Compressing Files and Folders

You can compress files in special folders that use compressing software to decrease the size of the files they contain. Compressed folders are useful for reducing the file size of one or more large files, thus freeing disk space and reducing the time it takes to transfer files to another computer over the Internet or network. A compressed folder is denoted by a zippered folder icon. You can compress one or more files in a compressed folder by simply dragging them onto the compressed folder icon. When a file is compressed, a copy is used in the compression, and the original remains intact. You can uncompress, or extract, a file from the compressed folder and open it as you normally would, or you can open a file directly from the compressed folder by double-clicking the Compressed File icon. When you open a file directly, Windows extracts the file when it opens and compresses it again when it closes.

Compress Files and Folders

Select the files and folders you want to copy to a compressed folder.

Right-click one of the selected items, point to Send To, and then click Compressed (Zipped) Folder.

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If you want, rename the compressed folder.

To copy additional files or folders to the compressed folder, drag the files onto the compressed folder.

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Did You Know? You can also compress file attributes in a folder. Right-click the folder, click Properties, click the General tab, click Advanced, select the Compress contents to save disk space check box, and then click OK twice.

View Compressed Files

Double-click the compressed folder to open it.

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Double-click an item in the folder to open it using its associated program.

Decompress Files

Double-click the compressed folder to open it.

Select the files you want to decompress.

Do one of the following:

• Single file or folder. Double-click the compressed folder to open it, and then drag the file or folder from the compressed folder to a new location.
  
  
• All files. Right-click the compressed folder, and then click Extract All, and then step through the Extraction Wizard.
  
  

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