Create a new archive with File Roller, by following these steps:
Click the Create a new archive toolbar button, or click Archive ▸ New…
The file chooser will open. Use it to name your new archive file and choose its location, and click Create.
In this dialog you may also choose the type of the file format that you want to use, available extensions should be listed below. By clicking Other options you can set a password, or split your new archive into smaller parts. You should specify the size of the volume in MB.
Add the desired files to your archive by clicking the Add files to the archive toolbar button, or by clicking Edit ▸ Add files…. File Roller also allows you to add whole folders. To do this, click the Add a folder to the archive toolbar button, or select Edit ▸ Add a folder…
When you add a folder to your archive, you will be offered some options:
Whether to include subfolders or not
Choose which files should be included
Select which subfolders or files are to be excluded
Once you finish adding files, your archive is ready.