DosZip is a compact, efficient, and feature-rich text-based file manager designed for Windows. Inspired by the classic Norton Commander, it provides users with a dual-pane interface that facilitates file operations between two directories. Despite its old-school design, DosZip includes modern features like support for long file names (LFN) and archive handling, making it a practical tool for certain use cases.
Key Features
DosZip is a very small, portable and lightweight program. The 64-bit version download is just 982KB, making it ideal for carrying on a USB drive and using on-the-go. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows, with source code and binaries available too. The program is launched by running dz.exe, presenting a Norton Commander-style interface that will feel familiar to users acquainted with older file management tools.
DosZip is equipped with 7z.dll from the 7-Zip project, enabling it to handle popular archive formats like ZIP, TAR, and 7Z. Its keyboard shortcuts are intuitive and mirror those of Norton Commander, such as F3 to view files, F4 to edit files, and Ctrl+F4 to access the built-in hex editor. The full help documentation is accessible via F1 or by opening the accompanying dz.txt file in an external editor.
Usefulness for System Administrators
For system administrators, DosZip is an invaluable tool for troubleshooting and lightweight file management on older or resource-limited systems. Its minimal resource consumption and portability make it a reliable option when accessing machines that lack advanced graphical tools. The dual-pane interface simplifies transferring files between directories, and the integrated hex editor adds functionality for viewing and editing binary files.
Limitations in Modern Environments
Despite its merits, DosZip has limited utility in modern computing environments. The text-based interface, while functional, lacks the visual intuitiveness of modern GUI-based file managers. Advanced graphical editors and file management tools available today such as Notepad++ or UltraEdit offer far superior capabilities, including batch operations, cloud integration, and enhanced user interfaces. Moreover, with the decline of text-based file management tools, the learning curve for new users unfamiliar with Norton Commander-style interfaces may be steep.
Conclusion
DosZip is a nostalgic yet powerful tool for specific use cases, particularly for IT professionals working in legacy systems or troubleshooting scenarios. However, for mainstream file management, modern GUI-based tools are generally more practical and feature-rich.
You can download DosZip from https://sourceforge.net/projects/doszip/.