diff --git a/mclevel.py b/mclevel.py
index 7e0af32..d29648c 100644
--- a/mclevel.py
+++ b/mclevel.py
@@ -121,7 +121,10 @@ import itertools
 import traceback
 import os;
 import sys;
+import tempfile
 
+from contextlib import closing
+from zipfile import ZipFile, ZIP_STORED, is_zipfile
 from collections import deque;
 
 import blockrotation
@@ -689,6 +692,12 @@ class MCLevel(object):
         if not os.path.exists(filename):
             raise IOError, "File not found: "+filename
         
+        if (ZipSchematic._isLevel(filename)):
+            info( "Zipfile found, attempting zipped infinite level" )
+            lev = ZipSchematic(filename);
+            info( "Detected zipped Infdev level" )
+            return lev
+            
         if (MCInfdevOldLevel._isLevel(filename)):
             info( u"Detected Infdev level.dat" )
             if (loadInfinite):
@@ -933,7 +942,7 @@ class MCLevel(object):
     def generateLights(self, dirtyChunks = None):
         pass;
         
-    def extractSchematic(self, box):
+    def adjustExtractionParameters(self, box):
         x,y,z = box.origin
         w,h,l = box.size
         destX = destY = destZ = 0;
@@ -974,18 +983,59 @@ class MCLevel(object):
                 l = self.Length - z
             
             if l <= 0: return
-            
-             
-                 
-        
+                  
         box = BoundingBox ( (x,y,z), (w,h,l) )
         
+        return box, (destX, destY, destZ)
+        
+    def extractSchematic(self, box):
+        box, destPoint = self.adjustExtractionParameters(box);
         
         tempSchematic = MCSchematic(shape=box.size)
         tempSchematic.materials = self.materials
-        tempSchematic.copyBlocksFrom(self, box, (destX, destY, destZ))   
-        return tempSchematic
+        tempSchematic.copyBlocksFrom(self, box, destPoint)
         
+        return tempSchematic
+    
+    def extractZipSchematic(self, box, zipfilename):
+        box, destPoint = self.adjustExtractionParameters(box);
+        destPoint = (0,0,0)
+        
+        filename = tempfile.mktemp("schematic")
+        
+        tempSchematic = MCInfdevOldLevel(filename, create = True);
+        tempSchematic.createChunksInBox(BoundingBox(destPoint, box.size))
+        tempSchematic.copyBlocksFrom(self, box, destPoint)
+        tempSchematic.saveInPlace(); #lights not needed for this format - crashes minecraft though
+        
+        schematicDat = TAG_Compound()
+        schematicDat.name = "Mega Schematic"
+        
+        schematicDat["Width"] = TAG_Int(box.size[0]);
+        schematicDat["Height"] = TAG_Int(box.size[1]);
+        schematicDat["Length"] = TAG_Int(box.size[2]);
+        schematicDat.save(os.path.join(filename, "schematic.dat"))
+        
+        zipdir(filename, zipfilename)
+        
+        import shutil
+        shutil.rmtree(filename)
+        
+        #zipfilename = filename + ".zip"
+        #zf = ZipFile(zipfilename, "w")
+        #zf.add(filename);
+        
+        
+def zipdir(basedir, archivename):
+    assert os.path.isdir(basedir)
+    with closing(ZipFile(archivename, "w", ZIP_STORED)) as z:
+        for root, dirs, files in os.walk(basedir):
+            #NOTE: ignore empty directories
+            for fn in files:
+                absfn = os.path.join(root, fn)
+                zfn = absfn[len(basedir)+len(os.sep):] #XXX: relative path
+                z.write(absfn, zfn)
+                            
 fromFile = MCLevel.fromFile
 
                 
@@ -2987,7 +3037,26 @@ class MCAlphaDimension (MCInfdevOldLevel):
             MCInfdevOldLevel.saveInPlace(self);
         else:
             self.parentWorld.saveInPlace();
-            
+
+class ZipSchematic (MCInfdevOldLevel):
+    def __init__(self, filename):
+        tempdir = tempfile.mktemp("schematic")
+        zf = ZipFile(filename)
+        zf.extractall(tempdir)
+        
+        MCInfdevOldLevel.__init__(self, tempdir)
+        
+        schematicDat = os.path.join(tempdir, "schematic.dat")
+        if os.path.exists(schematicDat):
+            schematicDat = nbt.load(schematicDat);
+            self.Width = schematicDat['Width'].value;
+            self.Height = schematicDat['Height'].value;
+            self.Length = schematicDat['Length'].value;
+    
+    @classmethod
+    def _isLevel(cls, filename):
+        return is_zipfile(filename)
+        
 class MCIndevLevel(MCLevel):
     
     """ IMPORTANT: self.Blocks and self.Data are indexed with [y,z,x]