Compressing and Extracting Files

We can package sets of files for fast and easy delivery via the Internet by "compressing" them. The process of compressing puts these files in a kind of sealed container from which they can be "extracted" when received.

To Compress a Set of Files on a Mac

1. Select all the files you want to compress together by Command-clicking on them one at a time.

2. With the file highlighted, right-click on any of them. From the menu that appears, choose "Compress X Items" ("X" will show the number of files chosen).

3. On the desktop, you will see a new file appear with a name like "Archive.zip." This is your compressed package of the files. This is a good means to make a set of files downloadable from your web space, or to attach to an email.

4. Slowly click twice on the label "Archive.zip" and then change the word "Archive" to an appropriate label for your group of files.

5. If you want to make these files downloadable from the web, move the .zip file to your web space. You can then link to that file with a URL, as if the .zip file was an .html file. When someone clicks the link, their computer will give them the option to download the .zip file to their desktop (Mac) or Downloads folder (WIndows).

6. To extract the files on a Mac, double click it. A folder will appear which you can open to find the individual files.

To Compress a Set of Files in Windows

See the online tutorial "How to create and use compressed (zipped) folders in Windows XP"