Patent ID: 8024382

Claim:
A computer implemented method for in-place editing of a ZIP™ archive file, comprising: (a) opening a ZIP™ archive file; (b) opening a first file block that is stored in a first block location of the ZIP™ archive file; (c) modifying the first file block resulting in a modified first file block; (d) if the first block location can accommodate the modified first file block: (1) saving, in-place, the modified first file block in the first block location without rewriting the ZIP™ archive file in its entirety; (2) if the first block location cannot accommodate the modified first file block: (e) copying a second file block of the ZIP™ archive file from a second block location of the ZIP™ archive file to a third block location located at an end of a file data section of the ZIP™ archive file; (f) mark one or more portions of the second block location as a free block; and (g) saving the modified first file block without rewriting the ZIP™ archive file in its entirety; (h) saving the ZIP™ archive file by: (1) updating and saving a central directory of the ZIP™ archive file; and (2) updating and saving an end of central directory of the ZIP™ archive file.