{"id":35694,"date":"2026-10-29T12:08:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davidpraznik.com\/?p=35694"},"modified":"2026-10-29T14:02:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T14:02:02","slug":"archivist-free-archivist-for-macos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davidpraznik.com\/en\/archivator-brezplacen-arhivator-za-macos\/","title":{"rendered":"Archivator: free archive manager for macOS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Archivator,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Archivator is a free open-source application for macOS that compresses or unpacks files without opening windows: you drag the files, hold down the button while dragging, and drop them into the selection in the circular menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why I made it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Converter<\/a> It convinced me that scrolling through the menus was faster than using the wheel. I wanted to keep the same workflow for the archives as well: no opening windows, no searching through menus, in a few seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many open source tools have made my work easier over the years, so I\u2019m also sharing this publicly: it\u2019s free, the license is open source. MIT<\/a>, The code is on GitHub. The wheel is the same as in the Konverter, so it will be ready for you immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The archivist lives in the menu bar and stays dormant all the time until you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Start Archivator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Drag one or more files or folders from the Finder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. While pulling, hold down the button (default) \u2325 Option<\/strong>). When the cursor is moved, a wheel appears.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Drop the file to the selection.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If you are pulling ordinary files or folders, the wheel offers three compression formats: ZIP, 7Z and TAR.GZ. If you are only pulling already compressed files (ZIP, 7Z, \u2026), the wheel offers unpacking into a new folder next to the archive or unpacking into a folder you choose yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lowering the center of the wheel or between cuts does nothing. During the process, the center of the wheel shows progress: the percentage when you compress more files, the size of the written archive for one file, or the elapsed time when unpacking. You can drag the wheel to the side during the process, with Esc<\/strong> and you cancel the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The result is saved alongside the original. If the name is already taken, a number is added (Project 2.zip<\/code>). Existing files are never overwritten by Archivator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Formats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The archivist compresses into three forms and unpacks eight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Action<\/th>Formats<\/th><\/tr>
    Pressing<\/td>ZIP, 7Z, TAR.GZ<\/td><\/tr>
    Unpacking<\/td>ZIP, 7Z, TAR, TGZ, GZ, BZ2, XZ, RAR<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    RAR only unpacks; it cannot be compressed. At once you can drop several files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to unpack RAR on Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Drag the RAR archive from Finder, hold down \u2325 Option<\/strong> and drop it into a new folder next to the archive or into a folder you choose yourself. Existing files are not overwritten by Archivator. RAR can only unpack files; compressing them is not possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Compression settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In the settings, you can adjust the compression to suit your workload:<\/p>\n\n\n\n