Unzip and Try

The Unzip and Try feature makes it easy to examine and/or run files in a WinZip® file. It creates a temporary folder, extracts all files from the archive into the folder, creates entries in the Start menu for the extracted items if desired, and opens a Windows Explorer window showing shortcuts to the files in the folder. Double click any item in the window to perform the action normally associated with the document or program (associations are described in Windows Associations). WinZip will optionally close the window and delete the temporary folder (and the extracted files) when you close the archive or close WinZip.

Please note that files that are extracted during the Unzip and Try operation are not considered temporary. If you choose to delete the unzipped files when you are done, the files will not be wiped prior to being deleted.

Unzip and Try Window

On the WinZip Ribbon, click the Unzip and Try button in the Unzip tab to open the Unzip and Try window. This window lets you configure these aspects of the operation:

Use the Folder edit field to specify the name for the temporary folder into which the files will be extracted. The folder will be created if it does not already exist. The suggested folder depends on the setting of the Unzip and Try base folder field in the Folders tab of the Configuration window.
Check the Create an entry in the Programs menu checkbox to have WinZip create a group in the Windows Start menu with shortcuts to the Unzip and Try folder.
Use the Name for menu entry edit field to specify the name to use for the Programs menu entry.
Use the Maximum items edit field to specify the maximum number of items to be placed in the Unzip and Try window.
The Create items for programs and documents only checkbox lets you control whether WinZip creates icons for all files in the archive or only for the specified files. When this option is selected, icons are created for executable files and files with associations. Icons are also created for any files with names starting with "read" (in order to catch files with names like "readme.1st", "read.me", etc).

Operations performed by the Unzip and Try feature:

When you click the OK button in the Unzip and Try window, WinZip performs the following operations:

If the specified folder does not already exist, WinZip will create it. If it already exists and contains files, WinZip will delete the files (after asking your permission, of course). This ensures that the folder will contain only files from the current archive.
WinZip extracts files in the current archive to the specified folder.
If the Create an entry in the Programs menu checkbox is checked, WinZip creates a second folder, located in \Windows\Start Menu\Programs. If a folder with the specified name already exists, WinZip will delete it after getting your permission. This ensures that the folder will contain only icons for files in the current archive.
In the second folder, WinZip creates shortcuts to the extracted files. It then opens a Windows Explorer window displaying icons for the extracted files. These items will also appear in the Programs menu, accessible from the Start button.

Using the Unzip and Try window:

The window created by Unzip and Try is a Windows Explorer view of the Unzip and Try folder and works like any similar window. WinZip creates shortcuts in this folder for each extracted file so that you can use them as follows:

If a file is executable, double clicking on the icon runs the program.
If a file has an association, double clicking on the icon loads the file in the associated program so you can view the file. For example, if the file is a Word doc, double-clicking on it will open the file in Microsoft Word (if you have it installed).