RAR Automation

A desktop application that watches a download folder and automatically extracts new RAR or ZIP archives when downloads finish. Built with Python and PyQt5.

Features

• Watch & extract — Monitors a folder for new .rar or .zip files and extracts them when the download completes
• Progress feedback — Progress bar and status messages during extraction
• Cancel — Cancel waiting or extraction at any time
• Delete after extraction — Optional checkbox to delete the archive from the download folder after a successful extraction
• Error handling — Validates folders before starting; shows clear errors if extraction fails (e.g. corrupt archive, permissions)
• Remember folders — Last-used download and extraction paths are saved and restored on next launch
• System tray — Minimize to tray; optional notification when extraction completes
• Supported formats — RAR and ZIP

Prerequisites

• Python 3 or greater
• UnRAR (for RAR extraction) — rarfile uses the system unrar command. Install as needed:
  • macOS: brew install unrar
  • Windows: Download UnRAR and add to PATH

Installation

1. Clone or download this repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd RAR_Automation

2. Create a virtual environment (recommended):

   python3 -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate   # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

   Or manually: pip install rarfile PyQt5

4. Ensure the UI file test.ui is in the same directory as main.py. (If your file is named main.ui, either rename it to test.ui or change the loadUi("test.ui", self) line in main.py to match.)

How to Run

1. From the project directory, run:

   python main.py

2. Set the directories in the app:

   • Download folder — Folder where your browser or download manager saves files (e.g. ~/Downloads)
   • Extraction folder — Folder where extracted contents should go (e.g. ~/Extracted)

3. Click Start. The app will:

   • Wait until it detects a new file in the download folder
   • Wait for the download to finish (no temporary .cr file)
   • Extract the new RAR or ZIP into a subfolder in the extraction directory
   • Show a tray notification when extraction is complete

4. Start your download in the browser or download manager; the app will pick up and extract the new archive when it’s done.

Usage Notes

• Only the first new RAR or ZIP that appears after clicking Start is processed per run. For another file, click Start again after setting directories.
• Closing the window with “Minimize to tray” checked hides the app to the system tray instead of exiting. Use the tray menu to Show or Exit.
• The app must stay running while the download is in progress so it can detect when the file is complete and then extract it.

Project Structure

RAR_Automation/
├── main.py           # PyQt5 UI and worker thread (orchestration only)
├── extractor.py      # Archive detection and extraction (no UI; reusable/testable)
├── requirements.txt  # pip dependencies (rarfile, PyQt5)
├── test.ui           # PyQt5 UI layout (must be present)
└── README.md

Troubleshooting

Issue	Suggestion
“ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'rarfile'” or “PyQt5”	Run pip install rarfile PyQt5 in the same environment you use to run python main.py.
RAR extraction fails	Install UnRAR (brew install unrar on macOS) and ensure unrar is on your PATH.
“Download hasn’t been started” forever	Confirm the download folder path is correct and that you’ve started a download into that folder.
UI doesn’t load	Ensure test.ui exists next to main.py, or update the loadUi(...) path in main.py to your UI filename.