Quick Guide for Windows
See also: File Archiving and Compression, 7-Zip Command-line Guide, Accessing and Sharing Files, Network Access, Windows Terminal Servers
7-Zip Versions for Windows
7-Zip is an Archive and File Management utility that allows you to create and manage archives whether located on your computer, filer share, or remote desktop with a few clicks of the mouse using the easy-to-use 7Z Management Console. As a file management utility, 7-Zip also enables you to perform regular file organization tasks like copy, move and delete from within the 7Z Console. Users who desire a more customizable tool for archiving may wish to generate a Help Desk ticket to install the standalone 7za.exe command-line version that offers many more options for creating well tailored archives, albeit without the added convenience of the graphic user interface.
Windows Quick Guide
Creating and Adding to Archives
There are two ways to create an archive with 7-Zip:
1) Initiate the "Add" command by right-clicking your file and selecting "7-Zip", then "Add to archive..." (see screen shot below)
or
enter the 7-Zip File Manager console by clicking "Start" => "Programs" => "7-Zip" => "7-Zip File Manager", then selecting "Add" (see screen shot below)
Initiating the "Add" command by right-clicking the file you wish to archive:
or
2) Entering the 7Z File Manager console:
Either method brings up the "Add to Archive " dialog.
7-Zip defaults to creating a new archive with the file you have selected. Therefore, use the drop-down arrow to the right to add the file to an existing archive or type the name you want assigned to a new archive. Do not add a format or file extension to the name as 7-Zip will automatically append the extension when you select the "Archive Format" in the next input field. 7-Zip will default to creating the archive in the current directory. Click the Change Directory button 
to navigate to a different location where you want the archive placed.
The default values for the archive parameters are shown in the screen shot above. See Creating an Archive for information on formats and compression methods, and see parameter details in the 7-Zip Command-line Guide.
Clicking on "Ok" completes the add process.
These methods can also be used to access archived files using any of the other commands such as "Extract", "Copy", "Move", and "Delete":
Navigating with 7-Zip
The 7Z File Management Console allows you to navigate to wherever your files are stored. Rather than displaying a "Back" button, the 7Z toolbar uses the Window's Folder Navigation icon 
to go up a level and double-clicking brings you down a level. To navigate to a different directory, click the Change Directory button.
Extract a File
Right-click the archive or open the archive in the 7-Zip File Manager as above, then select the "Extract" command:
Extract to: 7-Zip defaults to placing extracted files in the current directory which displays in the path name automatically. Click the Change Directory button at the upper right of the dialog box to navigate to the location where you want the extracted files placed.
Path Mode: Extracts files from an archive to the current directory (or to the specified location) while maintaining their full path names, changing the path name to reflect their new location, or removing the path names.
Overwrite Mode:
Overwrite without prompt: Overwrites all existing files without a prompt
Skip existing files: Files being extracted that have the same name as those in the target file location will not be extracted.
Auto rename: Files being extracted that have matching names as those in the target location will be renamed OriginalFilename_number.OriginalExtension. For example, if Test8.txt is extracted to a folder already containing a file of that name, it is renamed Test8_1.txt.
Auto rename existing files: Performs the same filename amendment as Auto Rename but applies it to existing files in the target location rather than those being extracted.
Password: Enter the password for Archives created with password protection.
Test a File
7-Zip tests an archive for errors and reports the number of files, sizes and errors. Select the archive from the 7Z Console or right-click from Windows Explorer. The brief error report displays behind your open windows.
