What is a 'zipped' file?
Files are 'zipped' to reduce
their size and make them easier to store on a disk or send over the Internet. As
an example, a graphic file that is 2 Meg in size can be zipped and result in a
reduction of size from 10% to 90%. Typically, a zipped file name looks something
like:
filename.zip
 Often, you will have a ZIP utility such as
WinZip
already installed on your computer (and don't know it). You will discover this when you try to open
a ZIPped file. If WinZip is resident on your PC, it will automatically launch
when you double-click on any ZIPped file.
If you do
NOT have WinZip or another un-zipping utility on your PC, you
receive a Windows message that asks you what program you want to use to
open the ZIPped file (see Open With... at right)
Close this message window. Connect to
the Internet and proceed to
download WinZip (click here).
Installation it is easy
Download the zip
utility by clicking on the appropriate link at
WinZip and save it to
your Download or a Temp directory. After you download WinZip,
you will need to install it on your computer.
To install WinZip, do the
following:
- Right click on the Start
button on your toolbar and select Explorer. Locate the file you
just downloaded (i.e. winzip80.exe).
- Install the program by double clicking on the
self-extracting file (i.e. winzip80.exe).
- WinZip will unzip itself automatically and install files as
required.
That's all there is to it. After
you have downloaded and installed WinZip, you can open any ZIPped file by
double-clicking on it.
Note: WinZip is continually improving their software and offering
upgrades to registered users. Their latest version permits you to download and
open archives from the Internet with one click via Microsoft’s Internet Explorer
and Netscape Navigator. There is no need to “Save to disk” and then switch to
WinZip or to the Windows Explorer or File Manager to open the downloaded file.
If you have a question about these
procedures, feel free to
send
us an email.
Help us help America's Kids
|
