Headless PowerArchiver for Windows automation.
The same archive engine as the GUI — 60+ formats, AES-256, .PA codec, multi-core ZIP — driven by switches. No installation: registration is in the binary, so deployment is a file copy. Designed for Windows server fleets, scheduled tasks, CI/CD pipelines, and centrally-managed endpoints.
paext.exe; a compression-only batch job gets pacomp.exe. Most workflows use one or two. Full switch reference: the official PACL manual.Extract from archives
Extract, list, or test integrity on archives in 60+ formats. Supports password decryption, certificate-based decryption, character translations, custom output paths, file-list inputs, and FIPS 140-2 mode for AES-encrypted ZIP archives.
Create & update archives
Compress, update, freshen, move, or delete from archives. Configurable compression methods (Deflate, LZMA, PPMd, BZIP2, WavPack), encryption (default ZIP / AES-128 / AES-256), solid archives for 7Z, exclude lists, Unicode filenames, and Volume Shadow Copy support for locked / open files.
Email-friendly encoding
Encode files to MIME (Base64), UUencode, XXencode, or yENC formats — the encoding wrappers used in legacy email pipelines and Usenet transports. Supports volume spanning (split output across multiple files at a configurable size).
Spanning across volumes
Split or join archives spanned across multiple removable volumes. Used when an archive exceeds a single target medium or when distributing large archives across multiple files of fixed size.
Encryption operations
Apply encryption-specific operations independently of compression. Useful for re-encrypting existing archives or performing crypto operations on file payloads as a discrete step in a pipeline.
Format conversion
Convert between archive formats without manual extract-then-recompress. ZIP ↔ 7Z, ZIP ↔ TAR.GZ, and other format pairs supported across the PA-handled format set.
Exit codes (PAEXT and PACOMP): 0 = no errors · 1 = command-line syntax error · 2 = error during operation. Suitable for orchestrator branching, CI gate-keeping, and SIEM alerting on non-zero exit.
Each tool supports fips mode (FIPS 140-2 — ZIP AES archives only), unicode mode for international filenames, q / l<file> quiet modes for unattended runs, and 0 for low-priority process start.
faster than single-core ZIP implementations on quad-core systems
Byte-level parallelization spreads the compression workload of a single file across as many cores as PACOMP is given. A multi-gigabyte database backup compresses across every available thread instead of pinning one and stalling the rest.
ZIP compression methods — Deflate, LZMA, PPMd, BZIP2, WavPack
PACOMP supports the full ZIPX codec set. Pick by file type via the c[l,p,w,b,d,z] switch; cz chooses an optimized method based on file extension automatically.
large-archive format · unlimited size, files, and individual file size
ZIP v4.5 (ZIP64) support across both PAEXT and PACOMP. Multivolume archives are supported across ARJ, CAB, RAR, ACE, ZIP, and 7Z.
Volume Shadow Copy support in PACOMP (uvss switch)
Snapshot-then-compress for locked / open files via the same Volume Shadow Service mechanism Windows Server Backup uses. Configurable extension filter via uvssext<extlist>.
Formats PACOMP can write, with compression-method and encryption-method switches per format.
PAEXT extracts from all PACOMP-written formats plus a long tail of legacy and uncommon formats — 60+ in total.
ZIP AES encryption is compatible with the WinZip and PKZIP AES standards. PACOMP writes AES-128 or AES-256 via the e1 / e2 switches; PAEXT decrypts both. FIPS 140-2 mode (the fips switch) supports ZIP AES archives only — non-AES algorithms are rejected.
Certificate-based decryption is supported via PAEXT's cert<file> switch. ZIP methods supported on extract: Deflate, Deflate64, LZMA, PPMd, BZIP2, WavPack, JPEG.
For PA's validated FIPS 140-2 / HIPAA / DFARS compliance certifications on the end product (audit logging, IT-policy enforcement, GSA / SEWP procurement support), see PowerArchiver Enterprise.
Standalone PACL licensing is for environments where the desktop product is unnecessary — Windows server estates running only scripted archive operations, container or VDI base images, regulated networks where the GUI is policy-blocked. Perpetual licenses, volume discounts at common quantities.
| Quantity | Price per license |
|---|---|
| 1 license | $14.95 |
| 2–9 licenses | $9.95 |
| 10–24 licenses | $9.95 |
| 25–49 licenses | $7.95 |
| 50–99 licenses | $5.95 |
| 100–199 licenses | $4.95 |
| 200–499 licenses | $3.95 |
| 500–999 licenses | $2.50 |
Volume discounts are applied automatically in the cart when you adjust quantity. For 1000+ seat orders, FIPS 140-2 / HIPAA / DFARS compliance documentation requirements, or bundled PA Select maintenance, contact ordering — same-business-day quote turnaround.
Six. The PACL suite includes PAEXT (extract), PACOMP (compress / update), PAENCODE (MIME / Base64 / UUencode / XXencode / yENC), PASPAN (spanning), PACRYPT (encryption operations), and PACONV (format conversion). They share the PowerArchiver archive engine and ship together. Each has its own switch set documented in the official manual.
No. PACL is Windows-only — same as the desktop PowerArchiver product line. Supports Windows 7 through 11 and Windows Server (2008 R2 through 2025). For Linux automation, the 7z CLI or zip / unzip system utilities are the standard. For cross-platform CI archive operations, a Windows runner is the supported path.
For PAEXT and PACOMP: 0 = no errors found, 1 = command-line syntax error / no action taken, 2 = error during operation. Suitable for orchestrator branching, CI gate-keeping, and SIEM alerting on non-zero exit. Per the PACL manual.
Yes. The bundled Toolbox or Enterprise MSI silent-installs PACL alongside the desktop product. For server-fleet deployments via standalone PACL licensing, a slim CLI-only installer is available — installs just the PACL binaries, no shell extensions, no GUI components. Supports standard MSI properties for unattended deployment via SCCM, Microsoft Intune, GPO software install, Ansible, Chef, or Salt.
Yes. Each PACL tool supports a fips switch that enables FIPS 140-2 mode. FIPS mode supports ZIP AES archives only — non-FIPS-approved algorithms (e.g., legacy ZIP scramble, non-AES ZIP encryption) are rejected. PACL also inherits the OS-level FIPS policy flag (HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControlLsaFipsAlgorithmPolicy = 1).
PACOMP has a uvss switch that enables Volume Shadow Copy support — Windows takes a snapshot of locked / in-use files (databases, log files, mail stores) so PACOMP can read them consistently while another process holds them open. The uvssext<extlist> switch lets you restrict VSS to specific file extensions. Same VSS API the in-GUI Backup module uses.
The full reference is on the PowerArchiver wiki — covers every switch on PAEXT, PACOMP, PAENCODE, PASPAN, PACRYPT, and PACONV. The install bundle includes a copy of the same content offline (PDF + CHM in the install directory).
