Meet ziptools - all the features that you miss most in Python's zipfile module. ziptools is both top-level scripts and importable modules that extend the standard library's zipfile module for: Folders: it adds entire folder trees to zipfiles automatically Modtimes: it propagates original modtimes for files, folders, and links Cruft skips: it can either include or skip system "cruft" files on request Symlinks: it copies or follows symlinks to files and dirs on Unix and Windows Long paths: it supports long pathnames on Windows beyond its normal limits Grab a copy of ziptools and start portably zipping your content today: http://learning-python.com/ziptools.html Cheers, --M. Lutz, http://learning-python.com