FileCompression - Learn To Use It -

File Compression Instructions & Info

TO DO: Practice File Compression Extra Credit Score = 100 points:

About two-thirds or later in the semester, I will begin posting 100 points in to the Gradebook for the File Compression Practice assignment for all students who are using file compression correctly, and consistently, following the instructions.

I strongly urge all students to learn to correctly use file compression skills.

Many students began immediately after completing the Windows Managing Your Files Tutorial (FM pages). and are now adding them all into one compressed archive file/folder to submit only one file attachment..
Most, but not quite all, are following the instructions at this time.
Most students are doing a very good job and not compressing files separately. .
And, most are naming the archive file folder in a professional way, i.e.,
- In Blackboard, select "Click to Launch" to get to the Submit page of the assignments, then ATTACH the one compressed archive file/folder for that specific assignment.
  - On-Campus students: In Email, select the ATTACH option, and ATTACH the one compressed archive file/folder for the assignments you are submitted.

No points are deducted for not doing all the skills correctly. Practice makes perfect, so keep practicing and you will become proficient..

Effective and professional use of file compression is an excellent skill to have.
It will serve you well in the rest of your education and in your career.
No File Compression Extra Credit points will be earned until I see a consistent use following all instructions.

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FILE COMPRESSION skills are very important to know as you become more involved with computers, telecommunications, and need to transfer files from one computer to another.

File Compression Instructions for Kathy Moore's Courses:

For EACH Assignment that requires files to be submitted,
COMPRESS EVERY FILE you've created or modified and saved,
ALL together into ONE compressed ARCHIVE file/folder,
and submit the ARCHIVE file/folder as an Attached File via BLACKBOARD Assignments.
- Do not compress each file separately.
- Do not include compressed files into another archive.

ARCHIVE FILE NAMES require two parts and no spaces:

YOURLASTNAME_AssignmentInfoOrNumber

examples: Smith_ExcelTut1, or Jones_WORD Proj2, or Doe_Exam3

(only letters, numbers, underscore - no spaces,
& do not type .zip extension - the software adds extensions automatically.

IMPORTANT! When you rename a file,

if you can see the file extension ( .zip ), the rename must include exactly that extension.

If you can not see the file extension , then do NOT include it in the rename. It is there, but hidden.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

WINDOWS XP and WINDOWS VISTA FILE COMPRESSION

Basic Windows XP steps to compress folders and files located in the same folder, are provided to you in your Microsoft lab manual textbook, Windows Managing Your Files Tutorial, Page FM 19.
- Page FM 19 - FM 20 provide instructions to Extract compressed folders/files to another folder.
- You would use these steps to get the Student Data Files extracted to your computer's hard drive.
To learn lots about WindowsXP ZIP File Compression Utility, link to:
- To create a zipped compressed folder - (we use ZIP compression for this course)
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306531

FILE COMPRESSION with Windows XP or Windows VISTA operating system.

If you have Windows XP operating system installed on your computer,
and if you do not have another ZIP file compression utility installed on your computer,
then you can follow the instruction steps in the” Windows - Managing Your Files “ tutorial on page FM19. They work perfectly!!

BASIC Windows XP Instructions to ADD files into an archive file/folder:

EITHER use the SEND TO ==> Compressed (zipped) folder " OPTION:

Open My Computer or Windows Explorer (they are exactly the same thing – don’t ask – it’s Microsoft we are dealing with)

Shortcut to Windows Explorer: right-click START menu button, left-click EXPLORE command)

You can create the compressed archive file/folder in any location.
   I prefer to locate the files/folders I want to compress, and create the compressed archive file/folder there.

Right click in blank space, not on any file or folder.

From the shortcut menu, select NEW.

Select "Compressed (zipped) folder" (to create a new empty compressed archive file/folder).

Name the new archive = Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip,
          e.g. Jones_WordProjects1_2_3.zip
           - no spaces and no special characters, only letters numbers underscores

IMPORTANT! When you rename a file,

if you can see the file extension ( .zip ), the rename must include exactly that extension.

If you can not see the file extension , then do NOT include it in the rename. It is there, but hidden.

Locate and Select (highlight) the files and folders you want to compress.

Note: You can only compress files or folders from within one folder at a time.

See below TO ADD MORE FILES/FOLDERS from OTHER LOCATIONS:

Using Right mouse button, Drag/Drop files and/or folders into the newly named archive file/folder.

That’s it.
You can double click on the compressed archive file/folder and see all the files. The Path column will indicate the folders you selected.

- - EASY

OR use the Create a NEW Compressed (zipped) folder " OPTION:

Open My Computer or Windows Explorer (they are exactly the same thing – don’t ask – it’s Microsoft we are dealing with)

Shortcut to Windows Explorer: right-click START menu button, left-click EXPLORE command)|

Locate and Select (highlight) the files and folders you want to compress.

Note: You can only compress files or folders from within one folder at a time.

See below TO ADD MORE FILES/FOLDERS from OTHER LOCATIONS:

Right click on one of the selected files or folders.

From the shortcut menu, select " Send to " option.

Select " Compressed (zipped) folder ."

A compressed archive file folder is created, named after one of the files or folders that you selected.
You have to rename the archive file/folder.

Right click on the filename of the new compressed archive file/folder

From the shortcut menu, select the RENAME option.

Name the new archive = Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip,
          e.g. Jones_WordProjects1_2_3.zip
           - no spaces and no special characters, only letters numbers underscores

IMPORTANT! When you rename a file,

if you can see the file extension ( .zip ), the rename must include exactly that extension.

If you can not see the file extension , then do NOT include it in the rename. It is there, but hidden.

That’s it.
You can double click on the compressed archive file/folder and see all the files. The Path column will indicate the folders you selected.

- - EASY

TO ADD MORE FILES/FOLDERS from OTHER LOCATIONS:

If you need to submit files or folders from various locations on your computer, continue adding them with these simple steps:

You have created a compressed archive file/folder, already.

We will refer to it as Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip archive file/folder.

Locate and Select (Highlight) the other files or folders, located in some other area, that you need to include in the created Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip archive file/folder.

Right click on one of the selected files or folders.

Select " COPY " option

Return to the location of the archive (Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip )

Right click on the archive (Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip )

Select " PASTE " option

To prove to yourself that the files were added, double click on the archive (Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip ) to see the list of all the files you selected, and/or, in the PATH column, all the folders you selected which contain files.

Repeat steps 2. through 8. to add files or folders from other areas.

TO DELETE UNWANTED FILES/FOLDERS FROM WITHIN AN ARCHIVE:

Double-click on the archive file/folder to open it and view the files that were added..

If there are unwanted files, right click on them and select Delete or Cut.

This is the end of the instructions if you have Windows XP or Windows VISTA operating systems on your computer and no other file compression utility is installed.

**************************** HOWEVER *****************

If you want to use the Windows XP or VISTA file compression, but another file compression software is installed, here are a couple of ways to override the installed sofware:

OPTION 1 - EITHER use the "Create a "NEW" folder option. Then modify the Properties to use Windows XP/VISTA Compressed (zipped) folder utility and override the other utility:

Open My Computer or open Windows Explorer (they are exactly the same thing – don’t ask – it’s Microsoft we are dealing with)

Shortcut to Windows Explorer: right-click START menu button, left-click EXPLORE command)

In an open space, right click to open the shortcut menu

Click NEW

Select WinZip (you won’t see the Compressed (zipped) folder option)

A new WinZip archive file/folder will be created and the text highlighted

Name the archive file folder

For the page FM19 file compression exercise, name it according to instructions = Final Tutorial Files.zip

For future assignments, name it per these instructions:
Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip,
e.g. If last name is Smith for Excel Tuts 1&2 files = Smith_ExT1_T2.zip

IMPORTANT! When you rename a file,

if you can see the file extension ( .zip ), the rename must include exactly that extension.

If you can not see the file extension , then do NOT include it in the rename. It is there, but hidden.

Right click on the new archive file-folder

Select Properties

Notice that WinZip is the current file compression program

Click the CHANGE button

Select the Compressed (zipped) folder option

Click OK, then APPLY, then OK

Locate and Highlight the folders and/or files you wish to compress.

Using the RIGHT mouse button, drag the highlighted files and/or folders into the new compressed archive file/folder

That’s it.
You can double click on the compressed archive file/folder and see all the files. The Path column will indicate the folders you selected.

OR use the "SEND TO ===> Compressed (zipped) folder " OPTION to use Windows XP/VISTA utility and override the other utility:

Open My Computer or open Windows Explorer (they are exactly the same thing – don’t ask – it’s Microsoft we are dealing with)

Locate and Select (highlight) the files and folders you want to compress.

Note: You can only compress files or folders from within one folder at a time.

See below for adding additional files.

Right click on one of the selected files or folders.

Select " Send to " option.

Select " Compressed (zipped) folder ."

A compressed archive file folder is created, named after one of the files or folders that you selected.

Right click on the filename of the new compressed archive file folder

Select the RENAME option.

Name the archive file folder

For the page FM19 file compression exercise, name it according to instructions = Final Tutorial Files.zip

For future assignments, name it per these instructions:
Yourlastname_AssignmentInfo.zip,
e.g. If last name is Smith for Excel Tuts 1&2 files = Smith_ExT1_T2.zip

IMPORTANT! When you rename a file,

if you can see the file extension ( .zip ), the rename must include exactly that extension.

If you can not see the file extension , then do NOT include it in the rename. It is there, but hidden.

That’s it.
You can double click on the compressed archive file/folder and see all the files. The Path column will indicate the folders you selected.

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Link to How To Use Other File Compression if you do not have Windows XP or VISTA