split size a single‐file archive is
created.
Split archives are stored in numbered files. For example, if the
output archive is named archive and three splits are required,
the resulting archive will be in the three files archive.z01,
archive.z02, and archive.zip. Do not change the numbering of
these files or the archive will not be readable as these are used
to determine the order the splits are read.
Split size is a number optionally followed by a multiplier. Cur‐
rently the number must be an integer. The multiplier can cur‐
rently be one of k (kilobytes), m (megabytes), g (gigabytes), or
t (terabytes). As 64k is the minimum split size, numbers without
multipliers default to megabytes. For example, to create a split
archive called foo with the contents of the bar directory with
splits of 670 MB that might be useful for burning on CDs, the
command:
zip ‐s 670m ‐r foo bar
could be used.
Currently the old splits of a split archive are not excluded from
a new archive, but they can be specifically excluded. If possi‐
ble, keep the input and output archives out of the path being
zipped when creating split archives.
Using -s without -sp as above creates all the splits where foo is
being written, in this case the current directory. This split
mode updates the splits as the archive is being created, requir‐
ing all splits to remain writable, but creates split archives
that are readable by any unzip that supports split archives. See
-sp below for enabling split pause mode which allows splits to be
written directly to removable media.
The option -sv can be used to enable verbose splitting and pro‐
vide details of how the splitting is being done. The -sb option
can be used to ring the bell when zip pauses for the next split
destination.
Split archives cannot be updated, but see the -O (--out) option
for how a split archive can be updated as it is copied to a new
archive. A split archive can also be converted into a single‐
file archive using a split size of 0 or negating the -s option:
zip ‐s 0 split.zip ‐‐out single.zip
Also see -U (--copy) for more on using copy mode.
-sb
--split-bell
If splitting and using split pause mode, ring the bell when zip
pauses for each split destination.
-sc
--show-command
Show the command line starting zip as processed and exit. The
new command parser permutes the arguments, putting all options
and any values associated with them before any non‐option argu‐
ments. This allows an option to appear anywhere in the command
line as long as any values that go with the option go with it.
This option displays the command line as zip sees it, including
any arguments from the environment such as from the ZIPOPT vari‐
able. Where allowed, options later in the command line can over‐
ride options earlier in the command line.
-sf
--show-files
Show the files that would be operated on, then exit. For in‐
stance, if creating a new archive, this will list the files that
would be added. If the option is negated, -sf-, output only to
an open log file. Screen display is not recommended for large
lists.
-so
--show-options