MiKTeX and proTeXt ⇒ How to open LZMA compressed packages?

[Andy22]

I need some suggestions about opening the packages compressed with the LZMA method.
With the old methods (.cab or zipped tarballs) it was easy to open the archive and view the documentation without installing the package.
It was also possible to check the file for download errors with winrar, 7zip, or an other programm.

I've heard that 7zip would be able to handle LZMA compressions but it doesn't work even with the newest beta 4.52.

Can somebody suggest a programm for handling those files and quickly view the package documentation?
A plugin for 7zip or tugzip would be great.

[localghost]

[…] With the old methods (.cab or zipped tarballs) it was easy to open the archive and view the documentation without installing the package. […]

If it's only about viewing a package's documentation, you should refer to the CTAN. There you will find the documentation of every package as far as provided.

[Andy22]

Yes, that's right. But unfortunately no solution for PCs without internet connection.

[Ralf]

There is a way to unpack lzma-files as Christian described on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 6:00 PM in the MiKTeX mailing list (see http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.comp.tex.miktex/6578):

> The .tar.lzma files in the MiKTeX package repository were created with
> lzma.exe from the LZMA SDK (http://www.7-zip.org/sdk.html). In other
> words, you can run
>
> lzma d PACKAGE.tar.lzma -so | tar -xvf -
>
> to extract files from a package.

Ralf