64-bit Processor Versions

With the advent of 64-bit processors and the introduction of 64-bit versions of the Windows operating system, some developers may want to use components compiled specifically for these processors.

There are currently two main types of 64-bit processors:

AMD64/EM64T processors: They are implementations of the x86-64 processor architecture, commonly referred to as x86-64 or x64. The architecture is an extension of the x86 instruction set, which allows simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing with no degradation in performance. The Xceed product specifically compiled for this architecture is named Xceed Zip for x64.
Itanium processors: They are implementations of the IA-64 processor architecture. IA-64 is a completely separate architecture from x86 and x64 and does not automatically execute x86 32-bit code. The Xceed product specifically compiled for this architecture is named Xceed Zip for IA-64.

Since the x64 processors allow simultaneous execution of 32- and 64-bit code, the standard x86 version of Xceed Zip Compression Library can be used on those systems without changes to your code; however, some developers may want their 64-bit applications to only use components compiled for 64-bit processors.

Confusion with the Term Zip64

It is important not to confuse 64-bit ports of Xceed Zip Compression Library and the term Zip64.

Zip is a file format that contains compressed and/or encrypted data. Zip64 is an extension to the standard zip format that practically removes limits in sizes and item numbers within a zip archive file. This extension has been implemented in Xceed Zip Compression Library for several years and has nothing to do with 64-bit computing.

Availability

Xceed Zip for x64 has been ported from Xceed Zip Compression Library to run natively on x64 processors running a x64-bit version of Windows.

Xceed Zip for IA-64 (Itanium) has been ported from Xceed Zip Compression Library to the Itanium processor running an Itanium version of Windows but is only available as a special order. Please contact Xceed Sales for more information.

Functionality

Xceed Zip for x64 and Xceed Zip for IA-64 offer the exact same functionality as their 32-bit counterpart; the ActiveX and DLL interfaces are exactly the same.

The SFX binary modules have not been ported to Xceed Zip for x64 and Xceed Zip for IA-64; however, in the case of x64, since they can run 32-bit code automatically, self-extractors created using the 32-bit SFX binary module will run without problem.

On average, the performance of Xceed Zip for x64 and Xceed Zip for IA-64 is roughly the same as its 32-bit counterpart.

Usage

Xceed Zip for x64 and Xceed Zip for IA-64 are accessed and used in the same way as the 32-bit version.

Only the file name of the DLL and some related library files have changed:

DLL	Processor
XceedZip.dll	Xceed Zip Compression Library - x86 processors
XceedZipX64.dll	Xceed Zip for x64 - AMD64/EM64T processors
XceedZipIA64.dll	Xceed Zip for IA-64 - Itanium processors

All versions are ActiveX components which must be registered in order to be seen by Windows. Use the 'regsvr32.exe' command to register the processor version of the library you are using. For example, from the Windows command prompt:

regsvr32.exe <path to the DLL file>\XceedZipX64.dll

You will then see a message box that either displays "LoadLibrary failed" or "LoadLibrary succeeded". If you get the success message, then the control is now registered on the machine and is ready for use by applications or in your development environment. If you get the failure message, make sure you specified a correct path and filename, and placed it in quotes if it has spaces in it.

The ActiveX name and GUID of the library are the same across all processor versions. This means that you cannot, for example, use the x86 and x64 versions at the same time. Registering one will just make Windows point to the newly registered DLL file over the old one.

For C/C++ users using the DLL API, the appropriate DLL file name will have to be specified to LoadLibrary(). As for the related files:

File name	Description
XceedZipAPI.h	Function and event declarations for the DLL API is the same for all processor versions of the library.
XceedZip.lib	Visual C++ import library when using Xceed Zip Compression Library.
XceedZipX64.lib	Visual C++ import library when using Xceed Zip for x64.
XceedZipIA64.lib	Visual C++ import library when using Xceed Zip IA-64 (Itanium).

For Visual Basic 6 developers using the DLL API interface, the file 'xcdDllApi.bas' remains the same.

For .NET users, the procedure is unchanged. Just 'Add Reference...' in your development environment and select the Xceed Zip Compression Library that is registered in your system.

Licensing

You need to purchase a license key in order to use Xceed Zip for x64 or Xceed Zip for IA-64; using a current "ZIP" license key will not work.

Licenses starting with "ZIX" are recognized as licenses for Xceed Zip for x64 .
Licenses starting with "ZII" are recognized as licenses for Xceed Zip for IA-64.

Time-limited free trial licenses for Xceed Zip for x64, without AES encryption, is available and works the same way as the 32-bit version. A trial license for Xceed Zip for IA-64 can be obtained by contacting Xceed Sales directly.

Please see the License method for more information.