.zip, .rar files and basic windows xp folders source code

[nightgamer360]

i am a newbie to computer programming having gotten visual basic 6 and borland c++ builder 6 as gifts. is it possible to view the source code (not file information)
of a folder (such as a basic windows xp folder) or .zip or .rar file directly (the source code itself of the file, not the info of what files are in it) as most compilers will alow .exe programs only or dlls. curious and a new programmer, any help appreciated.
id like to be able to store something in a folder or .zip file and look at the source code of the folder or zip file itself as a whole, not the files in it and see how its changed, etc. when i try to view a folders or .zip/.rar source code so far i am getting garblygook lettering with the compilers i have seen. do i need a decompiler,
any help is appreciated.

[Banfa]

You are confused, the is no "source code" associated with a folder, .zip file or .rar file. These, along with all other files, are just data files that get interpreted by a program (or the OS in the case of folders).

If you are using a half decent editor and load these files it should display it for you in hexidecimal (a list of hex byte values of the left and their text equivilent (if there is one) on the right).