Create Self-Extracting 7z Archives Directly from Windows Explorer
Once installed, Paquet Builder’s shell extension for Windows Explorer enables you to:
- Package groups of files or entire folders into compressed .exe files with optional encryption.
- Convert .7z archives into Self-Extracting .exe files.
You can do this directly from the context menu in Windows Explorer. Simply select your files, folders, or .7z archives, right-click, and choose “Compress into a Self-Extracting .exe.” It’s that simple!
Download Paquet Builder Explorer Extension
To download and install the shell extension, follow these steps:
▶️ Make sure to select the correct version for your Windows system.
About this download
- Size: 886 kb (32-bit) or 1113 kb (64-bit)
- MD5 hashsum: 1B7DF66C3A7CFAA1842217C2843A9AE8 (32-bit) or 10A2C5036EEF43A38B4E814BD34A9C27 (64-bit)
- Version reference: 20.0
- File digitally signed (with Microsoft Authenticode) to authenticate our company (G.D.G. Software SAS) as well as to ensure that the code has not been altered. Please verify the publisher to ensure you have downloaded genuine software.
How to Install the Extension
➡️ After downloading, run the pbextsetupNN.exe installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Ensure that Windows Explorer is closed during the installation.
This shell extension is compatible with all recent versions of Windows. Paquet Builder is required to compress files and create SFX archives.
How to Use the Extension
Paquet Builder’s shell extension lets you create Self-Extracting archives (SFX) and convert 7-Zip archives (.7z) into self-extracting EXE files:
In Windows Explorer:
- Select one or more files, right-click, and choose “Compress into a Self-Extracting .exe.”
- Right-click a folder and choose “Compress into a Self-Extracting .exe.”
- Right-click a .7z archive and choose “Convert to a Self-Extracting .exe.”
A dialog box will appear:
You can adjust settings such as the Window Title, Description, and output path for the Self-Extracting EXE file.
Click “Build” to proceed.
- Paquet Builder runs silently in the background, creating your Self-Extracting archive:
- When you or anyone else runs the .exe file, the following interface appears:
Clicking “Next” leads to:
Here, you can choose the extraction path. Click “Next” to extract your files. No 7-Zip installation is required.
✔️ You can customize the archive’s title using the “Window Title” field.
✔️ Paquet Builder offers advanced customization options for creating tailored Self-Extracting archives.
To create advanced SFX archives:
- Enable “Open Paquet Builder to customize the output settings” to open Paquet Builder after clicking “Create.” You’ll then need to compile the archive manually.
- Alternatively, enable “Create a Paquet Builder project file for later use.” This generates the Self-Extracting archive along with a .pbpx project file, which you can edit later in Paquet Builder.
How to Uninstall the Extension
To uninstall the shell extension, go to Applications => Installed Applications in the Windows Settings app, select Paquet Builder – Explorer Extension Add-On, and click “Remove.”