Zipping and Unzipping Files

What is a Zip File?

In short, zip folders are "archives" used for transferring and storing heavy files. Files that are heavy in weight include: PowerPoint presentations, multiple photos, and word processing documents that are heavily formatted and rich with clipart. These types of files can make it difficult to transfer online, especially when the sender and/or recipient are using a dial-up internet connection. To send your presentation or photos via e-mail, it is therefore recommended that you zip your file. In other words, your file must be "archived" or saved in a compressed folder. There are file compression programs such as WinZip and StuffIt (WinZip has a 30-day trial demo that you can download. Go to http://www.winzip.com.) However, Windows XP has a zip utility (most RU computers are running XP). You can, therefore, archive heavy files without downloading additional software.

Creating a Zip Folder in Windows XP

You can create an archive or zip folder on any of your drives: a:/, c:/, h:/, or desktop. For the sake of simplicity, the instructions below create a zip folder on the desktop.

1. On your desktop, right-click your mouse.

2. Highlight New and select Compressed (zipped) Folder.

3. Name your compressed folder and include the extension .zip.

Now that a compressed file has been created and named on the desktop, you can drag and drop any files you wish into the compressed folder. It is now ready to send!

---

More on Archiving Files

Again, archiving files simply means to save heavy files in a compressed or zip folder. You can do this in Windows Explorer through a simple drag and drop command. For example, a PowerPoint presentation has been saved as a Web page. It was renamed index.html. Saving the presentation as a Web page created a folder of components and an .html page.

If you wanted to compress these files, you would simply create a compressed folder and drag both the index_files folder and index.html (as shown below) into the compressed folder.

---

Extracting (Unzipping Files)

To extract or (unzip) files simply means to open the contents of a zip folder. When you do this, an uncompressed copy of the folder is saved to a place that you specify and the original compressed folder remains. To extract files:

1. Locate the zip folder.

2. Do one of the following:

· Double-click the compressed folder to open it. Then, drag the file from the compressed folder to a new location.

· Right-click the compressed folder, and then click Extract All. This will open up the Compressed (zipped) Folders Extraction Wizard. Follow the prompts.

> Click the Next button.

> Browse to the location where you wish to extract compressed files.

If you have any other questions about zipping or unzipping files, please email Monica Thweatt at mthweatt@radford.edu.