How to Create Zip File in C# .NET Core

The name of the file format created by Phil Katz and first made popular by PKZIP is where the term "ZIP" originates. It is now a commonly used and well-known file compression standard for a variety of software programs and operating systems.

To create, extract, or work with ZIP files, users can use a variety of software tools, operating system built-in functions, or command-line interfaces. This allows for effective file management and compression.

A common archival file format and file compression tool for packing and compressing one or more files and directories into a single file is ZIP. Frequently, the ".zip" file extension serves as a clue. In this article, we will create a zip file using C# .NET Core.

How to Create ZIP Files C# using .NET Core

1. Launch a fresh ASP.NET Core project.
2. To the generated project, install the IronZIP library.
3. Using the IronArchive class, instantiate a blank ZIP file.
4. To add files to the empty ZIP file, use the Add method.
5. You may use the FromFile method to open an existing ZIP file.

IronZIP Library

The .NET library IronZIP, developed by Iron Software, simplifies the handling and management of ZIP files in .NET applications. It provides programmers with capabilities and tools to enable them to work with ZIP archives in several ways.

These include creating, removing, compressing data, opening, decrypting, and editing the files and folders contained within ZIP files.

Features of IronZIP

• ZIP File Creation: The ability for .NET applications to create fresh ZIP archives from the beginning.
• File Manipulation: Programmers can add, remove, update, and perform other operations on files and folders included in ZIP packages.
• Performance Optimization: Aims to maximize performance so that large ZIP files or datasets may be handled more efficiently by .NET programs.
• Extraction and Decompression: The ability to extract content and delete files and directories from pre-existing ZIP packages.
• Compression: Offers methods to reduce the size of files and folders into ZIP archives for storage or transportation.
• Password Protection and Encryption: This feature allows you to encrypt ZIP files and apply password protection to secure the contents of ZIP archives.
• Compatibility: Designed to work in a range of .NET environments and compatible with several framework versions.

IronZIP may be a helpful tool for developers to manage ZIP files for their apps. It offers a range of functions, both simple and versatile, for interacting with ZIP archives programmatically within the .NET framework.

Since software libraries are changed and improved over time, consult the official documentation, release notes, or the IronZIP website for the most up-to-date information on features, capabilities, compatibility, and any new functionality introduced in subsequent versions. To know more check here.

Creating a New Project in Visual Studio

Select File from the File menu after launching the Visual Studio program. After choosing "new project," choose ".NET Core console application."

Enter the project name in the designated text field after choosing the file location. Next, as seen in the sample below, click the Create button and choose the required .NET Framework.

The Visual Studio project will then construct its structure based on the selected application after that. If you want to create or execute the application via the console, Windows, or web application, you may add code by gaining access to the Program.cs file.

After that, the code may be tested and the library added.

3.1 Using Visual Studio

You may install packages directly into your solution using the Visual Studio software's NuGet Package Manager functionality. You may use the snapshot below to access the NuGet Package Manager.

It provides a search box that pulls up a NuGet website package list. The screenshot below shows us where to look for the phrase "IronZip" in the package manager.

In the image above, a list of pertinent search terms is displayed. Selecting the required option is required to install the solution package.

3.2 Using the Visual Studio Command-Line

To view the Package Manager Console, select Tools > NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio.

Add the following line to the terminal tab of the package manager:

Install-Package IronZip

The package may now be used after downloading and installing it into the active project.

3.3 Direct download from the NuGet website

The NuGet package may be downloaded straight from the website by using the third method.

• To access the Link, navigate there.
• From the menu on the right, choose the download package option.
• When the package has finished downloading, double-click it. It will install itself when it wants to.
• Start utilizing the solution in the project after loading it again.

3.4 Direct download from the IronZIP website

To download the latest recent bundle straight away from the website, click this link. To include the package in the project, download it and adhere to the given guidelines.

• From the solution window, choose the project by doing a right-click.
• After it has been downloaded, pick the reference and look through its location.
• Once the reference has been added, click OK.

Create a Zip file using IronZIP

To use IronZIP to produce a ZIP archive file in C#, you must add files or directories to an archive before saving it. An example of using IronZIP to produce a ZIP file can be found below.

using IronZip;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Create an instance of IronZipArchive which provides methods to add files 
        // and save the archive
        using (var archive = new IronZipArchive())
        {
            // Add files to the archive by providing the path
            archive.Add("1.png");
            archive.Add("2.png");

            // Save the archive as a ZIP file
            archive.SaveAs("new.zip");
        }
    }
}

using IronZip;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Create an instance of IronZipArchive which provides methods to add files 
        // and save the archive
        using (var archive = new IronZipArchive())
        {
            // Add files to the archive by providing the path
            archive.Add("1.png");
            archive.Add("2.png");

            // Save the archive as a ZIP file
            archive.SaveAs("new.zip");
        }
    }
}

Imports IronZip

Friend Class Program
	Shared Sub Main()
		' Create an instance of IronZipArchive which provides methods to add files 
		' and save the archive
		Using archive = New IronZipArchive()
			' Add files to the archive by providing the path
			archive.Add("1.png")
			archive.Add("2.png")

			' Save the archive as a ZIP file
			archive.SaveAs("new.zip")
		End Using
	End Sub
End Class

In the code above, we first create an object for IronZipArchive which will allow us to use the Add method to add files to the archive. You can pass file paths as parameters to this method to include files in the ZIP.

We then use the SaveAs method to save the new ZIP file to the file system in the specified directory. It consolidates all the added files into a single ZIP file.

To read more about IronZIP click here.

Conclusion

IronZIP is a .NET library created especially for managing ZIP files in C# applications. It allows developers to manage the compression, extraction, and modification of ZIP files.

IronZIP uses a clear API to simplify complex processes and make file operations easier, such as extracting specific files, extracting files in bulk, adding entries, and altering existing archives.

Developers may enhance file management capabilities in C# projects without having to start from scratch by using this package. It fits in with ease. Because of its flexibility, files may be added, modified, and removed from ZIP files dynamically to meet the needs of different applications.

IronZIP's robust exception-handling tools provide a consistent workflow and facilitate error correction in scenarios such as missing or damaged ZIP files.

While my memory may not match the latest updates, IronZIP provided a reliable option for handling ZIP files in .NET settings in the past.

IronZIP offers a free trial, with pricing starting from $749.

We may go here to learn more about which licensing version would work best for you and your team. Check out this link for the Iron software product.