TLC Tips of the Week:                          from Helen Olberg

This week’s tip concerns zipping and unzipping files; it illustrates the Windows XP’s ‘Compressed Folders’ Feature. 

What is a zipped file?

A zipped file is a single file with an extension of .zip. It contains one or more files and/or folders that contain files, subfolders, etc. in a compressed format. In Windows XP, this zipped file is called a zipped folder or a zipped compressed folder.

Why should I consider making a zipped file?

1. A zipped file can hold multiple files and folders/subfolders; each folder/subfolder may have multiple files, folders, etc.
2. A zipped file takes less disk space since each file/folder is reduced to a smaller size.
3. Since it takes less disk space, emailing it will save disk space in your email box and less time to upload, transmit, and download.
4. Compressed folders/files don’t decrease your computer's performance.
5. You can protect zipped files the same as you’ve always done - with a password.

WINZIP, STUFFIT, and PKZIP/PKUNZIP are programs that you may have used in previous versions of Windows to zip and/or unzip files. Windows XP has incorporated that ability into a Compressed (Zipped) Folders feature.

In Windows XP, you can work with a zipped file (zipped compressed folder) just as you would an uncompressed folder.

• Zipped compressed folders are identified by a zipper icon.
• You can move zipped files to any drive or folder on your computer, the Internet, or your network, and they are compatible with commonly -used file compression programs.
• You can open files directly from compressed folders.
• You can run some programs directly from these compressed folders without decompressing them. (If a given program requires its own files in its own special format, you’ll need to extract all of them first).

To create a zipped compressed folder (zipped file) in Windows XP:

1. Using My Computer, locate and open the folder into which you wish to place the zipped file.
2. Select File, New, WinZip File  (Some versions of Windows XP will show Compressed (zipped) Folder instead of WinZip File).
   Windows will create a new file with the extension .zip and with a special icon. It will set you up to rename the file.
3. Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER. DO NOT CHANGE THE .ZIP EXTENSION!

Copying files and folders into the Zipped file/compressed folder:

Once you have created a compressed folder (identified by the zipper on the folder icon), you can compress files, programs, or other folders by dragging them to it.

To open a zipped compressed folder:

Open a compressed folder the same way you open other folders in Windows: Double-click the compressed folder.  You’ll see the files and folders that have been zipped.

• To view percentages of compression and other file information for a compressed folder, on the View menu, click Details.
• When you open or view compressed folders, you cannot use the Up or Back buttons on the toolbar, or move up or down levels from the folder.

To extract the files/folders from a zipped compressed folder:

To extract a single file or folder, double-click the compressed folder to open it. Then, select and drag the desired file or folder from the compressed folder to a new location.

To extract all files or folders, right-click the compressed folder, and then click Extract All. In the Compressed (zipped) Folders Extraction Wizard, specify where you want to store the extracted files.

• If the file is protected with a password, you must provide the password before the file can be extracted to the folder you specify.
• When you extract a file, a compressed version remains in the compressed folder. To delete the compressed version, right-click the file, and then click Delete.
• When you extract a file from a compressed folder that is password protected, the extracted file is no longer protected.

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