Clients like Winzip and WinPack are examples of the second generation of archive management tools. These applications make use of the Windows interface in order to facilitate the process of compressing and decompressing file archives as well as the ability to perform file management tasks on the files contained within the archives (for example, viewing, executing, and renaming individual files).
These tools have been must-have applications for anyone who uses the Internet on a regular basis. WinZip in particular has attracted a cult-like following. Still, despite their attractive interfaces and wealth of features, all of the second-generation tools suffer from at least two shortcomings. First, file archives still must be entirely decompressed before you can run any of the applications stored within. Second, these tools lack the full functionality of a true file management program like the Windows Explorer.
