Zip files, otherwise known as archives, are compressed collections of one or more files that can be easily transferred between people and computer systems. By using a compressed file archive, you can ensure that the recipient of a set of files is more likely to not lose any of them. Compressed archives cut down on network traffic, and reduce the amount of time it takes to send files to their recipients. Compressed archives can also save hard drive space by allowing you to consolidate and compress old, infrequently accessed files.
Compressed file archives can be created with a few mouse clicks or keystrokes, no matter what sort of computer you have. All of the common operating systems are able to created compressed file archives, and a number of third party software packages are also available.
The general process of creating a compressed archive
- The user selects a set of files and folders to be compressed and archived.
- Software aggregates those multiple files into one archive file containing all of the originals.
- Software uses a compression algorithm to reduce the size of the archive file.
- Software outputs the final compressed archive file (for example, a .zip file).
Zipping files with Windows XP
Select any number of files and/or folders. Right-click on your selection to bring up the context menu, and move your mouse over Send To, revealing a new menu. Click on Compressed (zipped) folder. You will see a new file icon appear in your Explorer window, representing the new zip archive that you’ve created.
Unzipping files with Windows XP
Right-click on the file’s icon to bring up the context menu. You will see several options for unzipping your file, the simplest of which is Extract All. When you click on Extract All, Windows XP will decompress and extract all of the original files from the archive and into a new folder with the same name as the zip archive.
Creating a compressed archive with Mac OS X
Select any number of files or folders, then locate and click on the word File in the top left corner of your screen. In the new menu that appears, locate and click on Create archive of …., which will be followed by the name(s) of your selection. A new file will appear, representing the compressed zip archive containing all the original files you selected. This new file will have a .zip file extension.
Unzipping files with Mac OS X
Double-click on the file that you want to unzip. Mac OS X will automatically decompress the archive and extract the original files to a new folder with the same name as the zip archive.
