X x86 X WINZIP95 6.1 X X 386/2 X X1 0.94h X X 386/4 X YAC 1.02 X X x86 ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0 X-??? x86 ZIPNAV 2.03 X X X 286 ZOO 2.10 x86 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MULTI-DISK SPAN = Ability to span an archive over two or more disks AUTH. VERI. = Authentication Verification (Security Envelope) DATA PROT = Data Protection Encoding (Stores Error Recovery Info) CRYPT = Ability to encrypt files in archive with password (Garble) SFX = Ability to create Self-Extracting Archives (.EXE) GUI = Graphical or Text Shell to manage archiver functions and select files for compression/decompression MIN. CPU/RAM = Minimum PC CPU and RAM (in megabytes) to run archiver If no value for RAM is given, archiver will run in 640k WIN95 LONG FILES = Ability to store and extract Windows95 long filenames * - UC2 comes with a utility (SAS.EXE) to SPLIT archives into chunks and then rebuild them after. This is not nearly as nice as multi-disk spanning. - INFO-ZIP comes with a utility called ZIPSPLIT which does the same thing as UC2's SAS utility. % - UC2 uses shared dictionaries between file collections to utilize similarities between files. -------------------------------- INDEX ---------------------------------- ARCHIVER RELEASE AUTHOR & (INTERNET E-MAIL) -------- ------- ------------------------------------------------------ TYPE PLATFORMS SUPPORTED FREE UNCOMPRESS ---------- --------------------------------- --------------- ACB Jun '96 George Buyanovsky (george@acb.alma-ata.su) v1.23c Shareware DOS Yes AIN Jul '94 Transas Marine (UK) Ltd. (100125.3526@compuserve.com) v2.2 Shareware DOS No AINEXE Jul '94 Transas Marine (UK) Ltd. (100125.3526@compuserve.com) v2.2 Shareware DOS N/A AMGC Nov '93 Milen Georgiev v2.2 Shareware DOS No AR Mar '94 Haruhiko Okumura (74050.1022@compuserve.com) v1.10 Freeware DOS Yes ARC Jan '89 S.E.A. Inc. v6.02 Shareware DOS,Amiga No ARI Jul '96 RAO Inc. (khamenya@module.vympel.msk.ru) v1.13u Shareware DOS No ARJ Dec '95 Robert Jung (robjung@world.std.com) v2.50a Shareware DOS,Windows,Amiga,MAC Yes,with source ARJ Jun '96 Robert Jung (robjung@world.std.com) v2.55alph Shareware DOS,Windows,Amiga,MAC Yes,with source ARJZ Apr '95 (Bulat.Ziganshin@f10.n5049.z2.fidonet.org) v0.15 Shareware DOS,Windows NT,OS/2 Yes ARX Jan '95 Michael A. Kosior (mkosior@acad.bryant.edu) v1.00 Shareware DOS No AVPACK Apr '93 Andrei Volkov v1.22 Shareware DOS (Free for non-commerical use) N/A AXE Jan '89 S.E.A. Inc. v2.2 Shareware DOS No BSARC May '95 Serg Babitchew v2.0.0 Shareware DOS,Win,Win NT,OS/2,QNX,Unix No BZIP Jul '96 Julian Seward (sewardj@cs.man.ac.uk) v0.15 Freeware UNIX (C Source Code) Yes CODEC Apr '95 Telvox Teleinform. (telvox.teleinf@bologna.nettuno.it) v3.21 Shareware DOS,Win,OS/2,Unix,VMS,PowerPC,more No COMPACK Nov '91 Prominence Computer Services Ltd. v4.5 Shareware DOS N/A CROSSEPAC Oct '94 Digital Strategies, Inc. v1.35 Shareware DOS No CRUNCH Aug '89 Ori Berger v1.0 Shareware DOS N/A CRUSH Feb '95 J. Rollason (100031.3537@compuserve.com) v1.8 Shareware DOS No DIET Jun '92 Teddy Matsumoto v1.45f Freeware DOS Yes DWC Mar '90 Dean W. Cooper (dwcooper@ix.netcom.com) v5.10 Freeware DOS Yes GAS May '93 Ricky Bhatti v2.0 Shareware DOS No GZIP Aug '93 Jean-loup Gailly (gzip@prep.ai.mit.edu) v1.2.4 Freeware DOS,WinNT,Unix,VMS,OS/2,Atari,Amiga Yes HA Jan '95 Harri Hirvola (harri.hirvola@vaisala.infonet.com) v0.999b Freeware DOS,OS/2 Yes,with source HAP Apr '96 Harald Feldmann (feldmann@xs4all.nl) v4.03 Commercial (v3.05 Shareware) DOS No HPACK May '93 Peter Gutmann (pgut@cs.aukuni.ac.nz) v0.79a0 Shareware DOS,OS/2,Unix,MAC,Amiga,Atari,Archimedes No HYPER May '92 P. Sawatzki & K. Nischkle (in307@dhafeu11.bitnet) v2.6 Shareware DOS No INFOZIP Apr '96 Info-ZIP (zip-bugs@wkuvx1.wku.edu) v2.1 Freeware DOS,WinNT,Unix,OS/2,Amiga,Atari,VMS Yes,with source JAM Aug '96 W. Jiang (wjiang@xmu.edu.cn) vAug-1996 Freeware DOS Yes JRCHIVE May '95 JAYAR Systems (jrsys@io.org) v1.10 Shareware DOS No LARC Feb '89 K. Miki, H. Okumura, K. Masuyama v3.33 Shareware DOS No LHA Oct '95 Haruyasu Yoshizaki (SDI00506@niftyserve.or.jp) v2.67 Freeware DOS,Amiga,Mac Yes LHARK Dec '95 Kerwin F. Medina (kerwin@digi.co.jp) v0.3o Freeware DOS Yes LIMIT Feb '94 J Y Lim (jlim@cs.stanford.edu) v1.2 Shareware DOS No LZEXE Jan '90 Fabrice Bellard v0.91 Freeware DOS Yes MDCD Oct '88 Mike Davenport (miked@ionet.net) v1.0 Freeware DOS Yes,with source NULIB Jan '93 Andy McFadden (fadden@uts.amdahl.com) v3.24 Freeware DOS Yes PACKWIN Jun '94 Yellow Rose Workgroup v1.0alpha Shareware DOS N/A PAK Oct '90 NoGate Consulting v2.51 Shareware DOS No PGMPAK Apr '90 Todor Todorov v0.13 Shareware DOS No PKLITE Mar '96 PKWARE Inc. (support@pkware.com) v2.01 Shareware DOS No PKZIP Feb '93 PKWARE Inc. (support@pkware.com) v2.04g Shareware DOS,Windows,OS/2 No PUT Jan '95 Jim Hass (73057.3113@compuserve.com) v3.41 Shareware DOS No QUANTUM May '95 Cinematronics (davids@cruzio.com) v0.97 Freeware DOS,Windows No QUARK May '93 Kunz Robert v1.0beta Shareware DOS No RAR May '96 Eugene Roshal (andrey@vybor.chel.su) v2.0 Shareware DOS,OS/2,UNIX,Win95,WinNT,Win32s Yes,with source RJCRUSH May '96 Roland Skinner (rjs@lia.co.za) v1.10 Shareware DOS No RKIVE Aug '96 Malcolm Taylor (malcolm@manawatu.gen.nz) v1.2 Shareware DOS No SAR Mar '93 Streamline Design v1.0 Shareware DOS No SARJ Jan '96 Frederic Taes (fta@info.fundp.ac.be) v1.21 Freeware DOS Yes SPLINT Apr '89 Kenji Rikitake (Kenji@dctwcs.das.net) v2.1 Freeware DOS,UNIX Yes,with source SQWEZ Nov '94 Jim Miller (74131.1704@compuserve.com) v2.2 Shareware DOS No SQZ Jan '93 Jonas Hammarberg (100417.2002@compuserve.com) v1.08.3 Shareware DOS No SUPER PACK Apr'95 Kai Gossens (Future-Dreams Entertainment) v2.0 Freeware DOS Yes TAR Jan '95 Tim V. Shaporev (tim@shaporev.msk.su) v3.20+ Shareware DOS,Unix,Amiga No TINYPROG Mar '94 Tranzoa, Co. v3.9 Shareware DOS N/A TSCOMP 1991 The Stirling Group v1.3.21 Shareware DOS No UC2 Jun '95 Ad Infinitum Products (desk@aip.nl) v3.0 Shareware(Free for non-commercial use) DOS Yes UC Apr '96 Ad Infinitum Products (desk@aip.nl) v2.37beta Shareware(Free for non-commercial use) DOS Yes UCEXE Apr '96 Ad Infinitum Products (desk@aip.nl) v2.4 Shareware DOS Yes WINZIP Apr '96 Nico Mak (support@winzip.com) v6.1 Shareware Windows,Win95,Win NT No WWPACK Aug '96 Piotr Warezak (awarezak@krysia.uni.lodz.pl) v3.05b3 Shareware DOS No X1 Jun '96 Stig Valentini (x1develop@internet.dk) v0.94h Freeware DOS,OS/2,Win NT Yes XPACK Aug '96 JauMing Tseng (s8203143@simon.pu.edu.tw) v1.49 Freeware DOS Yes YAC Sep '95 Aleksandras Surna (as@ashurna.msk.ru) v1.02 Freeware DOS Yes ZIP-ARCHIV ??? Peter Troxler v2.0 Shareware DOS No ZIPNAV Jul '95 FlashPoint (FlashPoint@msn.com) 2.03 Shareware Windows No ZOO Jul '91 Rahul Dhesi (dhesi@bsu-cu.bsu.edu) v2.10 Shareware DOS,Unix,Amiga No ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information above may not be 100% accurate so if anyone notices any errors or finds something I left out, please let me know. JAM - Aug1996 - The most amazing thing about this archiver is that it only requires 48k of RAM. It was designed to be used in low-memory situations. The compression ratio is not the best but when you have little RAM to work with this may solve your problem. This program should not be confused with the disk-compressor or exe-packer of the same name. For more info e-mail: wjiang@xmu.edu.cn To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/jam.zip JAM 2.11 - I tried to test the Russian executable compressor JAM. It seemed to compress the file ok but when I tried to run the newly compressed executable, it would lock up my computer. Previous versions of JAM would reboot my computer when I ran the JAM program itself. RKIVE 1.1 - This new archiver sets the record in the BMP file test. Its multimedia compression is great for these types of files. The program is a little slow and does not contain too many options but has a lot of potential to grow. RKIVE 1.2 - This updated version was received in the same month so I decided to include the results for both. Version 1.2 has some major changes to it. The compression ratio is better and it is MUCH faster. One point to mention, RKIVE archives are always created in the solid format. For more info e-mail: malcolm@manawatu.gen.nz To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/rkive12.zip WWPACK 3.05b3 - This beta contains several bug fixes and other small changes. For more info e-mail: awarezak@krysia.uni.lodz.pl To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/wwp305b3.zip XPACK 1.49 - Xpack now supports disk image compression. You can take a floppy disk and compress the entire thing into a single file such as programs like teledisk. Many floppy disk densities are supported including 1.2MB, 1.44MB, 1.72MB, 1.68MB and more. For more info e-mail: s8203143@simon.pu.edu.tw To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/xpack149.zip ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anyone wishing to send me updated versions of archivers or email may use PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) v2.6 or above to encrypt the info. Listed below is my PGP public key which you can use to encrypt a binary file or ascii file into RADIX-64 ascii format. After you have encrypted the file, you can then send it to me via email at my Internet address listed below. When you use my public key to encrypt something with PGP, only I can decrypt the file so you can be certain that whatever you send will only be seen by me. -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.3ia mQCNAy53etMAAAEEAM9FrKHl4ZSsNl15zzbtYZoC48e4WT83AsdH5vHr7P0npRIM unbDNUdBbQ0ZGppG4a0ccYpLs8EAkGJLGL28JCZzk4LDCLxCn14VoeVZSV25S0mj 1ApwoTUrzqWsrdbaeGdeJ1IBxG2zc9SMMDq3htPcGzb/KQvAbbgiZykcOlgBAAUR tB1KZWZmIEdpbGNocmlzdCA8amVmZmdAbWkubmV0PokAlQIFEDGHgYO4ImcpHDpY AQEBtpQEAJMZA8+FKokRPXQNrmY63EedVDuairdF+eBXzYOTX2JqIFvp9uRMSb7n nXr0YOQvLTWUbWj7IAWPcFdoal9t8yOaKoH/8NRkcL8bgTEqMpO1di/wWgv9KyHh 1fDjeveZ3djp23RMVae2mKBNF7i4+N/fC3PnuSM0vFpme8m2h97d =zWKn -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to send me some EMAIL and I will try and reply as soon as I can. INTERNET: jeffg@mi.net *** INFORMATION REQUESTED *** If anyone knows the encryption methods that are (???) unknown in the archiver Option List, please email and let me know. Thanks! +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | HOW TO GET THE LATEST COPY OF THE ARCHIVE COMPARISON TEST | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ ** Official Distribution Sites ** Via BBS ------- DANGER UNLiMiTED at +1-403-280-3778 (300bps - 28,800bps) Login ID: DISTRO No password required. Via FIDONET File-Request (FREQ) ------------------------------- LineLife M/F (Germany) SysOp: Horst Hackenbruch FREQable under the magic name: ACT Most archivers also available on this site. 2:2433/940 (300 - 128,000bps Zyxel/v.34/v.110/v.120/x.75/DMS100) Phone: +49-2173-967910 2:2433/941 (ISDN: ELINK EL310, x.75 ESDD-1) Phone: +49-2173-967911 Via Internet ------------ WWW: http://www.mi.net/act/act.html FTP: ftp.simtel.net /pub/simtelnet/msdos/arcers/actest??.zip FTP: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/actest??.zip FINGER: s0b8@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca MAILING LIST: A.C.T. E-mail Mailing List ------------ To subscribe, send an e-mail to: jeffg@mi.net with ONE of the following four in the SUBJECT of the message. SUBSCRIBE ACT-FULL SUBSCRIBE ACT-TOP50 SUBSCRIBE ACT-MIME SUBSCRIBE ACT-UUENCODED ACT-FULL - The full Archive Comparison Test in ASCII format. (Around 75k) ACT-TOP50 - Smaller version of A.C.T. with top 50 entries of each section in ASCII format. (Around 50k) ACT-MIME - Mime encoded ZIP file of the full A.C.T. (Around 30k) ACT-UUENCODED - Uuencoded ZIP file of the full A.C.T. (Around 30k) To unsubscribe from the mailing list, send an e-mail to: jeffg@mi.net with the SUBJECT: UNSUBSCRIBE ACT ------------ ** If you are not listed above, you are NOT an official ** ** distribution site. ** -- -= JEFF GILCHRIST =- (New Brunswick, Canada) - Author Of A.C.T. - Internet: jeffg@mi.net