How-To Create a Compressed Archive File / Folder
                and ADD your assigned files into it in a compressed format
                      so you can quickly upload them into Blackboard ASSIGNMENTS    

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.
   
  • Instructions to Extract compressed folders/files to another folder are included. 
  • 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 

If your WINDOWS XP or VISTA system has another File Compression Utility installed it will override Windows utility:

• If another file compression utility has been installed on your computer, the installed software will become the default file compression utility and will override the Windows utility.
   
• If using WinRAR or other non-ZIP compression software,
  you must compress the files and change the compression type from .RAR to .ZIP.

If your computer has an older version of WINDOWS, download and use FREE WinZip File Compression:

• If your computer has an older version of Windows operating system, download and install  FREE Evaluation version of WinZip file compression utility:
             http://winzip.com/dprob.htm  - suggestion:  select the Current WinZip###.EXE file version

• If you are interested in creating Self-Extracting compressed files to send to folks who do not have files compression, download the Current WinZipSE##.exe file version.
   

• If your computer has Macintosh operating system, download and install  FREE Evaluation version of StuffIt file compression utility: 
             Free Stuffit Download  -  Change the compression to .ZIP file types to submit

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Link to   How To Use File Compression to Submit Assignments with Attached Files

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WinZip®  Lessons:  Graphical instructions to learn to use WinZiP:

1. Simple Animated Graphic - Instructions to create new archive and add files demonstrated
2. Screen Shots with Text Instructions
3. Just the Facts!  text instructions only

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OPTION 1 - Simple Animated Graphic   Here's a quick animation, in WinZip Classic view, showing how easy it is to create the archive file and add files to it.  See detail instructions below so you can download, install, run and enjoy!!

Copyright © 1991-2000 by WinZip Computing, Inc. All rights reserved.

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If the above animated graphic isn't sufficient, here are step-by-step instructions.

OPTION 2 - Screen Shots with Text:   Steps to use WinZip to Compress Files into a new WinZip Archive: 

(1)  Click Windows Start menu / WinZip folder.

(2)  Click on WinZip icon. 
         (If WinZip opens in Wizard view , click on CLASSIC VIEW option to see window below.)

(3)  Click on  NEW toolbar icon to open the NEW ARCHIVE window.

(4)  Name this new WinZip archive in "File name:" text box. 
            Format for Kathy Moore's classes - use abbreviations:
                   Yourlastname_BriefDescriptionOfContents   
                            ( no spaces & do not type file extension )
                             e.g.  Smith_ExT1_2  for Smith's Excel Tutorials 1 & 2 Assignment's files.

• 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.

       (4 - a)  If needed, change "Save In:" to correct storage location.

(5)  Click "OK" button.

(6)  ADD files into your new WinZip archive: 
      a -  Change  "Look in:" location to the needed files' storage area.
      b -  Select needed files, holding down the CTRL key to click more than one.
                 Files will be listed in the "File name:" text box
      c -  Make sure  "Action:" setting is "Add (and replace) files" to copy/paste and not move/cut
      d -  Make sure "Compression: setting is "Maximum"
      e -  Uncheck ALL checkboxes to send only the selected files, without the path structures

(7) Click "ADD" button after selecting all files from the current folder.
             Only files can be selected.  Only files from one folder at a time can be selected.

(8)  Files will be compressed and added into your new WinZip archive. 
      They will retain their file names, type, and last modified date. 
      Their original file size, the compression ration, and the new compressed file size display.

(8 - a)  If you need to add more files, click the ADD button in the tool bar, and repeat the ADD FILES steps.

(9)  The archive file now contains a copy of all the added files.  
         This archive file is the file you attach to Email or to an Assignment,
                                   or save to a disk as backup for this assignment.

VIEW:  You may double click on any compressed file to open and view the compressed files, and extract them, or work on them directly from the archive file/folder.  You may select some or all of them, then select VIEW menu button to open and view them.

OPTION 3 - Just the Facts!  text instructions only

1. 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)

2. 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
      

3. 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.
        

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

5. Using the RIGHT mouse button, drag the highlighted files and/or folders into the new compressed archive file/folder.  Select the COPY option
    

6. 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 folders.

For more information please use following :         <Go to Top>

Link to   How To Use File Compression to Submit Assignments with Attached Files

Last Updated 9/12/2008
By K E MOORE  copyright 2004