********* ARCHIVE COMPARISON TEST (A.C.T.)  -  SEPTEMBER 1996 *********
*                       Author:  JEFF GILCHRIST                       *
*                 A.C.T. released since September 1992.               *
***********************************************************************
*   A.C.T. may be re-posted or distributed only if the contents are   *
*   not changed under any circumstances and the contents are posted   *
*   in their entirety.                                                *
***********************************************************************

########################### PLEASE READ ###############################
A.C.T. is now on the World Wide Web (WWW)!  It can be accessed at:
                 http://www.mi.net/act/act.html

This is the best way to view A.C.T. since it is in a graphical format
and most authors have a link to their e-mail address.  There are also
links to FTP sites to download most of the archivers.  Finally, there
is a link to my e-mail address to send me any comments or suggestions.
#######################################################################

The following is a test I did on several archivers to compare their
performance against others.

For the following tests with single file types, I used a 486DX4-75 with
20 megabytes of RAM.  No disk CACHE was used at all!  For the timing,
Ultra Precision Command Timer v1.6 by Erik de Neve was used.  The
operating system used was DOS 6.22.  I compressed the tested files from
my hard drive to a 2 megabyte RAM drive.

LEGEND OF SYMBOLS USED
----------------------

+  =  Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last
      posting of these tests.
-  =  Indicates the version of the software tested will be removed
      from the listing next month.
*  =  Indicates the version of the software tested has changed either
      in speed or compression size since the previous month.
8  =  Indicates the archiver was tested using 8 megabytes of RAM.
B  =  Indicates the archiver with the best compression
O  =  Indicates the archiver with the best speed/compression ratio
F  =  Indicates the archiver with the fastest compression
Q  =  Indicates the archiver with the quickest extraction



                    ***  PART 1 - SINGLE FILE TESTS  ***


TEXT File Test     -     Uncompressed Size 768,771 bytes


    ARCHIVER        SWITCHES       CREATION TIME  COMPRESSED SIZE  RATIO
    --------        --------       -------------  ---------------  -----

 B  X1 0.94h ->X    xem4l2          0 m 32.8 sec   219,691 bytes   71.4%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem3            0 m 33.7 sec   219,827 bytes   71.4%
    ACB 1.23c       (u)f            3 m 51.9 sec   224,527 bytes   70.8%
    ACB 1.23c       (b)f            2 m 30.0 sec   226,610 bytes   70.5%
 8  ACB 1.14a       (b)f            2 m 36.8 sec   227,416 bytes   70.4%
    HA 0.999b       e2              0 m 34.8 sec   235,767 bytes   69.3%
    ACB 1.23c       (B)f            1 m 15.7 sec   241,251 bytes   68.6%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     -++             0 m 46.7 sec   244,049 bytes   68.3%
+   RKIVE 1.2       -m5             0 m 52.8 sec   252,112 bytes   67.2%
    CODEC 3.21      -c10            0 m 42.4 sec   252,375 bytes   67.2%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem7            0 m 18.0 sec   255,553 bytes   66.8%
+   RKIVE 1.2       -m3             0 m 34.1 sec   257,652 bytes   66.5%
 O  HAP 4.03        3               0 m 13.2 sec   260,103 bytes   66.2%
    HAP 3.05bp      (none)          0 m 18.3 sec   260,103 bytes   66.2%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c7 -t20       29 m 40.3 sec   263,747 bytes   65.7%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c5            11 m 03.7 sec   271,960 bytes   64.6%
+   RKIVE 1.2       (none)          0 m 26.4 sec   273,040 bytes   64.5%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md512      1 m 47.8 sec   279,704 bytes   63.6%
+   RKIVE 1.1       -m7             3 m 33.2 sec   282,464 bytes   63.3%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256      1 m 25.4 sec   284,230 bytes   63.0%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c3 -t20        2 m 00.1 sec   284,721 bytes   63.0%
    QUANTUM 0.97    (none)          1 m 44.8 sec   287,179 bytes   62.6%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md512          0 m 27.3 sec   293,003 bytes   61.9%
    HPACK 0.79a0    -df             0 m 49.7 sec   299,072 bytes   61.1%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -hz30       3 m 29.7 sec   299,997 bytes   61.0%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -t16        3 m 21.2 sec   300,037 bytes   61.0%
    RAR 2.0         -m5             0 m 30.1 sec   301,306 bytes   60.8%
    ARJZ 0.15       -mp9 -jh        0 m 27.9 sec   301,771 bytes   60.7%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Max Compress)  0 m 36.6 sec   302,022 bytes   60.7%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Max Compress)  0 m 35.5 sec   302,026 bytes   60.7%
    LHARK 0.3o      -tob            0 m 31.7 sec   302,820 bytes   60.6%
    ARJZ 0.15       (none)          0 m 18.6 sec   304,182 bytes   60.4%
    ARI 1.13u       -m3 -hz30       1 m 21.5 sec   304,248 bytes   60.4%
+   RKIVE 1.1       (none)          0 m 58.9 sec   304,303 bytes   60.4%
    RAR 2.0         (none)          0 m 16.6 sec   305,914 bytes   60.2%
    YAC 1.02        (none)          0 m 36.1 sec   306,697 bytes   60.1%
    LHARK 0.3o      (none)          0 m 14.7 sec   309,326 bytes   59.8%
    LIMIT 1.2       -mx             0 m 21.6 sec   310,872 bytes   59.6%
    LIMIT 1.2       (none)          0 m 20.1 sec   311,187 bytes   59.5%
    SUPERPACK 2.0   (Max)           0 m 49.3 sec   311,274 bytes   59.5%
    AMGC 2.2        -mm             0 m 51.3 sec   311,279 bytes   59.5%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Default)       0 m 16.4 sec   311,412 bytes   59.5%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Default)       0 m 17.4 sec   311,412 bytes   59.5%
    HA 0.999b       e1              0 m 27.1 sec   312,016 bytes   59.4%
    SQZ 1.08.3      -q(ALT236)      0 m 26.9 sec   312,330 bytes   59.4%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -9 -j           0 m 17.6 sec   312,371 bytes   59.4%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Max Compress)  0 m 21.7 sec   312,371 bytes   59.4%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j           0 m 17.9 sec   312,395 bytes   59.4%
    PKZIP 2.04g     -ex             0 m 15.1 sec   312,604 bytes   59.3%
    GZIP 1.2.4      -9              0 m 23.5 sec   312,915 bytes   59.3%
    LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\           0 m 21.4 sec   313,166 bytes   59.3%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -j              0 m 14.3 sec   313,466 bytes   59.2%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j              0 m 14.4 sec   313,490 bytes   59.2%
    CODEC 3.21      (none)          0 m 16.2 sec   313,787 bytes   59.2%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     (none)          0 m 19.1 sec   314,138 bytes   59.1%
    AIN 2.2         /m1             0 m 10.7 sec   314,299 bytes   59.1%
    GZIP 1.2.4      (none)          0 m 18.8 sec   314,443 bytes   59.2%
    SQZ 1.08.3      (none)          0 m 18.6 sec   315,028 bytes   59.0%
    PKZIP 2.04g     (none)          0 m 10.4 sec   316,113 bytes   58.9%
    QUARK 1.0beta   (none)          0 m 18.0 sec   317,195 bytes   58.7%
    AIN 2.2         (none)          0 m 08.6 sec   317,660 bytes   58.7%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Normal Comp)   0 m 12.8 sec   318,344 bytes   58.6%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -jm -e          0 m 17.4 sec   318,939 bytes   58.5%
    ARJ 2.50a       -jm -e          0 m 17.4 sec   318,939 bytes   58.5%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -e              0 m 16.1 sec   319,163 bytes   58.5%
    ARJ 2.50a       -e              0 m 16.2 sec   319,163 bytes   58.5%
    SUPERPACK 2.0   (Normal)        0 m 15.4 sec   327,641 bytes   57.4%
    AMGC 2.2        (none)          0 m 17.0 sec   327,646 bytes   57.4%
    NULIB 3.24      c5              0 m 05.9 sec   334,187 bytes   56.5%
    LHA 2.55b       -we:            0 m 17.4 sec   339,110 bytes   55.9%
    AR 1.10         (none)          0 m 32.4 sec   339,110 bytes   55.9%
    SAR 1.0         (none)          0 m 32.3 sec   339,118 bytes   55.9%
    ZOO 2.10        h:              0 m 30.9 sec   339,245 bytes   55.9%
    CROSSEPAC 1.35  Format=Binary   0 m 29.9 sec   339,419 bytes   55.8%
    PUT 3.41        (none)          0 m 22.4 sec   339,642 bytes   55.8%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 5)    0 m 19.7 sec   340,046 bytes   55.8%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 9)    0 m 20.4 sec   340,046 bytes   55.8%
    HYPER 2.6       (none)          0 m 09.9 sec   345,887 bytes   55.0%
    PAK 2.51        (none)          0 m 10.8 sec   347,608 bytes   54.8%
+   JAM - Aug1996   (none)          0 m 06.9 sec   351,720 bytes   54.2%
-   JAM - May1996   (none)          0 m 06.9 sec   351,722 bytes   54.2%
    DWC 5.10        z               0 m 07.7 sec   362,629 bytes   52.8%
    SQWEZ 2.2       /s              0 m 33.0 sec   365,224 bytes   52.5%
    ARX 1.0         (none)          0 m 14.4 sec   369,545 bytes   51.9%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  (none)          0 m 11.0 sec   370,868 bytes   51.8%
 F  PKZIP 2.04g     -es             0 m 04.1 sec   372,386 bytes   51.6%
    DWC 5.10        (none)          0 m 08.1 sec   380,299 bytes   50.5%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sh             0 m 13.3 sec   391,252 bytes   49.1%
    PGMPAK 0.13     (none)          0 m 08.6 sec   391,510 bytes   49.1%
    MDCD 1.0        (none)          0 m 05.8 sec   391,703 bytes   49.0%
    ZOO 2.10        :               0 m 13.2 sec   391,750 bytes   49.0%
    SPLINT 2.1      (none)          0 m 17.8 sec   416,191 bytes   45.9%
    JRCHIVE 1.10    -v              0 m 09.6 sec   416,982 bytes   45.8%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  -m              0 m 08.0 sec   417,005 bytes   45.8%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sm             0 m 11.3 sec   418,014 bytes   45.6%
    ARC 6.02        (none)          0 m 05.4 sec   418,511 bytes   45.6%
    LARC 3.33       (none)          0 m 10.2 sec   424,186 bytes   44.8%
    GAS 2.0         (none)          2 m 00.7 sec   438,688 bytes   42.9%
    NULIB 3.24      (none)          0 m 07.0 sec   454,304 bytes   40.9%

Winner for best compression   :  X1 0.94h
Winner for fastest compression:  PKZIP 2.04g
Winner for best overall       :  HAP 4.03


EXE File Test      -     Uncompressed Size 425,488 bytes


    ARCHIVER        SWITCHES       CREATION TIME  COMPRESSED SIZE  RATIO
    --------        --------       -------------  ---------------  -----

 B  ARI 1.13u       -m5 -hz30       2 m 44.9 sec    92,744 bytes   78.2%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -t16        2 m 39.9 sec    92,955 bytes   78.2%
    ARI 1.13u       -m3 -hz30       0 m 26.4 sec    93,500 bytes   78.0%
+   RKIVE 1.2       -m3             0 m 16.9 sec    95,021 bytes   77.7%
+   RKIVE 1.2       (none)          0 m 12.3 sec    95,117 bytes   77.6%
+   RKIVE 1.2       -m5             0 m 20.2 sec    95,780 bytes   77.5%
    ACB 1.23c       (u)f            1 m 01.7 sec    96,598 bytes   77.3%
    ACB 1.23c       (b)f            0 m 42.8 sec    96,866 bytes   77.2%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c7 -t20       11 m 00.2 sec    97,105 bytes   77.2%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c5             3 m 46.5 sec    97,315 bytes   77.1%
    ACB 1.14a       f               0 m 43.7 sec    97,897 bytes   77.0%
    ACB 1.23c       (B)f            0 m 23.3 sec    98,389 bytes   76.9%
    RAR 2.0         -m5             0 m 14.7 sec    98,576 bytes   76.8%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256      0 m 21.5 sec    98,734 bytes   76.8%
 O  RAR 2.0         (none)          0 m 05.0 sec    99,652 bytes   76.6%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md256          0 m 06.6 sec    99,760 bytes   76.6%
+   RKIVE 1.1       -m7             0 m 48.7 sec   101,008 bytes   76.3%
+   RKIVE 1.1       (none)          0 m 18.6 sec   101,084 bytes   76.2%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem1            0 m 17.4 sec   101,410 bytes   76.2%
 8  YAC 1.02        (none)          0 m 17.2 sec   101,419 bytes   76.2%
    QUANTUM 0.97    (none)          0 m 25.2 sec   101,443 bytes   76.2%
    YAC 1.02        (none)          0 m 19.9 sec   101,448 bytes   76.2%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c3 -t20        0 m 26.4 sec   101,456 bytes   76.2%
    HA 0.999b       e1              0 m 14.2 sec   101,496 bytes   76.1%
    QUARK 1.0beta   (none)          0 m 18.5 sec   103,213 bytes   75.7%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Max Compress)  0 m 27.2 sec   103,488 bytes   75.7%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Max Compress)  0 m 26.6 sec   103,508 bytes   75.7%
    LIMIT 1.2       -mx             0 m 13.1 sec   103,645 bytes   75.6%
    CODEC 3.21      (none)          0 m 04.9 sec   103,710 bytes   75.6%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Max)           0 m 21.6 sec   103,806 bytes   75.6%
    AMGC 2.2        -mm             0 m 23.1 sec   103,811 bytes   75.6%
    LHARK 0.3o      -tob            0 m 08.7 sec   103,828 bytes   75.6%
    GZIP 1.2.4      -9              0 m 18.2 sec   103,832 bytes   75.6%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Max Compress)  0 m 16.3 sec   103,929 bytes   75.6%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -9 -j           0 m 15.8 sec   103,929 bytes   75.6%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j           0 m 15.6 sec   103,953 bytes   75.6%
    LIMIT 1.2       (none)          0 m 04.8 sec   104,147 bytes   75.5%
    PKZIP 2.04g     -ex             0 m 06.7 sec   104,249 bytes   75.5%
    LHARK 0.3o      (none)          0 m 03.4 sec   104,500 bytes   75.4%
    AIN 2.2         /m1             0 m 04.1 sec   104,858 bytes   75.4%
    ARJ 2.50a       -jm -e          0 m 14.7 sec   104,976 bytes   75.3%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -jm -e          0 m 14.9 sec   104,976 bytes   75.3%
    BSArc 2.0.0     -+1             0 m 17.7 sec   105,024 bytes   75.3%
    SQZ 1.08.3      -q(ALT236)      0 m 30.2 sec   105,088 bytes   75.3%
    ARJZ 0.15       -mp9            0 m 14.3 sec   105,120 bytes   75.3%
    GZIP 1.2.4      (none)          0 m 05.9 sec   105,196 bytes   75.2%
    LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\           0 m 06.7 sec   105,214 bytes   75.3%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -j              0 m 04.6 sec   105,402 bytes   75.2%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j              0 m 04.6 sec   105,478 bytes   75.2%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Default)       0 m 06.8 sec   105,514 bytes   75.2%
    AIN 2.2         (none)          0 m 03.4 sec   105,515 bytes   75.2%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Default)       0 m 06.4 sec   105,544 bytes   75.2%
    PKZIP 2.04g     (none)          0 m 04.3 sec   105,547 bytes   75.2%
    ARJ 2.50a       -e              0 m 05.5 sec   105,646 bytes   75.2%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -e              0 m 06.0 sec   105,646 bytes   75.2%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     (none)          0 m 05.1 sec   105,732 bytes   75.2%
    PUT 3.41        (none)          0 m 09.7 sec   105,863 bytes   75.1%
    LHA 2.55b       -we:            0 m 07.1 sec   105,949 bytes   75.1%
    AR 1.10         (none)          0 m 14.8 sec   105,949 bytes   75.1%
    SAR 1.0         (none)          0 m 13.9 sec   105,957 bytes   75.1%
    ARJZ 0.15       (none)          0 m 04.4 sec   105,995 bytes   75.1%
    SQZ 1.08.3      (none)          0 m 05.5 sec   106,023 bytes   75.1%
    ZOO 2.10        h:              0 m 13.2 sec   106,084 bytes   75.1%
    CROSSEPAC 1.35  Format=Binary   0 m 12.4 sec   106,258 bytes   75.0%
    CODEC 3.21      -c10            0 m 38.4 sec   106,498 bytes   75.0%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Normal Comp)   0 m 03.8 sec   106,527 bytes   75.0%
    HPACK 0.79a0    -df             2 m 38.2 sec   107,956 bytes   74.6%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Normal)        0 m 05.3 sec   108,673 bytes   74.5%
    AMGC 2.2        (none)          0 m 05.8 sec   108,678 bytes   74.5%
    HYPER 2.6       (none)          0 m 04.6 sec   109,587 bytes   74.2%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem7            0 m 12.0 sec   111,432 bytes   73.8%
    SQWEZ 2.2       /s              0 m 17.1 sec   112,393 bytes   73.6%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 9)    0 m 11.6 sec   112,436 bytes   73.6%
    HA 0.999b       e2              0 m 39.7 sec   113,013 bytes   73.4%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 5)    0 m 09.8 sec   113,439 bytes   73.3%
    HAP 4.03        3               0 m 11.4 sec   113,738 bytes   73.3%
    HAP 3.05bp      (none)          0 m 20.0 sec   113,738 bytes   73.3%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  (none)          0 m 10.2 sec   114,456 bytes   73.1%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sh             0 m 11.4 sec   114,474 bytes   73.1%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sm             0 m 08.5 sec   115,379 bytes   72.9%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  -m              0 m 05.5 sec   117,841 bytes   72.3%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem4            0 m 36.3 sec   118,101 bytes   72.2%
    PGMPAK 0.13     (none)          0 m 07.9 sec   118,472 bytes   72.2%
    ARX 1.0         (none)          0 m 11.0 sec   118,701 bytes   72.1%
 F  PKZIP 2.04g     -es             0 m 02.5 sec   122,592 bytes   71.2%
    PAK 2.51        (none)          0 m 06.8 sec   122,829 bytes   71.1%
    LARC 3.33       (none)          0 m 06.6 sec   145,522 bytes   65.8%
+   JAM - Aug1996   (none)          0 m 04.0 sec   146,269 bytes   65.6%
-   JAM - May1996   (none)          0 m 04.3 sec   147,414 bytes   65.4%
    DWC 5.10        (none)          0 m 03.9 sec   157,188 bytes   63.1%
    JRCHIVE 1.10    -v              0 m 05.3 sec   157,909 bytes   63.1%
    MDCD 1.0        (none)          0 m 03.5 sec   158,402 bytes   62.8%
    ZOO 2.10        :               0 m 07.5 sec   158,449 bytes   62.8%
    NULIB 3.24      (none)          0 m 03.5 sec   158,955 bytes   62.6%
    DWC 5.10        z               0 m 04.3 sec   159,263 bytes   62.6%
    ARC 6.02        (none)          0 m 03.0 sec   161,589 bytes   62.0%
    NULIB 3.24      c5              0 m 03.5 sec   163,706 bytes   61.5%
    SPLINT 2.1      (none)          0 m 08.9 sec   167,333 bytes   60.7%
    GAS 2.0         (none)          1 m 04.8 sec   219,528 bytes   48.4%

Winner for best compression   :  ARI 1.13u
Winner for fastest compression:  PKZIP 2.04g
Winner for best overall       :  RAR 2.0


EXE Pack File Test     -     Uncompressed Size 341,444 bytes

The EXE Pack test compares programs that compress .EXE files and still
allows them to execute.  The .EXE file used in this test is GWS.EXE
found in The Graphic Workshop v7.0e by Alchemy Mindworks Inc.  The
UNCOMP. TIME data shows the amount of time it takes to uncompress
and run the executable file.  This time was calculated using a utility
called BENCH 0.01beta written by Michal Weis (weis@elf.stuba.sk).
The results for ACB, RAR and PKZIP are listed only to show how normal
archivers compression ratios compare with EXE Packers.

                               UNCOMP.
    ARCHIVER      COMP. TIME    TIME   COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO  OPTIONS
    --------      ----------  -------- --------------- -----  -------
+   ACB 1.23c      66.70 sec    N/A     118,656 bytes  65.2%    N/A
-8  ACB 1.13b      46.40 sec    N/A     121,505 bytes  64.4%    N/A
+   RAR 2.0        07.40 sec    N/A     123,274 bytes  63.9%    N/A
-8  RAR 1.55       08.60 sec    N/A     125,374 bytes  63.3%    N/A
+   PKZIP 2.04g    05.30 sec    N/A     129,216 bytes  62.2%    N/A
-8  PKZIP 2.04g    06.50 sec    N/A     129,222 bytes  62.2%    N/A

+B  WWPACK 3.05b3 -v- 27.99s  0.2103 s  125,422 bytes  63.3%   U E P
-   WWPACK 3.05b2 -v- 28.03s  0.2107 s  125,422 bytes  63.3%   U E P
+   WWPACK 3.05b3  27.93 sec  0.2103 s  125,447 bytes  63.3%   U E P
-   WWPACK 3.05b2  28.06 sec  0.2103 s  125,447 bytes  63.3%   U E P
+   WWPACK 3.05b3 -f  27.18s  0.1597 s  127,626 bytes  62.6%   U E P
 O  UCEXE 2.4      04.69 sec  0.1609 s  129,141 bytes  62.2%   U   P
    AINEXE 2.2     03.34 sec  0.3389 s  131,941 bytes  61.4%
-   XPACK 1.46 -4  10.59 sec  1.5205 s  132,878 bytes  61.1%   U E P
+   XPACK 1.49 -4  10.83 sec  1.5204 s  132,878 bytes  61.1%   U E P
 Q  COMPACK 4.5    05.66 sec  0.0846 s  134,012 bytes  60.8%   U
    AVPACK 1.22    03.70 sec  0.1205 s  136,672 bytes  60.0%   U E P
+   XPACK 1.49 -5  04.72 sec  0.1225 s  139,015 bytes  59.3%   U E P
-   XPACK 1.46 -5  05.10 sec  0.1226 s  139,015 bytes  59.3%   U E P
    PKLITE 2.01    03.93 sec  0.1528 s  139,731 bytes  59.1%   U E P
    RJCRUSH 1.10   03.72 sec  0.1866 s  141,187 bytes  58.7%
    PGMPAK 0.13    08.61 sec    N/A     142,560 bytes  58.2%
    DIET 1.45f     02.75 sec  0.2128 s  142,771 bytes  58.2%   U
    DIET 1.45f -g  02.75 sec  0.1710 s  142,874 bytes  58.2%   U
    LZEXE 0.91     03.93 sec  0.1297 s  143,432 bytes  58.0%   U   P
    PACKWIN 1.0    03.91 sec  0.1297 s  143,489 bytes  58.0%
    TINYPROG 3.9   16.83 sec  0.1209 s  144,080 bytes  57.8%     E P
 F  CRUNCH 1.0     02.32 sec  1.7773 s  218,048 bytes  36.1%
    AXE 2.2        03.41 sec  0.3932 s  248,365 bytes  36.1%

Winner for best compression   :  WWPACK 3.05b3
Winner for fastest compression:  CRUNCH 1.0
Winner for quickest extraction:  COMPACK 4.5
Winner for best overall       :  UCEXE 2.4


OPTIONS:  U - The EXE Packer has the ability to uncompress the .EXE
              file back into its original form.
          E - The EXE Packer has the ability to encrypt the .EXE file
          P - The EXE Packer has the ability to add error protection
              data so it can inform the user if the file has been
              changed in any way (ie: infected by a virus)


669 File Test  -  (8 bit, 8 Channel)  Uncompressed Size 1,314,481 bytes


    ARCHIVER        SWITCHES       CREATION TIME  COMPRESSED SIZE  RATIO
    --------        --------       -------------  ---------------  -----

 B  WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -mm -md1024 0 m 39.9 sec   591,827 bytes   55.0%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -mm         0 m 30.6 sec   592,076 bytes   55.0%
 O  RAR 2.0         -m5 -mm         0 m 24.1 sec   592,549 bytes   54.9%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -mm             0 m 21.5 sec   593,036 bytes   54.9%
    HAP 4.03        3               0 m 28.0 sec   620,685 bytes   52.8%
+   RKIVE 1.2       (none)          0 m 58.5 sec   622,764 bytes   52.6%
    ACB 1.23c       (u)f            7 m 57.7 sec   625,053 bytes   52.4%
+   RKIVE 1.1       -mm2            1 m 55.5 sec   625,463 bytes   52.4%
+   RKIVE 1.1       (none)          1 m 55.4 sec   625,490 bytes   52.4%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem3            1 m 49.4 sec   626,228 bytes   52.4%
+   RKIVE 1.2       -m3             1 m 15.7 sec   626,756 bytes   52.3%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem4l2          1 m 56.0 sec   628,286 bytes   52.2%
+   RKIVE 1.1       -m7             6 m 59.8 sec   628,378 bytes   52.2%
    ACB 1.14a       (b)f            5 m 39.3 sec   636,132 bytes   51.6%
    HA 0.999b       e2              2 m 06.2 sec   636,442 bytes   51.6%
    ACB 1.23c       (b)f            5 m 04.0 sec   636,774 bytes   51.6%
    BSArc 2.0.0     -++             2 m 28.9 sec   659,941 bytes   49.8%
    CODEC 3.21      -c10            2 m 26.6 sec   662,663 bytes   49.6%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Max Compress)  2 m 27.9 sec   684,650 bytes   47.9%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Max Compress)  2 m 26.8 sec   684,772 bytes   47.9%
    HPACK 0.79a0    -df             2 m 33.5 sec   691,175 bytes   47.4%
    ACB 1.23c       (B)f            2 m 29.5 sec   691,658 bytes   47.4%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem7            0 m 31.5 sec   694,031 bytes   57.2%
    HAP 3.05bp      (none)          0 m 56.2 sec   704,531 bytes   46.4%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c7 -t20      101 m 05.3 sec   714,809 bytes   45.6%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c5            55 m 40.0 sec   719,128 bytes   45.3%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -hz30       5 m 44.6 sec   735,462 bytes   44.0%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -t16        5 m 30.7 sec   735,574 bytes   44.0%
    ARI 1.13u       -m3 -hz30       2 m 21.4 sec   736,710 bytes   44.0%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c3 -t20        3 m 14.3 sec   738,137 bytes   43.8%
    QUANTUM 0.97    (none)          2 m 30.7 sec   738,987 bytes   43.8%
    HA 0.999b       e1              0 m 43.4 sec   769,923 bytes   41.4%
    RAR 2.0         -m5             0 m 40.3 sec   770,558 bytes   41.4%
    LIMIT 1.2       -mx             0 m 51.3 sec   770,759 bytes   41.4%
    LIMIT 1.2       (none)          0 m 46.4 sec   770,880 bytes   41.4%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Default)       0 m 26.9 sec   773,180 bytes   41.2%
    ARJZ 0.15       -mp9            0 m 37.4 sec   773,318 bytes   41.2%
    RAR 2.0         (none)          0 m 24.7 sec   773,527 bytes   41.2%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Default)       0 m 27.3 sec   773,386 bytes   41.2%
    PKZIP 2.04g     -ex             0 m 28.2 sec   774,780 bytes   41.1%
    ARJZ 0.15       (none)          0 m 25.0 sec   775,005 bytes   41.0%
    LHARK 0.3o      -tob            0 m 50.4 sec   775,226 bytes   41.0%
    LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\           0 m 31.8 sec   776,210 bytes   40.9%
    AIN 2.2         /m1             0 m 20.4 sec   776,613 bytes   40.9%
    SQZ 1.08.3      -q(ALT236)      0 m 38.6 sec   778,244 bytes   40.8%
    SPLINT 2.1      (none)          0 m 34.0 sec   778,534 bytes   40.8%
    GZIP 1.2.4      -9              0 m 35.3 sec   779,706 bytes   40.7%
    AIN 2.2         (none)          0 m 15.1 sec   779,886 bytes   40.7%
    ARJ 2.50a       -e              0 m 21.6 sec   780,605 bytes   40.6%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -e              0 m 21.8 sec   780,605 bytes   40.6%
    ARJ 2.50a       -jm -e          0 m 25.3 sec   780,662 bytes   40.6%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -jm -e          0 m 25.6 sec   780,662 bytes   40.6%
    SQZ 1.08.3      (none)          0 m 26.0 sec   780,831 bytes   40.6%
    QUARK 1.0beta   (none)          0 m 26.3 sec   780,863 bytes   40.6%
    GZIP 1.2.4      (none)          0 m 27.0 sec   781,194 bytes   40.6%
    LHARK 0.3o      (none)          0 m 22.9 sec   782,482 bytes   40.5%
    PKZIP 2.04g     (none)          0 m 18.6 sec   782,772 bytes   40.5%
    PUT 3.41        (none)          0 m 35.4 sec   784,604 bytes   40.3%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     (none)          0 m 33.7 sec   784,959 bytes   40.3%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -9 -j           0 m 26.7 sec   785,102 bytes   40.3%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Max Compress)  0 m 30.9 sec   785,102 bytes   40.3%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j           0 m 26.6 sec   785,126 bytes   40.3%
    LHA 2.55b       -we:            0 m 27.4 sec   786,069 bytes   40.2%
    AR 1.10         (none)          0 m 53.8 sec   786,069 bytes   40.2%
    SAR 1.0         (none)          0 m 52.8 sec   786,077 bytes   40.2%
    ZOO 2.10        h:              0 m 49.6 sec   786,204 bytes   40.2%
    CODEC 3.21      (none)          0 m 21.9 sec   786,352 bytes   40.2%
    CROSSEPAC 1.35  Format=Binary   0 m 50.4 sec   786,378 bytes   40.2%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -j              0 m 20.2 sec   786,760 bytes   40.1%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j              0 m 20.6 sec   786,784 bytes   40.1%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Max)           2 m 28.5 sec   788,458 bytes   40.0%
    AMGC 2.2        -mm             2 m 30.2 sec   788,463 bytes   40.0%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Normal Comp)   0 m 19.8 sec   789,647 bytes   39.9%
+   JAM - Aug1996   (none)          0 m 13.3 sec   802,101 bytes   39.0%
-   JAM - May1996   (none)          0 m 13.0 sec   802,826 bytes   38.9%
    YAC 1.02        (none)          0 m 49.5 sec   803,189 bytes   38.9%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 9)    0 m 45.0 sec   810,511 bytes   38.3%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 5)    0 m 40.6 sec   813,556 bytes   38.1%
    ARX 1.00        (none)          0 m 28.5 sec   815,339 bytes   38.0%
    PAK 2.51        (none)          0 m 17.9 sec   817,011 bytes   37.8%
    SQWEZ 2.2       /s              0 m 50.2 sec   817,479 bytes   37.8%
    HYPER 2.6       (none)          0 m 18.5 sec   821,782 bytes   37.5%
    NULIB 3.24      c5              0 m 10.0 sec   830,101 bytes   36.8%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Normal)        0 m 29.5 sec   833,733 bytes   36.6%
    AMGC 2.2        (none)          0 m 30.8 sec   833,738 bytes   36.6%
 F  PKZIP 2.04g     -es             0 m 07.4 sec   848,625 bytes   35.4%
    PGMPAK 0.13     (none)          0 m 17.4 sec   861,432 bytes   34.5%
    DWC 5.10        z               0 m 13.5 sec   871,940 bytes   33.7%
    DWC 5.10        (none)          0 m 13.3 sec   872,274 bytes   33.6%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  (none)          0 m 21.5 sec   877,709 bytes   33.2%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sh             0 m 23.7 sec   877,727 bytes   33.2%
    MDCD 1.0        (none)          0 m 10.6 sec   880,229 bytes   33.0%
    ZOO 2.10        :               0 m 24.2 sec   880,276 bytes   33.0%
    JRCHIVE 1.10    -v              0 m 16.4 sec   899,525 bytes   31.6%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sm             0 m 19.7 sec   903,178 bytes   31.3%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  -m              0 m 15.4 sec   931,605 bytes   29.1%
    NULIB 3.24      (none)          0 m 11.6 sec   937,188 bytes   28.7%
    LARC 3.33       (none)          0 m 19.2 sec   946,923 bytes   28.0%
    GAS 2.0         (none)          4 m 10.0 sec   983,262 bytes   25.2%
    ARC 6.02        (none)          0 m 09.9 sec  1,067,359 bytes  18.8%

Winner for best compression   :  WinRAR 2.0beta3
Winner for fastest compression:  PKZIP 2.04g
Winner for best overall       :  RAR 2.0


BMP File Test  -  (24bit, 620x300x16M)  Uncompressed Size 558,054 bytes


    ARCHIVER        SWITCHES       CREATION TIME  COMPRESSED SIZE  RATIO
    --------        --------       -------------  ---------------  -----

+B  RKIVE 1.2       -m3 -mm2        0 m 24.4 sec   196,534 bytes   64.8%
+   RKIVE 1.1       -m7 -mm2        1 m 47.3 sec   202,253 bytes   63.8%
 O  HAP 4.03        3               0 m 12.6 sec   203,223 bytes   63.6%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Max Compress)  1 m 00.9 sec   209,556 bytes   62.4%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Max Compress)  1 m 01.7 sec   209,560 bytes   62.4%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem4l2          0 m 58.2 sec   215,044 bytes   61.5%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem6            1 m 00.1 sec   216,332 bytes   61.2%
    ACB 1.23c       (u)f            2 m 05.4 sec   219,185 bytes   60.7%
    ACB 1.23c       (b)f            1 m 24.1 sec   222,013 bytes   60.2%
    ACB 1.14a       (b)f            1 m 25.4 sec   223,341 bytes   60.0%
+   RKIVE 1.2       -m3             0 m 26.5 sec   225,703 bytes   59.6%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xem7            0 m 14.9 sec   226,012 bytes   59.5%
+   RKIVE 1.1       -m7             1 m 55.0 sec   226,489 bytes   59.4%
    HA 0.999b       e2              1 m 02.2 sec   228,372 bytes   59.1%
+   RKIVE 1.2       (none)          0 m 23.5 sec   230,327 bytes   58.7%
    RAR 2.0         -m5 -mmf        0 m 08.5 sec   230,450 bytes   58.7%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -mmf -md256     0 m 09.0 sec   230,463 bytes   58.7%
+   RKIVE 1.1       (none)          0 m 41.7 sec   232,754 bytes   58.3%
    ACB 1.23c       (B)f            0 m 43.8 sec   235,402 bytes   57.8%
    CODEC 3.21      -c10            1 m 01.9 sec   238,875 bytes   57.2%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -hc63k      2 m 06.8 sec   240,974 bytes   56.8%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -hz30       1 m 54.7 sec   241,061 bytes   56.8%
    ARI 1.13u       -m3             0 m 41.2 sec   241,573 bytes   56.7%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c7 -t20       27 m 06.9 sec   246,934 bytes   55.8%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c5             6 m 34.5 sec   249,954 bytes   55.2%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256      0 m 27.9 sec   253,090 bytes   54.6%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md256          0 m 11.8 sec   255,595 bytes   54.2%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c3 -t20        0 m 41.2 sec   255,982 bytes   54.1%
    QUANTUM 0.97    (none)          0 m 38.4 sec   257,768 bytes   53.8%
    HPACK 0.79a0    -df             1 m 30.2 sec   258,766 bytes   53.6%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Default)       0 m 09.8 sec   261,852 bytes   53.1%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Default)       0 m 09.3 sec   261,864 bytes   53.1%
    YAC 1.02        (none)          0 m 23.4 sec   262,213 bytes   53.0%
    HAP 3.05bp      (none)          0 m 27.4 sec   262,589 bytes   52.9%
    RAR 2.0         -m5             0 m 12.1 sec   263,239 bytes   52.8%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Max)           0 m 21.3 sec   264,508 bytes   52.6%
    AMGC 2.2        -mm             0 m 23.4 sec   264,513 bytes   52.6%
    RAR 2.0         -ep             0 m 07.3 sec   265,233 bytes   52.8%
    QUARK 1.0beta   (none)          0 m 16.6 sec   265,504 bytes   52.4%
    SQZ 1.08.3      -q(ALT236)      0 m 18.6 sec   266,007 bytes   52.3%
    AIN 2.2         /m1             0 m 06.4 sec   267,892 bytes   52.0%
    SQZ 1.08.3      (none)          0 m 07.9 sec   267,935 bytes   52.0%
    ARJZ 0.15       -mp9            0 m 10.8 sec   268,173 bytes   51.9%
    LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\           0 m 09.5 sec   268,339 bytes   51.9%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Normal)        0 m 07.4 sec   269,249 bytes   51.8%
    AMGC 2.2        (none)          0 m 08.5 sec   269,254 bytes   51.8%
    AIN 2.2         (none)          0 m 05.1 sec   269,693 bytes   51.7%
    PKZIP 2.04g     -ex             0 m 09.7 sec   270,073 bytes   51.6%
    ARJZ 0.15       (none)          0 m 06.5 sec   270,404 bytes   51.5%
    PKZIP 2.04g     (none)          0 m 06.2 sec   271,355 bytes   51.4%
    ARJ 2.50a       -jm -e          0 m 11.3 sec   273,371 bytes   51.0%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -jm -e          0 m 11.5 sec   273,371 bytes   51.0%
    CODEC 3.21      (none)          0 m 06.9 sec   274,263 bytes   50.9%
    ARJ 2.50a       -e              0 m 07.1 sec   274,498 bytes   50.8%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -e              0 m 07.5 sec   274,498 bytes   50.8%
    LIMIT 1.2       -mx             0 m 15.3 sec   276,374 bytes   50.5%
    HA 0.999b       e1              0 m 15.7 sec   276,919 bytes   50.4%
    LIMIT 1.2       (none)          0 m 10.5 sec   277,646 bytes   50.2%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Max Compress)  0 m 12.1 sec   278,139 bytes   50.2%
    GZIP 1.2.4      -9              0 m 13.8 sec   278,511 bytes   50.1%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -9 -j           0 m 11.3 sec   278,139 bytes   50.2%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j           0 m 11.3 sec   278,163 bytes   50.2%
    LHARK 0.3o      -tob            0 m 13.8 sec   279,644 bytes   49.9%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     -+1             0 m 11.6 sec   279,926 bytes   49.8%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -j              0 m 06.7 sec   280,177 bytes   49.8%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j              0 m 06.7 sec   280,236 bytes   49.8%
    GZIP 1.2.4      (none)          0 m 08.5 sec   280,547 bytes   49.8%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Normal Comp)   0 m 06.7 sec   281,407 bytes   49.6%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     (none)          0 m 07.4 sec   281,906 bytes   49.5%
    LHARK 0.3o      (none)          0 m 06.3 sec   283,718 bytes   49.2%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 9)    0 m 14.4 sec   284,134 bytes   49.1%
    LHA 2.55b       -we:            0 m 11.0 sec   284,728 bytes   49.0%
    AR 1.10         (none)          0 m 21.4 sec   284,728 bytes   49.0%
-   AR 0.02         (none)          0 m 18.6 sec   284,736 bytes   49.0%
    SAR 1.0         (none)          0 m 20.7 sec   284,736 bytes   49.0%
    ZOO 2.10        h:              0 m 19.6 sec   284,863 bytes   49.0%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 5)    0 m 13.8 sec   285,003 bytes   48.9%
    CROSSEPAC 1.35  Format=Binary   0 m 19.9 sec   285,037 bytes   48.9%
    PUT 3.41        (none)          0 m 14.3 sec   285,321 bytes   48.9%
+   JAM - Aug1996   (none)          0 m 05.6 sec   292,502 bytes   48.9%
-   JAM - May1996   (none)          0 m 05.7 sec   292,746 bytes   48.9%
    SQWEZ 2.2       /s              0 m 18.9 sec   294,491 bytes   48.9%
    PAK 2.51        (none)          0 m 07.0 sec   299,270 bytes   46.4%
    HYPER 2.6       (none)          0 m 07.5 sec   299,652 bytes   46.3%
    ARX 1.00        (none)          0 m 15.4 sec   305,944 bytes   45.2%
    PGMPAK 0.13     (none)          0 m 08.4 sec   307,720 bytes   44.9%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  (none)          0 m 08.7 sec   309,981 bytes   44.5%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sh             0 m 09.6 sec   309,999 bytes   44.4%
    NULIB 3.24      c5              0 m 05.2 sec   311,291 bytes   44.2%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sm             0 m 07.9 sec   320,196 bytes   42.6%
 F  PKZIP 2.04g     -es             0 m 03.6 sec   326,338 bytes   41.5%
    DWC 5.10        z               0 m 06.1 sec   332,533 bytes   40.4%
    LARC 3.33       (none)          0 m 08.0 sec   341,741 bytes   38.8%
    DWC 5.10        (none)          0 m 05.7 sec   345,441 bytes   38.1%
    MDCD 1.0        (none)          0 m 04.6 sec   352,285 bytes   36.9%
    ZOO 2.10        :               0 m 10.0 sec   352,332 bytes   36.9%
    SPLINT 2.1      (none)          0 m 16.1 sec   355,504 bytes   36.3%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  -m              0 m 07.3 sec   361,149 bytes   35.3%
    JRCHIVE 1.10    -v              0 m 07.4 sec   371,531 bytes   33.4%
    ARC 6.02        (none)          0 m 04.1 sec   374,737 bytes   32.8%
    NULIB 3.24      (none)          0 m 05.2 sec   388,521 bytes   30.4%
    GAS 2.0         (none)          1 m 50.3 sec   429,982 bytes   22.9%

Winner for best compression   :  RKIVE 1.2
Winner for fastest compression:  PKZIP 2.04g
Winner for best overall       :  HAP 4.03


                  ***  PART 2 - MULTIPLE FILE TESTS  ***


I compressed a directory containing 21 files totalling 3,255,838 bytes
on my hard drive to a 2 megabyte RAM drive.  This directory contained
the original files from the Calgary Corpus archive (CALGARYCORPUS.ZIP)
which contains text, binary and graphical files.  I used a 486DX4-75
with 20 megabytes of RAM to do this test.  No disk CACHE was used at
all!  For the timing, Ultra Precision Command Timer v1.6 by Erik
de Neve was used.  The operating system used was DOS 6.22.

Here are my results:

    ARCHIVER      SWITCHES   EXTRACT TIME  COMPRESS TIME  COMPRESSED SIZE
    --------      --------   ------------  -------------  ---------------

 B  ACB 1.23c     (u)f      13 m 27.6 sec  13 m 07.4 sec    815,850 bytes
    ACB 1.23c     (b)f       9 m 10.6 sec   8 m 51.5 sec    823,058 bytes
    X1 0.94h ->X  xem6ob     3 m 16.1 sec   2 m 58.7 sec    826,094 bytes
 8  ACB 1.14a     (b)f       9 m 50.6 sec   9 m 41.4 sec    831,676 bytes
    X1 0.94h ->X  xem4l2     2 m 55.4 sec   2 m 38.9 sec    836,761 bytes
    X1 0.94h ->X  xem3       2 m 56.6 sec   2 m 42.4 sec    840,237 bytes
    ACB 1.23c     (B)f       5 m 11.1 sec   4 m 55.6 sec    865,742 bytes
    HA 0.999b     e12        2 m 44.8 sec   4 m 30.3 sec    883,651 bytes
    HA 0.999b     e2         3 m 03.2 sec   3 m 01.7 sec    884,305 bytes
+   RKIVE 1.2     -m5        0 m 57.0 sec   3 m 01.2 sec    887,810 bytes
+   RKIVE 1.2     -m3        0 m 53.2 sec   1 m 56.6 sec    895,701 bytes
    QUANTUM 0.97  -c7 -t20   1 m 11.6 sec 135 m 27.5 sec    905,520 bytes
    CODEC 3.21    -c10       3 m 27.8 sec   3 m 12.1 sec    920,906 bytes
+   RKIVE 1.2     (none)     0 m 57.7 sec   1 m 29.4 sec    928,818 bytes
    QUANTUM 0.97  -c5        1 m 13.1 sec  37 m 59.2 sec    934,429 bytes
    WinRAR 2b3-m5-mm-md1024-s0 m 10.9 sec   7 m 37.3 sec    948,230 bytes
+   RKIVE 1.1     -m7        0 m 49.3 sec  11 m 35.3 sec    955,848 bytes
 O  HAP 4.03      3          1 m 07.6 sec   0 m 57.7 sec    969,576 bytes
    HAP 3.05bp    (none)     1 m 45.3 sec   1 m 34.3 sec    969,576 bytes
    QUANTUM 0.97  -c3 -t20   1 m 12.5 sec   7 m 09.5 sec    972,250 bytes
    WinRAR 2b3 -m5-mm-md1024 0 m 12.1 sec   4 m 14.1 sec    972,847 bytes
-   QUANTUM 0.96  (none)     1 m 14.5 sec   5 m 04.3 sec    981,912 bytes
    QUANTUM 0.97  (none)     1 m 14.0 sec   5 m 11.1 sec    981,912 bytes
    WinRAR 2b3  -mm-md1024-s 0 m 11.4 sec   1 m 40.6 sec    985,965 bytes
    ARI 1.13u     -m5 -ho    0 m 22.4 sec  12 m 21.1 sec  1,008,440 bytes
    RAR 2.0       -m5 -mm -s 0 m 16.5 sec   1 m 45.0 sec  1,011,311 bytes
    ARI 1.13u     -m5 -t16   0 m 23.3 sec  10 m 06.4 sec  1,015,699 bytes
+   RKIVE 1.1     (none)     0 m 51.6 sec   3 m 13.1 sec  1,016,757 bytes
    ARI 1.13u    -m3-ho-hz30 0 m 22.1 sec   4 m 47.6 sec  1,018,423 bytes
 8  UC2 v3.0 PRO  o25 (Max)  0 m 16.0 sec  94 m 51.3 sec  1,022,160 bytes
    YAC 1.02      (none)     0 m 38.1 sec   1 m 56.7 sec  1,022,810 bytes
    HPACK 0.79a0  -df        0 m 37.5 sec  11 m 42.7 sec  1,023,107 bytes
    RAR 2.0       -m5        0 m 14.3 sec   1 m 38.7 sec  1,025,600 bytes
    UC v2.37 beta (Max Comp) 0 m 17.6 sec   2 m 06.6 sec  1,026,592 bytes
    UC2 v3.0 PRO  (Max Comp) 0 m 17.7 sec   2 m 08.1 sec  1,026,612 bytes
 8  CRUSH 1.8+UC2 -n -u      0 m 27.9 sec   2 m 13.5 sec  1,032,742 bytes
    LHARK 0.3o    -tob       0 m 13.7 sec   1 m 27.9 sec  1,035,887 bytes
 Q  ARJZ 0.15     -mp9       0 m 10.7 sec   1 m 25.7 sec  1,038,117 bytes
    RAR 2.0       -ep        0 m 15.5 sec   0 m 48.1 sec  1,040,803 bytes
    ARJZ 0.15     (none)     0 m 11.6 sec   0 m 53.1 sec  1,047,190 bytes
    UC2 v3.0 PRO  (Default)  0 m 18.7 sec   0 m 53.9 sec  1,053,814 bytes
    UC v2.37 beta (Default)  0 m 16.5 sec   0 m 53.0 sec  1,053,828 bytes
    LIMIT 1.2     -mx        0 m 13.6 sec   1 m 08.0 sec  1,054,168 bytes
    LHARK 0.3o    (none)     0 m 13.6 sec   0 m 41.3 sec  1,054,477 bytes
    HA 0.999b     e          0 m 35.5 sec   1 m 31.8 sec  1,054,534 bytes
    LIMIT 1.2     (none)     0 m 13.3 sec   0 m 57.2 sec  1,056,022 bytes
    CRUSH 1.8+HA  -n -h      0 m 49.9 sec   1 m 54.4 sec  1,057,050 bytes
    GZIP 1.2.4+TAR -9        0 m 40.2 sec   1 m 53.3 sec  1,060,868 bytes
    SQZ 1.08.3    -q(ALT236) 0 m 16.4 sec   1 m 49.7 sec  1,062,541 bytes
    WINZIP'95 6.1 (Max Comp) 0 m 12.1 sec   1 m 15.7 sec  1,063,059 bytes
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -9 -j     0 m 20.4 sec   1 m 08.3 sec  1,063,143 bytes
    SUPERPACK 2.0 (Max)      0 m 17.4 sec   2 m 22.9 sec  1,063,253 bytes
    TAR 3.20+GZIP cvf.9      0 m 42.7 sec   1 m 31.5 sec  1,063,365 bytes
    AMGC 2.2      -mm        0 m 20.4 sec   2 m 24.6 sec  1,063,379 bytes
    CRUSH 1.8+ZIP -n         0 m 28.0 sec   1 m 18.6 sec  1,063,540 bytes
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j    0 m 18.1 sec   1 m 06.2 sec  1,063,563 bytes
    CODEC 3.21    (none)     0 m 23.4 sec   0 m 50.6 sec  1,065,105 bytes
    PKZIP 2.04g   -ex        0 m 12.1 sec   0 m 53.0 sec  1,065,291 bytes
 8  BSArc 2.0.0   -+1        0 m 15.4 sec   1 m 18.5 sec  1,065,316 bytes
    LHA 2.67(Win32)  -wd:\   0 m 12.8 sec   1 m 06.1 sec  1,066,725 bytes
    AIN 2.2       /m1        0 m 13.3 sec   0 m 39.6 sec  1,066,922 bytes
    QUARK 1.0beta (none)     0 m 22.3 sec   1 m 44.4 sec  1,070,012 bytes
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -j        0 m 21.0 sec   0 m 43.1 sec  1,070,449 bytes
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j       0 m 18.2 sec   0 m 45.4 sec  1,070,947 bytes
 8  BSArc 2.0.0   (none)     0 m 16.6 sec   0 m 54.9 sec  1,071,007 bytes
    SQZ 1.08.3    (none)     0 m 17.7 sec   0 m 57.7 sec  1,073,033 bytes
    AIN 2.2       (none)     0 m 13.5 sec   0 m 29.0 sec  1,075,730 bytes
    PKZIP 2.04g   (none)     0 m 13.2 sec   0 m 33.3 sec  1,077,029 bytes
    CRUSH 1.8+ARJ -n -j      0 m 29.1 sec   1 m 30.9 sec  1,080,203 bytes
 8  SARJ 1.20     (none)     0 m 23.9 sec   1 m 31.0 sec  1,080,678 bytes
    ARJ 2.50a     -jm -e     0 m 14.4 sec   1 m 08.1 sec  1,081,242 bytes
    ARJ 2.55alpha -jm -e     0 m 14.6 sec   1 m 08.1 sec  1,081,242 bytes
    WINZIP'95 6.1 (Normal)   0 m 12.2 sec   0 m 41.5 sec  1,082,623 bytes
 8  ARJ 2.50a     -e         0 m 15.0 sec   0 m 50.9 sec  1,083,615 bytes
    ARJ 2.55alpha -e         0 m 15.2 sec   0 m 52.1 sec  1,083,615 bytes
    SUPERPACK 2.0 (Normal)   0 m 19.9 sec   0 m 46.6 sec  1,114,793 bytes
    AMGC 2.2      (none)     0 m 20.6 sec   0 m 49.1 sec  1,114,919 bytes
    LHA 2.55b     -we:       0 m 14.3 sec   1 m 04.1 sec  1,142,342 bytes
    SAR 1.0       (none)     0 m 20.5 sec   2 m 15.7 sec  1,142,363 bytes
    CROSSEPAC 1.35 For=Binary0 m 39.6 sec   1 m 55.3 sec  1,142,972 bytes
    ZOO 2.10      h:         0 m 18.5 sec   1 m 56.5 sec  1,143,300 bytes
    PUT 3.41      (none)     0 m 18.4 sec   1 m 22.6 sec  1,144,112 bytes
    ZipNAV 2.03 (Comp lvl 9) 0 m 31.0 sec   1 m 38.1 sec  1,153,830 bytes
    ZipNAV 2.03 (Comp lvl 5) 0 m 35.6 sec   1 m 33.2 sec  1,158,207 bytes
    PAK 2.51      (none)     0 m 14.4 sec   0 m 37.4 sec  1,191,686 bytes
    HYPER 2.6     (none)     0 m 26.9 sec   0 m 36.2 sec  1,192,602 bytes
    SQWEZ 2.2     /s         0 m 22.8 sec   1 m 53.3 sec  1,236,777 bytes
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2  (none)         N/A        0 m 53.3 sec  1,242,525 bytes
    ARX 1.00      (none)     0 m 22.3 sec   1 m 29.8 sec  1,251,447 bytes
 F  PKZIP 2.04g   -es        0 m 12.1 sec   0 m 13.1 sec  1,263,818 bytes
    TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh        0 m 19.0 sec   0 m 59.3 sec  1,300,547 bytes
+   JAM - Aug1996 (none)     0 m 35.2 sec   0 m 39.4 sec  1,355,276 bytes
-   JAM - May1996 (none)     0 m 46.7 sec   0 m 42.6 sec  1,357,738 bytes
    TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm        0 m 19.6 sec   0 m 47.6 sec  1,396,823 bytes
    DWC 5.10      z          0 m 14.3 sec   0 m 32.1 sec  1,399,119 bytes
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2  -m             N/A        0 m 34.6 sec  1,426,438 bytes
    DWC 5.10      (none)     0 m 13.2 sec   0 m 30.4 sec  1,457,467 bytes
    LARC 3.33     (none)     0 m 19.0 sec   1 m 11.1 sec  1,471,881 bytes
    ZOO 2.10      :          0 m 29.4 sec   0 m 51.6 sec  1,494,933 bytes
    MDCD 1.0      (none)     0 m 22.5 sec   0 m 22.0 sec  1,495,906 bytes
    JRCHIVE 1.10  -c -v      1 m 30.2 sec   1 m 27.2 sec  1,577,544 bytes
    JRCHIVE 1.10  -v         0 m 56.0 sec   1 m 02.2 sec  1,578,882 bytes
    ARC 6.02      (none)     0 m 17.0 sec   0 m 19.1 sec  1,590,185 bytes
    SPLINT 2.1 (TARed)       1 m 30.0 sec   1 m 29.4 sec  1,602,025 bytes
 8  AR 0.02       (none)     ** DOES NOT ACCEPT WILDCARDS **

Winner for best compression   :  ACB 1.23c
Winner for fastest compression:  PKZIP 2.04g
Winner for quickest extraction:  ARJZ 0.15
Winner for best overall       :  HAP 4.03

* Please note that the switches listed above apply only during
  compression and not during extraction.


In the second multiple-file test, I took 130 small TEXT files totalling
1,121,394 bytes and compressed them using the same method as before.


    ARCHIVER        SWITCHES       CREATION TIME  COMPRESSED SIZE  RATIO
    --------        --------       -------------  ---------------  -----

 B  ACB 1.23c       (u)f            2 m 43.5 sec   194,658 bytes   82.6%
    ACB 1.23c       (b)f            1 m 49.7 sec   196,461 bytes   82.5%
 8  ACB 1.14a       (b)f            2 m 02.6 sec   198,095 bytes   82.3%
    ACB 1.23c       (B)f            0 m 59.9 sec   206,786 bytes   81.6%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c7 -t20       33 m 37.1 sec   217,425 bytes   80.6%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c5            12 m 08.4 sec   225,912 bytes   79.9%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md1024 -s  1 m 22.9 sec   229,243 bytes   79.6%
    QUANTUM 0.97    -c3 -t20        1 m 59.2 sec   231,001 bytes   79.4%
    QUANTUM 0.97    (none)          1 m 38.8 sec   236,638 bytes   78.9%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xeum6ob         2 m 35.6 sec   235,384 bytes   79.0%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -md1024 -s      0 m 34.9 sec   235,525 bytes   79.0%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xeum7           0 m 36.0 sec   240,853 bytes   78.5%
    X1 0.94h ->X    xeum4l2         0 m 53.7 sec   243,353 bytes   78.3%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -ho         9 m 13.8 sec   243,749 bytes   78.3%
    ARI 1.13u       -m3 -ho -hz30   3 m 10.2 sec   245,009 bytes   78.2%
    RAR 2.0         -m5 -s          0 m 31.7 sec   249,977 bytes   77.7%
    YAC 1.02        (none)          0 m 43.7 sec   250,453 bytes   77.7%
 8  UC2 v3.0 PRO    o25 (Max Comp) 86 m 44.6 sec   254,368 bytes   77.3%
 8  CRUSH 1.8+UC2   -n -u           0 m 42.7 sec   255,452 bytes   77.2%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Max Compress)  0 m 53.7 sec   255,704 bytes   77.2%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Max Compress)  0 m 52.5 sec   255,714 bytes   77.2%
 O  AIN 2.2         /m1             0 m 14.8 sec   257,940 bytes   77.0%
    AIN 2.2         (none)          0 m 13.4 sec   259,469 bytes   76.9%
    UC v2.37 beta   (Default)       0 m 21.7 sec   261,756 bytes   76.7%
    UC2 v3.0 PRO    (Default)       0 m 22.9 sec   261,820 bytes   76.7%
    CRUSH 1.8+HA    -n -h           0 m 31.0 sec   267,784 bytes   76.1%
    CRUSH 1.8+ZIP   -n              0 m 21.0 sec   272,135 bytes   75.7%
    SARJ 1.21       (none)          0 m 34.4 sec   274,685 bytes   75.5%
    HPACK 0.79a0    -df -u          1 m 05.8 sec   277,775 bytes   75.2%
    CRUSH 1.8+ARJ   -n -j           0 m 26.5 sec   285,953 bytes   74.5%
    GZIP 1.2.4+TAR  -9              0 m 35.2 sec   288,466 bytes   74.3%
    TAR 3.20 + GZIP cvf.9           0 m 37.4 sec   289,565 bytes   74.2%
    CODEC 3.21      -c10            1 m 23.6 sec   307,488 bytes   72.6%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     -++             1 m 03.6 sec   309,872 bytes   72.4%
    HA 0.999b       e12             3 m 03.6 sec   310,135 bytes   69.8%
    HA 0.999b       e2              2 m 30.1 sec   310,201 bytes   69.8%
    HAP 4.03        3               0 m 23.8 sec   324,165 bytes   71.1%
    HAP 3.05bp      (none)          0 m 54.5 sec   324,165 bytes   71.1%
    ARI 1.13u       -m5 -t16        4 m 05.7 sec   339,009 bytes   69.8%
    HA 0.999b       e1              1 m 08.8 sec   339,170 bytes   69.8%
    HPACK 0.79a0    -df             0 m 43.3 sec   340,280 bytes   69.7%
    LIMIT 1.2       -mx             0 m 20.5 sec   344,261 bytes   69.3%
    LIMIT 1.2       (none)          0 m 16.3 sec   344,714 bytes   69.3%
    QUARK 1.0beta   (none)          0 m 28.1 sec   346,162 bytes   69.1%
    LHARK 0.3o      -tob            0 m 14.0 sec   346,140 bytes   69.1%
    SQZ 1.08.3      -q(ALT236)      0 m 35.7 sec   346,142 bytes   69.1%
 8  BSArc 2.0.0     (none)          0 m 15.4 sec   346,563 bytes   69.1%
    LHARK 0.3o      (none)          0 m 12.1 sec   347,474 bytes   69.0%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Max)           0 m 30.9 sec   347,592 bytes   69.0%
    WinRAR 2.0beta3 -m5 -md256      0 m 36.6 sec   347,757 bytes   69.0%
    SQZ 1.08.3      (none)          0 m 19.4 sec   347,833 bytes   69.0%
    RAR 2.0         -m5             0 m 19.1 sec   348,589 bytes   68.9%
    AMGC 2.2        -mm             0 m 32.9 sec   348,372 bytes   68.9%
    LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\           0 m 24.7 sec   349,875 bytes   68.8%
    CODEC 3.21      (none)          0 m 17.7 sec   350,071 bytes   68.8%
    RAR 2.0         (none)          0 m 14.4 sec   350,256 bytes   68.8%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -jm -e          0 m 22.6 sec   351,140 bytes   68.7%
    ARJ 2.50a       -jm -e          0 m 22.6 sec   351,140 bytes   68.7%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -9 -j           0 m 30.5 sec   351,259 bytes   68.7%
    ARJZ 0.15       -mp9 -jh        0 m 23.7 sec   351,416 bytes   68.7%
    ARJ 2.55alpha   -e              0 m 18.0 sec   351,602 bytes   68.6%
    ARJ 2.50a       -e              0 m 18.1 sec   351,602 bytes   68.6%
    ARJZ 0.15       (none)          0 m 17.3 sec   353,598 bytes   68.5%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1NT  -j              0 m 23.0 sec   353,744 bytes   68.5%
    PKZIP 2.04g     -ex             0 m 13.9 sec   354,336 bytes   68.4%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Max Compress)  0 m 27.3 sec   354,469 bytes   68.4%
    LHA 2.55b       -we:            0 m 23.6 sec   355,838 bytes   68.3%
    SAR 1.0         (none)          0 m 49.3 sec   355,841 bytes   68.3%
    PUT 3.41        (none)          0 m 31.9 sec   355,965 bytes   68.3%
    ZOO 2.10        h:              0 m 37.0 sec   357,284 bytes   68.1%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j           0 m 23.3 sec   357,589 bytes   68.1%
    PKZIP 2.04g     (none)          0 m 12.6 sec   357,842 bytes   68.1%
    CROSSEPAC 1.35  Format=Binary   0 m 39.3 sec   358,213 bytes   68.1%
    SUPER PACK 2.0  (Normal)        0 m 14.9 sec   358,784 bytes   68.0%
    WINZIP'95 6.1   (Normal Comp)   0 m 17.2 sec   359,869 bytes   67.9%
    INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j              0 m 16.4 sec   360,091 bytes   67.9%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  (none)          0 m 18.3 sec   374,173 bytes   66.6%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 9)    0 m 55.8 sec   374,542 bytes   66.6%
    ZipNAV 2.03     (Comp lvl 5)    0 m 54.0 sec   375,394 bytes   66.6%
    HYPER 2.6       (none)          0 m 19.8 sec   376,223 bytes   66.5%
    ARX 1.0         (none)          1 m 02.0 sec   385,923 bytes   65.6%
    SQWEZ 2.2       /s              0 m 44.2 sec   389,746 bytes   65.2%
    PAK 2.51        (none)          0 m 19.0 sec   395,362 bytes   64.8%
 F  PKZIP 2.04g     -es             0 m 09.5 sec   398,760 bytes   64.4%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sh             0 m 22.0 sec   402,314 bytes   64.1%
    JAM - May1996   (none)          0 m 20.3 sec   429,598 bytes   61.7%
    ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0  -m              0 m 15.2 sec   431,643 bytes   61.5%
    TSCOMP 1.3.21   -sm             0 m 20.5 sec   435,396 bytes   61.2%
    LARC 3.33       (none)          0 m 21.9 sec   458,215 bytes   59.1%
    DWC 5.10        z               0 m 28.0 sec   486,424 bytes   56.6%
    DWC 5.10        (none)          0 m 26.9 sec   488,757 bytes   56.4%
    ZOO 2.10        :               0 m 20.7 sec   493,573 bytes   56.0%
    JRCHIVE 1.10    -c -v           0 m 44.2 sec   503,041 bytes   55.1%
    MDCD 1.0        (none)          0 m 13.7 sec   504,056 bytes   55.1%
    JRCHIVE 1.10    -v              0 m 51.3 sec   505,123 bytes   55.0%
    ARC 6.02        (none)          0 m 11.5 sec   508,823 bytes   54.7%
    SPLINT 2.1 (TARed)              0 m 26.1 sec   515,249 bytes   54.1%

Winner for best compression   :  ACB 1.23c
Winner for fastest compression:  PKZIP 2.04g
Winner for best overall       :  AIN 2.2


### LOCATING ARCHIVERS FOR DOWNLOAD ###

         The easiest way to download the archivers listed in A.C.T. is
to use the WWW version of A.C.T.  If you cannot access the WWW then most
of the archivers can be found on the following four FTP sites.  Try them
in this order:

ftp.elf.stuba.sk  /pub/pc/pack     (10 Anonymous Users 13:00-06:00 GMT)
ftp.kiae.su       /msdos/arcers    (20 Anonymous Users Allowed)
ftp.simtel.net    /pub/simtelnet/msdos/arcers (900+ Anon Users Allowed)
ftp.coast.net     /SimTel/msdos/archiver  (400+ Anonymous Users Allowed)
garbo.uwasa.fi    /pc/arcers       (100 Anonymous Users Allowed)

ELF.STUBA.SK MIRROR SITES
-------------------------
ftp.vse.cz            /pub/msdos/SAC/pc/pack              (Czech)
ftp-beer.bke.hu       /vol1/pub/sac/pc/pack               (Hungary)
ftp.cs.tu-berlin.de   /pub/msdos/mirrors/stuba/pc/pack    (Germany)
ftp.pwr.wroc.pl       /pub/pc/sac/pack                    (Poland)
http://192.217.228.45:80/pub/sac/pack.htm                 (USA)
sunsite.univie.ac.at  /pub/compression/ftp.elf.stuba.sk   (Austria)

EXE-PACKER SITES:
----------------
ftp.elf.stuba.sk  /pub/pc/pack
ftp.simtel.net    /pub/simtelnet/msdos/execomp
garbo.uwasa.fi    /pc/execomp
ftp.kiae.su       /msdos/execomp

------------------------------------------------------------------------

         As you may or may not have noticed, I have been releasing these
test results about once a month.  I have decided to release the results
near the beginning of each month and name these tests A.C.T.

* Please note that the best overall selection is based entirely on the
archiver's compression/speed ratio.  It is NOT based on the reliability,
price, technical support or the options available in the archiver.

        I have decided to add an Options List which shows what archivers
support certain major options.  If you think I should add another
category to the list or you see an error, please let me know.  If there
is an error, please tell me what switch will activate the command that
I missed.

---------------------------- OPTIONS LIST ------------------------------

             MULTI                                           MIN.  WIN95
             DISK   AUTH.         'SOLID'        DATA        CPU/  LONG
ARCHIVER     SPAN   VERI.  CRYPT  ARCHIVES  SFX  PROT  GUI   RAM   FILES
--------     -----  -----  -----  --------  ---  ----  ---  ------ -----
ACB 1.23c      X           X-???      X            X        486/16
ACB 1.14a      X           X-???      X            X        486/8
AIN 2.2        X           X-???                            x86
AMGC 2.2       X           X-???                            x86
AR 1.10                                                     x86
ARC 6.02                   X-???                            x86
ARI 1.13u      X           X-???      X      X     X        x86
ARJ 2.50a      X      X    X-XOR             X              x86
ARJ 2.55alpha  X      X    X-GOST            X     X        x86      X
ARX 1.00                                                    x86
BSARC 2.0.0    X                             X              x86
CODEC 3.21                 X-???             X              x86
CROSSEPAC 1.35                                              x86
CRUSH 1.8                             X                     x86
DWC 5.10                   X-???             X              x86
GAS 2.0                                                     x86
GZIP 1.2.4                                                  x86
HA 0.999b                                                   x86

             MULTI                                           MIN.  WIN95
             DISK   AUTH.         'SOLID'        DATA        CPU/  LONG
ARCHIVER     SPAN   VERI.  CRYPT  ARCHIVES  SFX  PROT  GUI   RAM   FILES
--------     -----  -----  -----  --------  ---  ----  ---  ------ -----
HAP 3.05bp                                                  x86
HAP 4.03                                           X        x86
HPACK 0.79a0   X      X    X-PGP      X            X        x86
HYPER 2.6                                                   x86
INFO-ZIP 2.1   *           X-???             X              x86      X
JAM - May1996              X-???                            x86
JRCHIVE 1.10                          X      X              x86
LARC 3.33                                    X              x86
LHA 2.67                                     X              386
LHARK 0.3o                 X-???             X              x86
LIMIT 1.2                                                   x86
MDCD 1.0                                                    x86
NULIB 3.24                                                  x86
PAK 2.51              X    X-???             X          X   x86
PKZIP 2.04g    X      X    X-???             X              x86
PUT 3.41                                                X   x86
QUANTUM 0.97   X                                            386

             MULTI                                           MIN.  WIN95
             DISK   AUTH.         'SOLID'        DATA        CPU/  LONG
ARCHIVER     SPAN   VERI.  CRYPT  ARCHIVES  SFX  PROT  GUI   RAM   FILES
--------     -----  -----  -----  --------  ---  ----  ---  ------ -----
QUARK 1.0beta  X           X-???             X              x86
RAR 2.0        X      X    X-???      X      X     X    X   x86      X
RKIVE 1.2                                                   386/4
SAR 1.0                                                     x86
SARJ 1.20      X      X    X-XOR      X      X              x86      X
SPLINT 2.1                 X-???                            x86
SQWEZ 2.2                                    X          X   x86
SQZ 1.08.3                                   X              x86
SUPER PACK 2.0 X           X-???             X          X   x86
TAR 3.20+                             X                     x86
TSCOMP 1.3.21                                               x86
UC2 3.0 PRO    *      X    X-3DES     %      X     X    X   x86      X
UC 2.37 beta   *      X    X-3DES     %      X     X    X   x86      X
WINZIP95 6.1   X                                        X   386/2    X
X1 0.94h                              X            X        386/4    X
YAC 1.02       X                      X                     x86
ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0             X-???                            x86
ZIPNAV 2.03    X      X                      X              286
ZOO 2.10                                                    x86

------------------------------------------------------------------------

MULTI-DISK SPAN = Ability to span an archive over two or more disks
AUTH. VERI. = Authentication Verification (Security Envelope)
DATA PROT = Data Protection Encoding (Stores Error Recovery Info)
CRYPT = Ability to encrypt files in archive with password (Garble)
SFX = Ability to create Self-Extracting Archives (.EXE)
GUI = Graphical or Text Shell to manage archiver functions and select
      files for compression/decompression
MIN. CPU/RAM = Minimum PC CPU and RAM (in megabytes) to run archiver
               If no value for RAM is given, archiver will run in 640k
WIN95 LONG FILES = Ability to store and extract Windows95 long filenames

* - UC2 comes with a utility (SAS.EXE) to SPLIT archives into chunks
    and then rebuild them after.  This is not nearly as nice as
    multi-disk spanning.
  - INFO-ZIP comes with a utility called ZIPSPLIT which does the same
    thing as UC2's SAS utility.

% - UC2 uses shared dictionaries between file collections to utilize
    similarities between files.


-------------------------------- INDEX ----------------------------------

ARCHIVER  RELEASE  AUTHOR & (INTERNET E-MAIL)
--------  -------  ------------------------------------------------------
           TYPE        PLATFORMS SUPPORTED                FREE UNCOMPRESS
           ----------  ---------------------------------  ---------------

ACB       Jun '96  George Buyanovsky  (george@acb.alma-ata.su)
v1.23c     Shareware   DOS                                Yes

AIN       Jul '94  Transas Marine (UK) Ltd.  (100125.3526@compuserve.com)
v2.2       Shareware   DOS                                No

AINEXE    Jul '94  Transas Marine (UK) Ltd.  (100125.3526@compuserve.com)
v2.2       Shareware   DOS                                N/A

AMGC      Nov '93  Milen Georgiev
v2.2       Shareware   DOS                                No

AR        Mar '94  Haruhiko Okumura  (74050.1022@compuserve.com)
v1.10      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

ARC       Jan '89  S.E.A. Inc.
v6.02      Shareware   DOS,Amiga                          No

ARI       Jul '96  RAO Inc.  (khamenya@module.vympel.msk.ru)
v1.13u     Shareware   DOS                                No

ARJ       Dec '95  Robert Jung  (robjung@world.std.com)
v2.50a     Shareware   DOS,Windows,Amiga,MAC              Yes,with source

ARJ       Jun '96  Robert Jung  (robjung@world.std.com)
v2.55alph  Shareware   DOS,Windows,Amiga,MAC              Yes,with source

ARJZ      Apr '95  (Bulat.Ziganshin@f10.n5049.z2.fidonet.org)
v0.15      Shareware   DOS,Windows NT,OS/2                Yes

ARX       Jan '95  Michael A. Kosior  (mkosior@acad.bryant.edu)
v1.00      Shareware   DOS                                No

AVPACK    Apr '93  Andrei Volkov
v1.22      Shareware   DOS (Free for non-commerical use)  N/A

AXE       Jan '89  S.E.A. Inc.
v2.2       Shareware   DOS                                No

BSARC     May '95  Serg Babitchew
v2.0.0     Shareware   DOS,Win,Win NT,OS/2,QNX,Unix       No

BZIP      Jul '96  Julian Seward  (sewardj@cs.man.ac.uk)
v0.15      Freeware    UNIX (C Source Code)               Yes

CODEC     Apr '95  Telvox Teleinform. (telvox.teleinf@bologna.nettuno.it)
v3.21      Shareware   DOS,Win,OS/2,Unix,VMS,PowerPC,more No

COMPACK   Nov '91  Prominence Computer Services Ltd.
v4.5       Shareware   DOS                                N/A

CROSSEPAC Oct '94  Digital Strategies, Inc.
v1.35      Shareware   DOS                                No

CRUNCH    Aug '89  Ori Berger
v1.0       Shareware   DOS                                N/A

CRUSH     Feb '95  J. Rollason  (100031.3537@compuserve.com)
v1.8       Shareware   DOS                                No

DIET      Jun '92  Teddy Matsumoto
v1.45f     Freeware    DOS                                Yes

DWC       Mar '90  Dean W. Cooper  (dwcooper@ix.netcom.com)
v5.10      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

GAS       May '93  Ricky Bhatti
v2.0       Shareware   DOS                                No

GZIP      Aug '93  Jean-loup Gailly  (gzip@prep.ai.mit.edu)
v1.2.4     Freeware    DOS,WinNT,Unix,VMS,OS/2,Atari,Amiga Yes

HA        Jan '95  Harri Hirvola  (harri.hirvola@vaisala.infonet.com)
v0.999b    Freeware    DOS,OS/2                           Yes,with source

HAP       Apr '96  Harald Feldmann  (feldmann@xs4all.nl)
v4.03      Commercial (v3.05 Shareware)  DOS              No

HPACK     May '93  Peter Gutmann  (pgut@cs.aukuni.ac.nz)
v0.79a0    Shareware   DOS,OS/2,Unix,MAC,Amiga,Atari,Archimedes  No

HYPER     May '92  P. Sawatzki & K. Nischkle  (in307@dhafeu11.bitnet)
v2.6       Shareware   DOS                                No

INFOZIP   Apr '96  Info-ZIP  (zip-bugs@wkuvx1.wku.edu)
v2.1       Freeware  DOS,WinNT,Unix,OS/2,Amiga,Atari,VMS  Yes,with source

JAM       Aug '96  W. Jiang  (wjiang@xmu.edu.cn)
vAug-1996  Freeware    DOS                                Yes

JRCHIVE   May '95  JAYAR Systems  (jrsys@io.org)
v1.10      Shareware   DOS                                No

LARC      Feb '89  K. Miki, H. Okumura, K. Masuyama
v3.33      Shareware   DOS                                No

LHA       Oct '95  Haruyasu Yoshizaki  (SDI00506@niftyserve.or.jp)
v2.67      Freeware    DOS,Amiga,Mac                      Yes

LHARK     Dec '95  Kerwin F. Medina  (kerwin@digi.co.jp)
v0.3o      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

LIMIT     Feb '94  J Y Lim  (jlim@cs.stanford.edu)
v1.2       Shareware   DOS                                No

LZEXE     Jan '90  Fabrice Bellard
v0.91      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

MDCD      Oct '88  Mike Davenport  (miked@ionet.net)
v1.0       Freeware    DOS                                Yes,with source

NULIB     Jan '93  Andy McFadden (fadden@uts.amdahl.com)
v3.24      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

PACKWIN   Jun '94  Yellow Rose Workgroup
v1.0alpha  Shareware   DOS                                N/A

PAK       Oct '90  NoGate Consulting
v2.51      Shareware   DOS                                No

PGMPAK    Apr '90  Todor Todorov
v0.13      Shareware   DOS                                No

PKLITE    Mar '96  PKWARE Inc.  (support@pkware.com)
v2.01      Shareware   DOS                                No

PKZIP     Feb '93  PKWARE Inc.  (support@pkware.com)
v2.04g     Shareware   DOS,Windows,OS/2                   No

PUT       Jan '95  Jim Hass  (73057.3113@compuserve.com)
v3.41      Shareware   DOS                                No

QUANTUM   May '95  Cinematronics  (davids@cruzio.com)
v0.97      Freeware    DOS,Windows                        No

QUARK     May '93  Kunz Robert
v1.0beta   Shareware   DOS                                No

RAR       May '96  Eugene Roshal  (andrey@vybor.chel.su)
v2.0       Shareware   DOS,OS/2,UNIX,Win95,WinNT,Win32s   Yes,with source

RJCRUSH   May '96  Roland Skinner  (rjs@lia.co.za)
v1.10      Shareware   DOS                                No

RKIVE     Aug '96  Malcolm Taylor  (malcolm@manawatu.gen.nz)
v1.2       Shareware   DOS                                No

SAR       Mar '93  Streamline Design
v1.0       Shareware   DOS                                No

SARJ      Jan '96  Frederic Taes  (fta@info.fundp.ac.be)
v1.21      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

SPLINT    Apr '89  Kenji Rikitake  (Kenji@dctwcs.das.net)
v2.1       Freeware    DOS,UNIX                           Yes,with source

SQWEZ     Nov '94  Jim Miller  (74131.1704@compuserve.com)
v2.2       Shareware   DOS                                No

SQZ       Jan '93  Jonas Hammarberg  (100417.2002@compuserve.com)
v1.08.3    Shareware   DOS                                No

SUPER PACK Apr'95  Kai Gossens  (Future-Dreams Entertainment)
v2.0       Freeware    DOS                                Yes

TAR       Jan '95  Tim V. Shaporev  (tim@shaporev.msk.su)
v3.20+     Shareware   DOS,Unix,Amiga                     No

TINYPROG  Mar '94  Tranzoa, Co.
v3.9       Shareware   DOS                                N/A

TSCOMP      1991   The Stirling Group
v1.3.21    Shareware   DOS                                No

UC2       Jun '95  Ad Infinitum Products  (desk@aip.nl)
v3.0       Shareware(Free for non-commercial use)  DOS    Yes

UC        Apr '96  Ad Infinitum Products  (desk@aip.nl)
v2.37beta  Shareware(Free for non-commercial use)  DOS    Yes

UCEXE     Apr '96  Ad Infinitum Products  (desk@aip.nl)
v2.4       Shareware   DOS                                Yes

WINZIP    Apr '96  Nico Mak  (support@winzip.com)
v6.1       Shareware   Windows,Win95,Win NT               No

WWPACK    Aug '96  Piotr Warezak  (awarezak@krysia.uni.lodz.pl)
v3.05b3    Shareware   DOS                                No

X1        Jun '96  Stig Valentini  (x1develop@internet.dk)
v0.94h     Freeware    DOS,OS/2,Win NT                    Yes

XPACK     Aug '96  JauMing Tseng  (s8203143@simon.pu.edu.tw)
v1.49      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

YAC       Sep '95  Aleksandras Surna  (as@ashurna.msk.ru)
v1.02      Freeware    DOS                                Yes

ZIP-ARCHIV  ???    Peter Troxler
v2.0       Shareware   DOS                                No

ZIPNAV    Jul '95  FlashPoint  (FlashPoint@msn.com)
2.03       Shareware   Windows                            No

ZOO       Jul '91  Rahul Dhesi  (dhesi@bsu-cu.bsu.edu)
v2.10      Shareware   DOS,Unix,Amiga                     No

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The information above may not be 100% accurate so if anyone
notices any errors or finds something I left out, please let me know.


JAM - Aug1996 - The most amazing thing about this archiver is that it
                only requires 48k of RAM.  It was designed to be used
                in low-memory situations.  The compression ratio is
                not the best but when you have little RAM to work with
                this may solve your problem.  This program should not
                be confused with the disk-compressor or exe-packer
                of the same name.

           For more info e-mail:  wjiang@xmu.edu.cn
           To get a copy:  ftp.elf.stuba.sk  /pub/pc/pack/jam.zip

JAM 2.11 - I tried to test the Russian executable compressor JAM.  It
           seemed to compress the file ok but when I tried to run the
           newly compressed executable, it would lock up my computer.
           Previous versions of JAM would reboot my computer when I
           ran the JAM program itself.

RKIVE 1.1 - This new archiver sets the record in the BMP file test.
            Its multimedia compression is great for these types of
            files.  The program is a little slow and does not contain
            too many options but has a lot of potential to grow.

RKIVE 1.2 - This updated version was received in the same month so I
            decided to include the results for both.  Version 1.2 has
            some major changes to it.  The compression ratio is better
            and it is MUCH faster.  One point to mention, RKIVE
            archives are always created in the solid format.

           For more info e-mail:  malcolm@manawatu.gen.nz
           To get a copy:  ftp.elf.stuba.sk  /pub/pc/pack/rkive12.zip

WWPACK 3.05b3 - This beta contains several bug fixes and other small
                changes.

           For more info e-mail:  awarezak@krysia.uni.lodz.pl
           To get a copy:  ftp.elf.stuba.sk  /pub/pc/pack/wwp305b3.zip

XPACK 1.49 - Xpack now supports disk image compression.  You can take
             a floppy disk and compress the entire thing into a single
             file such as programs like teledisk.  Many floppy disk
             densities are supported including 1.2MB, 1.44MB, 1.72MB,
             1.68MB and more.

           For more info e-mail:  s8203143@simon.pu.edu.tw
           To get a copy:  ftp.elf.stuba.sk  /pub/pc/pack/xpack149.zip

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

        Anyone wishing to send me updated versions of archivers or email
may use PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) v2.6 or above to encrypt the info.
Listed below is my PGP public key which you can use to encrypt a binary
file or ascii file into RADIX-64 ascii format.  After you have encrypted
the file, you can then send it to me via email at my Internet address
listed below.  When you use my public key to encrypt something with PGP,
only I can decrypt the file so you can be certain that whatever you send
will only be seen by me.

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: 2.6.3ia

mQCNAy53etMAAAEEAM9FrKHl4ZSsNl15zzbtYZoC48e4WT83AsdH5vHr7P0npRIM
unbDNUdBbQ0ZGppG4a0ccYpLs8EAkGJLGL28JCZzk4LDCLxCn14VoeVZSV25S0mj
1ApwoTUrzqWsrdbaeGdeJ1IBxG2zc9SMMDq3htPcGzb/KQvAbbgiZykcOlgBAAUR
tB1KZWZmIEdpbGNocmlzdCA8amVmZmdAbWkubmV0PokAlQIFEDGHgYO4ImcpHDpY
AQEBtpQEAJMZA8+FKokRPXQNrmY63EedVDuairdF+eBXzYOTX2JqIFvp9uRMSb7n
nXr0YOQvLTWUbWj7IAWPcFdoal9t8yOaKoH/8NRkcL8bgTEqMpO1di/wWgv9KyHh
1fDjeveZ3djp23RMVae2mKBNF7i4+N/fC3PnuSM0vFpme8m2h97d
=zWKn
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

        If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to
send me some EMAIL and I will try and reply as soon as I can.

INTERNET:  jeffg@mi.net

*** INFORMATION REQUESTED ***
If anyone knows the encryption methods that are (???) unknown in
the archiver Option List, please email and let me know.  Thanks!

+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|  HOW TO GET THE LATEST COPY OF THE ARCHIVE COMPARISON TEST   |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
               ** Official Distribution Sites **
Via BBS
-------
DANGER UNLiMiTED   at   +1-403-280-3778   (300bps - 28,800bps)
Login ID: DISTRO   No password required.

Via FIDONET File-Request (FREQ)
-------------------------------
LineLife M/F  (Germany)               SysOp: Horst Hackenbruch
FREQable under the magic name: ACT
Most archivers also available on this site.
2:2433/940  (300 - 128,000bps Zyxel/v.34/v.110/v.120/x.75/DMS100)
            Phone: +49-2173-967910
2:2433/941  (ISDN:  ELINK EL310, x.75 ESDD-1)
            Phone: +49-2173-967911

Via Internet
------------
WWW:  http://www.mi.net/act/act.html
FTP:  ftp.simtel.net  /pub/simtelnet/msdos/arcers/actest??.zip
FTP:  ftp.elf.stuba.sk  /pub/pc/pack/actest??.zip
FINGER:  s0b8@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca

MAILING LIST:  A.C.T. E-mail Mailing List
------------
To subscribe, send an e-mail to:  jeffg@mi.net
with ONE of the following four in the SUBJECT of the message.

SUBSCRIBE ACT-FULL
SUBSCRIBE ACT-TOP50
SUBSCRIBE ACT-MIME
SUBSCRIBE ACT-UUENCODED

ACT-FULL       -  The full Archive Comparison Test in ASCII format.
                  (Around 75k)
ACT-TOP50      -  Smaller version of A.C.T. with top 50 entries of
                  each section in ASCII format.  (Around 50k)
ACT-MIME       -  Mime encoded ZIP file of the full A.C.T. (Around 30k)
ACT-UUENCODED  -  Uuencoded ZIP file of the full A.C.T.  (Around 30k)

To unsubscribe from the mailing list, send an e-mail to:  jeffg@mi.net
with the SUBJECT:  UNSUBSCRIBE ACT
------------

** If you are not listed above, you are NOT an official **
** distribution site.                                   **

--
-= JEFF GILCHRIST =-   (New Brunswick, Canada)
- Author Of A.C.T. -   Internet:  jeffg@mi.net
