When you compress a file, you are creating what is known as an archive. Archives are files that contain files. Zip files are the most common archive format.

• Mac OS X Archive Utility
• WinZip (Windows XP)
• Windows 7 and Vista

Archiving (Compressing) files and folders in Mac OS X

1. Select an item or items in the Finder.
2. Choose File.
3. For Lion (v. 10.7), Snow Leopard (v. 10.6) and Leopard (v. 10.5): Select Compress.
   For Tiger (v. 10.4) and earlier: Select Create Archive.

• If you archive a single item, the archived file has the name of the original item with a ".zip" extension.
• If you archive multiple items at once, the archived file is called Archive.zip and can be renamed.
• Uncompressing a file/folder: When you open an archived file, the archive is replaced by a folder that contains uncompressed copies of the original items.

Creating an Archive with WinZip (Windows)

WinZip is installed and pre-configured on all Windows machines distributed through the Boston College Computer Replacement (BCCR) program.

Creating an Archive (compressing a file)

1. Right-click on the name of the file (or folder) and select WinZip from the menu.
   
2. From the sub-menu, select Add to <name of the file/folder>.zip.
   
   The file or folder is automatically compressed and saved in the same location as the original. It will have the same name with a .zip extension.

Compressing and attaching a file/folder to an email message.

1. Right-click on the name of the file (or folder) and select WinZip from the menu.
   
2. From the sub-menu, select Add to <name of the file/folder>.zip.
   
   Your default email client opens and the file or folder is compressed and automatically added as an attachment.
   
   NOTE: The Zip and E-Mail Plus selection is similar to Zip and E-Mail but allows you to specify the name of the Zip file and add encryption if desired.

Uncompressing a file/folder

1. Right-click on the name of the compressed file (the file will have the.zip extension) and select Open with WinZip from the menu.
   
   The WinZip window opens and displays a listing of file(s) that were archived.
   
2. Select the file(s) you want to uncompress by clicking on the name(s). You can use Ctrl+A to select all the files.
   
3. Click the Extract icon.

• You are then given a choice as to where you would like the extracted files to be located.
• You can also select to overwrite any existing files with the same name.

Archiving (Compressing) files and folders in Windows 7 and Vista

1.  
   1. Right-click on the file or folder you want to compress.
      
   2. Select Send To from the menu.
      
   3. Select Compressed (zipped) Folder.
   • When you create a compressed file, it uses the same name as the original.
   • The file(s) are stored in a compressed folder and the folder icon displays a zipper.
   • Additional files "dragged" into the folder will automatically be compressed.

Uncompressing a file/folder

1. Right-click the compressed file and select Extract All.
2. Click Extract to extract the files.
   The Extract Wizard extracts files to a folder with the same name as the original compressed file and in the same location. Use the Browse to change the the name and/or location.