Part 1 of the review | Reviews Home | Communicator Home

Advanced users will favour using the advanced features of Zip Manager when, creating, opening and managing most zip files and this is well catered from. This was the basis of what was available in the ER5 version of the program, but things have been improved.

When new archive is chosen you have to first name the file. Using the standard file navigation dialog you can navigate through the various folders and disk and choose where to place and what to call the zip file.

Then you are asked to add some file to the archive, you can choose multiple files by holding down the control key and can include hold folders with the folder structure preserved. Once this is done you see this screen which is the same for both the creation of a new archive, and the opening of an existing archive.

This is where most people will work most of the time and allows access to all functions of a typical zip file manager. Files can be opened from directly in the program and are extracted and the appropriate program launched. Note the different file compressions achieved above, the .jpg file in a compressed image format and can not be compressed further, but the .dic file (Microsoft Word File) can be reduced by 89%!

Once you have finished with the file you are given the option of updating it. Additional files can be added to an archive, file(s) can be deleted from an archive and file(s) can be extracted from an archive as well as several other functions as shown below:

Passwords can be added to an archive for extra security. The archive can be tested (to make sure there are no errors in it and it is not corrupted). Comments can also be added to the archive. As shown in the screenshots above the view can be sorted in different ways, the properties of the file viewed and previously open archives quickly open again using the Recent Archives command on the file menu. Archives can also be sent over infra red to another device from the send menu on the file menu.

The program comes with an excellent help file and should have any problems this will give you any information you need. I only wish all files were so comprehensive.

Zip Manager is probably going to become on of those must have program. I congratulate the authors on producing an excellent program with many useful functions, while maintaining usability for both beginners and experts alike. If this is the standard quality of Epocware software for ER6 then we have a lot to look to look forward too as they are also producing several games, and an e-book reader for the Nokia 9210. I hope that all software can be as high quallity as this for the new platform.

My verdict? Get it! English, German & French versions of Zip Manager are available. It cost $19 (about £15) and is good value for money. The program can be downloaded from the Epocware website

Zip Manager is awarded ER6 Premier Program Award.

Note about Ratings / Awards
From now on when I review a program I will try and give it a rating based on what is above (although other reviewers on this site our welcome to follow this rating style not all do). I weighted it so that the most important parts of a program usability and features contribute most to a program overall score. But the program but also have good support, install easily and have good documentation. Any program achieving over 90% receives a premier Program Award / rating. I envisage that this will be a relatively rare occurrence although I am more likely to review a program if I think it is very good!