XTree offers three methods for accomplishing this. In each of them the starting point is to tag all the files to be zipped; then ensure that they are all displayed by either entering the file window or selecting B(ranch), S(howall) or G(lobal) as appropriate. Next key Ctrl-F5 to start the Zip creation, and enter the name of the destination archive file. From here on the methods diverge, and I will describe them separately below.
The ending point in all cases is a series of floppy disks each containing one .ZIP file bearing the specified destination filename.
Segmented When a floppy drive is specified in the destination, XTree offers the choice of segmented or spanned volumes. If you choose segmented, the files will be archived to a succession of free-standing .ZIP files, one on each floppy disk. When a disk does not have enough space left for the next file, you are prompted to insert the next disk. This means that there can be a significant amount of wasted space on each disk. And there is no indication of which files are on which disk (not important if you are only likely to extract all the files together at the same time).
Spanned If you select the spanned option, each destination disk (except the final one) will be completely filled by splitting files if necessary. The ZIP directory will be placed in the file on the last disk of the set. When you then try to log into the archive you are prompted to insert the last disk, and when accessing a specific file you are again prompted to insert the relevant disk. So make sure that you label the disks adequately.
Spanning makes the whole disk available, overwriting any existing files, so before you start zipping make sure that there is nothing you want to keep on the disks. It does mean, on the other hand, that there is no need to clear the disks before you start. And of course XTree issues an appropriate warning when prompting for a new disk.
This method will sometimes use fewer disks than the others.
ARC2ZIP In this method you first of all create one large archive file on the hard disk, and then copy it with splitting to floppies. XTree Gold includes a free-standing program, ARC2ZIP.EXE, whose primary purpose is to convert archive files in the now-obsolete .ARC format to .ZIP format. But it is also capable of copying a .ZIP file to a series of floppies. This facility is useful if you want to create a ZIP file to store on your hard disk, but also to be able to copy it to floppies for backup or for distribution.
Tom Ruben