Batch how to compress an .zip folder without root folder while also being portable

Question

I'm trying to compress multiple separate folders to .zip (whether it be 7zip or PowerShell or tar) as well as being portable (as in the .bat can be anywhere) yes I looked at other posts but none of them is the answer to what I'm trying to do (if it's even possible)

mainfolder is where the .bat is

before compression

mainfolder | folder1 | folder .txt .json .png

this is what I want after compression

mainfolder | folder1.zip | folder .txt .json .png

but what I get is

mainfolder | folder1.zip | folder1 | folder .txt .json .png

I don't what the folder1 in the .zip

so is it possible to zip it without that other folder?

Answer 1

This is the same for any zip tool, but let's say you're using Powershell, and your folder structure looks like: C:\Folder1\Folder2\myFolders\myFile.txt:

# this zip will have a top-level folder (folder2) like you've seen
Compress-Archive -Path "C:\folder1\folder2" -Destination "C:\zip\file.zip"

# add an asterisk to take everything inside the target folder but leave the folder itself out:
Compress-Archive -Path "C:\folder1\folder2\*" -Destination "C:\zip\file.zip"

Answer 2

As an example using tar.exe in batch script:

@Echo Off
set "fol=C:\Temp\folder1"     & rem folder to zipped 
set "zip=C:\Temp\folder1.zip" & rem location of zip
pushd "%fol%" 2>Nul&& (tar.exe -cf "%zip%" "*" >Nul& popd)

• The zip file will no additional root folder1.
• Replace set "fol=... and set "zip=... as you wish.
• Batch script can be placed anywhere.
• To check whether tar.exe exists or not: where.exe tar.exe
• more options tar.exe --help

Alternative using 7z:

@Echo Off
set "fol=C:\Temp\folder1"     & rem folder to zipped 
set "zip=C:\Temp\folder1.zip" & rem location of zip
set "sev=C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe"
"%sev%" a -tzip "%zip%" "%fol%\*"

• a -tzip archive type (-t7z/-trar/...)