ZipXray for Web Apps

Browse and preview archives that are already online, without downloading them first.

ZipXray browses and previews remote archives without downloading them. Paste the address

of an archive that is already on a server; ZipXray reads only the parts it needs and lists

the contents in the browser. The whole file is not downloaded just to browse it. Archive

content is processed in the browser and is not uploaded anywhere; the archive must already

have a web address, as ZipXray does not accept uploads.

SUPPORTED CONTENT

ZipXray recognises a file by its content, not by its extension. Besides common archive

formats, disk images and installer packages can be browsed, and files with a different

extension that use the same format open as well. A broad range of archive, disk-image and

package types is supported; single-stream compressed files are out of scope.

Limitation: in "solid" archives listing works, but reading a single file requires decoding

the whole solid group. Streaming is therefore not possible there, and the UI shows the

amount that will be downloaded up front. Encrypted and solid entries are decoded in one

pass and cannot be cancelled mid-way.

NESTED ARCHIVES

An archive inside another archive, or an archive inside a disk image, can be opened and

browsed without downloading it.

MEDIA AND DOCUMENTS

Video and audio files inside an archive can be played without downloading the whole file,

and images are displayed directly. Text and code files are previewed in the app, CSV files

are shown as text, and PDF files open in the browser's own viewer when the browser supports

it. Word, Excel and PowerPoint files are not previewed; they can be downloaded and opened

on the device.

Playback conditions:

- If the archive entry is stored uncompressed and is not part of a solid group, the media

is streamed directly from the archive.

- For video, entries that can be played from the start stream in order; compressed entries

that are not structured that way are offered as "Download and play" instead.

- For audio, seeking is limited until the stream has been fully appended.

- Media formats the browser cannot decode can be downloaded and opened in an external

player.

ENCRYPTED ARCHIVES

Content in password-protected archives is read by entering the password. Passwords are kept

in memory for the session only; they are never written to disk or transmitted.

DOWNLOADING FILES

A single file, selected files, or the entire contents can be downloaded. "Download selected"

and "Download all" build a new ZIP archive from the chosen files.

SETTINGS

The preview size limit, additional text extensions and the option to open unpreviewable

files as text are available in Settings.

OPERATING REQUIREMENT

The server hosting the archive must be able to send only the requested parts of the file

instead of the whole file; most file servers support this. If the server does not, or can

only send a limited portion from the start of the file, the archive cannot be opened without

downloading it in full, and the app reports this to the user.

Because the archive is read directly by the browser, the server must also allow cross-origin

reads (CORS). If it does not, the archive cannot be opened directly; a personal relay

address can be entered in Settings (HTTPS is required except for ), or the ZipXray

browser extension can be used.