TimestampArchive7z

Adds a context menu entry for folders to Windows explorer. This lets you create a timestamped archive of a folder with two clicks.

Idea

If you mess around with some folders it's nice to have a backup/archive of it. 7Zip has a nice context menu to do it quite quickly. If you do it more often it is nice to have a timestamped archive automatically

Prerequisites

You will need

• Windows
• Admin rights to install the reg file
• PowerShell
• 7z (64 bit version, else you need to modify the code)
• Some luck

Tested with

• Windows 10
• Powershell 5.Something

Installation

• Execute the Install_TimestampArchive7z.reg

Removal

• Execute the file Uninstall_TimestampArchive7z.reg

Additional Information

The file TimestampArchive7z.ps1 contains the commented PowerShell code that is included in the file Install_TimestampArchive7z.reg. Don't run it directly. It makes no sense. Except if you change the content of the variable $v to an actual folder you can test it.

Usage

• Open Explorer
• Right-click a folder
• The context menu entry "TimestampArchive7z" should appear. Click it.
• A timestamped zip file should appear. If not, something might not work properly.
• If nothing happens you can change the registry and change the -NonInteractive flag to -noexit and then install again. The Powershell window will not disappear and you might see the reason for the problem.

FAQ

I get a strange error dialog:

This could mean that powershell.exe is not found. The easiest way is to add the PowerShell Directory to the PATH environment variable. ( Default Location on 64 Bit Systems: C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0 or use %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0 if you didn't use the default folder during windows installation)

Ideas for changes

• Switch from .zip to .7z as file extension
• Use more command line arguments
• Don't create archive in same folder but to a different drive/share/etc