diff --git a/BrainPortal/app/controllers/tasks_controller.rb b/BrainPortal/app/controllers/tasks_controller.rb
index 57ccf5ef9..00f1266c7 100644
--- a/BrainPortal/app/controllers/tasks_controller.rb
+++ b/BrainPortal/app/controllers/tasks_controller.rb
@@ -707,12 +707,14 @@ def operation
     archive_dp_id   = params[:archive_dp_id].presence   # for 'archive as file' operation
     dup_bourreau_id = nil unless dup_bourreau_id && Bourreau.find_all_accessible_by_user(current_user).where(:id => dup_bourreau_id).exists?
     archive_dp_id   = nil unless archive_dp_id   && DataProvider.find_all_accessible_by_user(current_user).where(:id => archive_dp_id).exists?
+    nozip           = params[:nozip].presence  # for archiving without compression
 
     # This does the actual work and returns info about the
     # successes and failures.
     results = apply_operation(operation, tasklist,
       :dup_bourreau_id => dup_bourreau_id,
       :archive_dp_id   => archive_dp_id,
+      :nozip => nozip
     )
 
     # Prepare counters for how many tasks affected.
@@ -748,6 +750,7 @@ def apply_operation(operation, taskids, options = {})
     # Some other parameters
     dup_bourreau_id = options[:dup_bourreau_id] # for 'duplicate' operation
     archive_dp_id   = options[:archive_dp_id]   # for 'archive as file' operation
+    nozip           = options[:nozip]           # for 'archive as file' and 'archive' operation
 
     # Prepare counters for how many tasks affected.
     skipped_list = {}
@@ -817,6 +820,9 @@ def apply_operation(operation, taskids, options = {})
             bac_klass = operation_to_bac[operation]
             if bac_klass
               bac = bac_klass.local_new(current_user.id, oktasks.map(&:id), bid, {})
+              # an option for archive or archive to file operations
+              bac.options[:nozip]                    = nozip           if operation =~ /^archive(_file)?$/
+              # other options and operations
               bac.options[:archive_data_provider_id] = archive_dp_id   if operation == 'archive_file'
               bac.options[:dup_bourreau_id]          = dup_bourreau_id if operation == 'duplicate'
               bac.options[:atwhat]                   = 'Setup'         if operation == 'restart_setup'
diff --git a/BrainPortal/app/models/cluster_task.rb b/BrainPortal/app/models/cluster_task.rb
index 43d390d8c..502344751 100644
--- a/BrainPortal/app/models/cluster_task.rb
+++ b/BrainPortal/app/models/cluster_task.rb
@@ -1307,9 +1307,9 @@ def capture_job_out_err(run_number=nil,stdout_lim=2000,stderr_lim=2000)
   # Work Directory Archiving API
   ##################################################################
 
-  def in_situ_workdir_archive_file #:nodoc:
+  def in_situ_workdir_archive_file(nozip: false) #:nodoc:
     fn_id = self.fullname.gsub(/[^\w\-]+/,"_").sub(/\A_*/,"").sub(/_*$/,"")
-    "CbrainTask_Workdir_#{fn_id}.tar.gz" # note: also check in the TaskWorkdirArchive model
+    "CbrainTask_Workdir_#{fn_id}.tar#{'.gz' unless nozip}" # note: also check in the TaskWorkdirArchive model
   end
 
   # This method will create a .tar.gz file of the
@@ -1320,7 +1320,7 @@ def in_situ_workdir_archive_file #:nodoc:
   # in_situ_workdir_archive_file(). Restoring the
   # state of the workdir can be performed with
   # unarchive_work_directory().
-  def archive_work_directory
+  def archive_work_directory(nozip: false)
 
     # Keep updated_at value in order to reset it at the end of method
     updated_at_value = self.updated_at
@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@ def archive_work_directory
 
       system("chmod","-R","u+rwX",".") # uppercase X mode affects only directories
       status = with_stdout_stderr_capture(tar_capture) do
-        system("tar","-czf", temp_tar_file, "--exclude", "*#{temp_tar_file}", ".")
+        system("tar","-c#{'z' unless nozip }f", temp_tar_file, "--exclude", "*#{temp_tar_file}", ".")
         $? # a Process::Status object
       end
 
diff --git a/BrainPortal/app/views/tasks/_task_menu.html.erb b/BrainPortal/app/views/tasks/_task_menu.html.erb
index ddf2e1478..eeb9d8469 100644
--- a/BrainPortal/app/views/tasks/_task_menu.html.erb
+++ b/BrainPortal/app/views/tasks/_task_menu.html.erb
@@ -193,6 +193,9 @@
       Optional: when archiving <em>As File</em>, choose a destination Data Provider:<br/>
       <%= data_provider_select :archive_dp_id, { :selector => "" }, :include_blank => "" %>
     <p/>
+    <% if current_user.has_role?(:admin_user) %>
+      <%= check_box_tag :nozip, "yes", false %> no need to compress, just archive
+    <% end %>
   <% end %>
 
   <%= button_with_dropdown_menu("Filters", :content_id => 'tasks_filters') do %>