Manage files to compress¶

The file manager is the core feature of Paquet Builder. It allows you to specify the files you want to compress and include in your package. The interface is divided into two sections: the component manager on the left and the file manager on the right.

Components are categories that group related files together. Start by learning more about components in Paquet Builder.

Working with the Component Manager¶

In the Component Manager ribbon:

To add a new component, click Add Component and provide a title.

To remove a component, select it and press Remove.

Edit a component's properties using the Properties button.

Use Component Wizard to let Paquet Builder generate components automatically.

For folder-linked components, click List Update to update them.

Working with the File Manager¶

Select a component to manage its files. Paquet Builder will load the file list for the selected component, saving changes automatically.

Adding and Removing Files¶

The file manager works like Windows Explorer, displaying the full file paths for the selected component.

Use the Add button to include files. Options include adding individual files, entire folders, or using custom wildcards:

For example, choosing "Add Wildcard" allows you to define masks for files to include:

Remove files by selecting them and clicking Remove.

Clear all files by right-clicking and selecting Clear file list.

Open a file by right-clicking and selecting Open from the context menu.

Drag and Drop¶

You can drag files from Windows Explorer directly into the file list.

Setting File Properties¶

Edit properties by selecting one or more files and using the Properties button, context menu, or by double-clicking the file.

Sorting and Filtering Files¶

Click on column headers to sort files (e.g., by type or size). Resize columns if needed:

👉 Filter files using the "Filter" field. For example, enter *.EXE to display only EXE files.

Using the Context Menu¶

Right-click on files to access commands like "Select All," "File Information," or "File Properties."

Use the "Create a shortcut to..." command to quickly generate shortcuts. Edit these shortcuts later with the shortcut manager.

File Actions¶

The File Actions button provides additional features for shared and COM/ActiveX files.

Register as ActiveX / COM Server¶

This creates a custom action to self-register executable or DLL files, enabling their use by other COM applications.

Register as Shared DLL¶

This option creates a custom action to mark the file as shared, ensuring it isn't removed if still in use.

During uninstallation, the system checks whether a shared file is still in use. If not, it unregisters and removes it safely.

Including Sub-Folders¶

When adding folders or wildcards, choose whether to include sub-folders.

Configure components for live-update to include sub-folders automatically.

Using an Existing Archive¶

Instead of individual files, you can use an existing 7-Zip archive (.7z) as your package's source. Specify the archive in the "Existing Archive" tab and preview its contents:

Using external archives is recommended only for small projects or converting an archive to a Self-Extracting package.