Program to ZIp and Unzip files.

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Hi,
EDited again for clarity:
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I am looking for a macro which could help me in putting passwords to different file types ( .doc,.xls,.ppt,.pdf,.xml etc) and zipping them using my existing winzip ver 9. These files are on my c drive and in various folders. I searched for solutions and most of them are specific to a file type but not multiple files.
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I am looking for a solution which would help me to zip and password protect certain files (.doc,.xls,.ppt,.pdf,.xml etc) on my hard disk (C: drive).
These files could be in any folder within c:. – A way in which, I run a VB script and it in turns puts a defined password in all of the above documents which it is able to find in the c drive, and zips it. Is it possible, appreciate any help on this. I use winzip ver 9.

Thanks

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Open source wise, you can use 7zip: http://www.7-zip.org/

WinRAR is better, but not free: http://www.rarlab.com/

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Xircal
I read my post again and realised that I have made a mess of it. Sorry about that.
Allow me to clarify : I already have winzip ver. 9, But I need a macro which would help me in zipping files and putting a password protection . These files could be in different folders, and zipping and putting password is a time consuming activity. I am looking for a macro which can help me achieve this. There are mulitple files in multiple folders which is why i am looking for ways to automate this.
for a reading ease – i am editing my first post again
Thanks.

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Xircal
I read my post again and realised that I have made a mess of it. Sorry about that.
Allow me to clarify : I already have winzip ver. 9, But I need a macro which would help me in zipping files and putting a password protection . These files could be in different folders, and zipping and putting password is a time consuming activity. I am looking for a macro which can help me achieve this. There are mulitple files in multiple folders which is why i am looking for ways to automate this.
for a reading ease – i am editing my first post again
Thanks.

Have a look at this Wiki article: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-7Zip-to-Create-Multiple-Compressed-Folders-in-One-Go

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I would seriously recommend that you do not apply a vbscript against the root drive in the way you describe.

A quick scan of my Windows 7 installation shows around 3000 .xml files (none of which I’ve created) and removing them will break the operating system (that is, if Windows allows me to)

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I am looking for a macro which could help me in putting passwords to different file types ( .doc,.xls,.ppt,.pdf,.xml etc) and zipping them using my existing winzip ver 9. These files are on my c drive and in various folders. I searched for solutions and most of them are specific to a file type but not multiple files.

If you want to password protect the files before archiving them, you’ll need to use their parent applications. You could, instead, encrypt the zip archive.
As for using Winzip 9, AFAIK you can’t automate that, as it has no command line interface or vba object model.

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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Thank you all for your responses.

Could any of you help me by suggesting a better alternative to achieve what i am looking for?

Requirement – Set of files which we work on need to be password protected for data safety before closing for the day. These files are of various types but in selected folders (not all folders). Next day we need to start using the same files opening them/ updating them, closing them multiple times.
I was looking for a macro which would help me do a ‘mass protect’ than having to protect them individually and then unprotect them the next day when we are required to work on them. The number of files are high and protecting them and again unprotecting them takes a lot of time.

If the above cannont be achieved through a macro , then I would really appreciate any suggestion / alternatives.

Thanks again.

PS : Xircal, checked the article on 7 zip, unfortunately, can’t use open source / other softwares.

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Is there a reason the security features of Windows itself aren’t sufficient?

If your files need password protection, there is no point in having a system-wide password for them. It rather defeats the purpose, since the compromising af a single password compromises the security of all your files. Accordingly, you’d need individual passwords for all files, or at least defined groups of files. And, if you put those passwords into a macro, all one needs to compromise your security is to gain access to the file containing the macro. It is very easy to bypass vba project passwords.

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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Is there a reason the security features of Windows itself aren’t sufficient?

If your files need password protection, there is no point in having a system-wide password for them. It rather defeats the purpose, since the compromising af a single password compromises the security of all your files. Accordingly, you’d need individual passwords for all files, or at least defined groups of files. And, if you put those passwords into a macro, all one needs to compromise your security is to gain access to the file containing the macro. It is very easy to bypass vba project passwords.

Sure windows security features / firewalls etc all are in place and working.. However, this one is an additional control at user’s end. An internal quality requirement. One password would be good enough as the threat is not of data leakage but of data sharing amongst people.
Thanks

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Set of files which we work on need to be password protected for data safety before closing for the day

and

the threat is not of data leakage but of data sharing amongst people

So how is the sharing of data after office hours any more or less secure than sharing it during office hours?

If a user’s files need to be protected in their absence, keep them in a secure folder that others don’t have access to (even when the user is present). This is basic system security and requires a whole lot less ‘management’ than the approach you’re trying to implement. Consider too, what happends when the person ‘owning’ this process falls under the proverbial bus.

Ultimately, if you want to go down the vba-driven zip approach, you’re going to have to upgrade to WinZip 12. Hardly a great financial burden.

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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and

So how is the sharing of data after office hours any more or less secure than sharing it during office hours?

Ultimately, if you want to go down the vba-driven zip approach, you’re going to have to upgrade to WinZip 12. Hardly a great financial burden.

Hi Paul,
It is difficult to explain the set up here, however, I’ll try – The PC / workstation is used by multiple users 24 /7 . hence, each user will have to access c drive and work on his (respective) folders. before leaving for the day, lock all files he worked on and then unlock them when he resumes his work again. personal password will provide assistance in data not being shared with others who are using the same workstation.

However, you mentioned securing a folder which seems to be a better idea.. let me know if this is possible through a macro. User can protect his selective folders ( 25 – 30 per user) through a macro and unprotect them when he wishes to use files under those folders.

If the above is possible, then we can avoid the need for zipping the files altogether and simply password protect folders instead.

Thank you for your patience.

Regards

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The PC / workstation is used by multiple users 24 /7 . hence, each user will have to access c drive and work on his (respective) folders. before leaving for the day, lock all files he worked on and then unlock them when he resumes his work again. personal password will provide assistance in data not being shared with others who are using the same workstation.

However, you mentioned securing a folder which seems to be a better idea.. let me know if this is possible through a macro. User can protect his selective folders ( 25 – 30 per user) through a macro and unprotect them when he wishes to use files under those folders.

Each user should have their own password-protected user account. If you do that, then the only files that everyone can access are those that are put into public folders. The ‘My Documents’ folder and everything below it for each user is hidden from every other user – only people with Administrator privileges can access the ‘My Documents’ folders of other users.

This is all basic system configuration has nothing to do with macros or anything of the kind.

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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Hi Paul

Our IT policy allows user to save documents in ‘My Document’ folders (which is restricted and user specific) but do not restrict access to over all c drive. Profile space allocated per person is not enough to store this kind of database. Hence, Users save files in other portions of C drive. Your suggestion would require us to change the IT policy accross all departments and all locations. Which unfortunatley, is not a possible solution for us. We (a small department) have the captioned need others outside our department don’t.

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It is ridiculous for any organisation to have an IT policy that doesn’t allocate enough space for those who need it and expects files that won’t fit within the quota to be stored on the C drive where: (a) they probably don’t get backed up; and (b) anyone with access to the PC can access them; but (c) others in the same workgroup cannot (without further workarounds).

This is a serious management issue and your IT department needs to be told by senior management to fix it. The only requirement “to change the IT policy accross all departments and all locations” is that the IT department learns that it is there to serve the users’ needs, not to place artificial restrictions on users that could seriously compromise corporate goals. FWIW, before I retired I worked in an organisation where my own IT quota far exceeded the normal allocations as a business case for it existed.

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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Thanks Paul , I reciprocate your suggestion, but not in a position to do much about it at the moment, even if i would like to.

eager to look at alternatives / suggestions.

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My associates and I developed a Windows software program to secure medical records. The application and database exceed all HIPAA and RedFlag requirements, permits multi users to all have their own password and can be made to automatically update the password every n days. It supports OpenOffice as well as MS Office, images, PDFs, etc. While there are many features for medical – just switch them off and use the app as a secure document management system. BTW, it also sends data across the Internet with military spec encryption. Message me: langhorne19047 at gmail.com if you’re interested in a trial version.

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just put all the files you need to password protect in one folder and zip the folder with a password

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just put all the files you need to password protect in one folder and zip the folder with a password

I did suggest that in an earlier post.

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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Not to pile on too much, but I totally agree with Macropod. The only reason for these types of boneheaded policies that I’ve ever found is an IT dept that doesn’t understand the application side of things. They may be great at networking and servers, but they have no one around to tell them about the applications that users actually use! (Sorry, old hobby horse of mine). Anyway, I’ve often found that a kind of cheerfully wilfull naivete works in these situations. Like bounding into the IT office and suggesting that you’ve found the perfect low-cost solution! Thumb drives for everyone! They can password them (or not) and take them home every night! And not to worry about the IT budget, because thumb drives are so cheap your going to ask your manager to buy a box! Give them a worse “solution” than the reasonable ones already suggested.

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Give them a worse “solution” than the reasonable ones already suggested.

Cunning plan. Might work.

P.S. Pay up for your web site.

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P.S. Pay up for your web site.

Thanks for telling me, honestly SHAW is having bigger trouble recovering from its fire in its data centre http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Shaw+predicts+services+will+restored+Friday+after+electrical/6929849/story.html than they are letting on. Telling people that “oops we lost your website” would be more useful.

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Thanks for telling me, honestly SHAW is having bigger trouble recovering from its fire in its data centre http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Shaw+predicts+services+will+restored+Friday+after+electrical/6929849/story.html than they are letting on. Telling people that “oops we lost your website” would be more useful.

Wow. That was quite an event with some serious and wide-ranging consequences.

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Land Titles services are still out, I have no idea what real estate agents are doing. Motor Vehicle licensing just came back on line today. So that article was really quite optimistic.

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Give them a worse “solution” than the reasonable ones already suggested.

That was funny ! Come to think of it – It works !

Ok.. So I looked up the net and found out that a certain DOS script can hide and unhide all user created folders. Supply one password to hide and unhide all folders. This actually served my purpose to a great extent. However, one small bit left – are some of those files which get saved in the root and not the folders…

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A neat trick I used in the good old DOS days for maintining logs so I could check for unauthorised use was to create a folder whose name was an ASCII 255 character. Inocuous and difficult for anyone who didn’t know what was going on to access …

Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

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