How to compress / archive multiple files into one file?

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Created Feb ’19

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Can I use the Compression framework to compress / archive multiple files into one file? Compression is not important, I just want to be able to create a single file that can be sent somewhere and extracted into a folder with those files.

If not the Compression framework, what other options do I have? I prefer to use built-in libraries and frameworks to minimize dependencies in my project, and I am find with me writing a lot of code for this.

Answered by DTS Engineer in 350445022

Can I use the Compression framework to compress / archive multiple files into one file?

I’m unfamiliar with “Compression framework”. Is that an Apple thing? Or a third-party thing?

The closest Apple thing that I can think of is

<compression.h>

. If that’s what you’re referring to then, no, it can’t work with archives. The focus of that API is to provide high-quality, high-performance compression and decompression of data streams. The resulting data streams are what you would put inside an archive, like a

.zip

file, but the API won’t help you with that part of the equation.

If you want to work with archives, there isn’t really a good answer. You have various options on macOS, but if your focus is on iOS then you’ll need to write or acquire your own library for this.

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Quinn “The Eskimo!”
Apple Developer Relations, Developer Technical Support, Core OS/Hardware

let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@apple.com"

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Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Feb ’19

Accepted Answer

Can I use the Compression framework to compress / archive multiple files into one file?

I’m unfamiliar with “Compression framework”. Is that an Apple thing? Or a third-party thing?

The closest Apple thing that I can think of is

<compression.h>

. If that’s what you’re referring to then, no, it can’t work with archives. The focus of that API is to provide high-quality, high-performance compression and decompression of data streams. The resulting data streams are what you would put inside an archive, like a

.zip

file, but the API won’t help you with that part of the equation.

If you want to work with archives, there isn’t really a good answer. You have various options on macOS, but if your focus is on iOS then you’ll need to write or acquire your own library for this.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!”
Apple Developer Relations, Developer Technical Support, Core OS/Hardware

let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@apple.com"

0

Answer 2

Joride OP

Feb ’19

Thanks Eskimo, clear answer, now I know what to do.

The reason I spoke about Compression as a framework, is because of this page.

0

Answer 3

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Feb ’19

The reason I spoke about Compression as a framework, is because of this page.

Yeah, that’s weird. It seems that the new documentation system labels every top-level API as a framework, even ones that aren’t packaged as a framework but are instead libraries. Personally I find that both grating and potentially misleading, and I’ve filed a bug to see if we can get that changed (r. 48230573).

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!”
Apple Developer Relations, Developer Technical Support, Core OS/Hardware

let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@apple.com"

0