A Zip file is a popular data compression and archival format. Files can be grouped together and compressed down to a smaller size for easier distribution and storage. Zip files, once compressed, will have a ".zip" file extension.

There are many different programs that allow you to compress, extract, and manage your Zip files. Mac OS X 10.3 and later, Windows XP and Vista, and most Linux distributions have built in Zip support and do not require additional programs.

Zip Utilities

• 7-Zip (Linux, Mac, Windows)
• StuffIt Expander (Linux, Mac, Windows)
• WinRAR (Linux, Mac, Windows)
• WinZip (Windows)

Zipping files in Windows XP and Vista:

1. Open "My Computer" and navigate to the file(s) you wish compress.
2. Highlight the file(s) you wish to compress.
3. Right-click on the selected file(s).
4. Under "Send To," click "Compressed (zipped) Folder."

   

5. The compressed file will appear in the same folder and will have the same name as the original, but with a .zip suffix.

Zipping files in Mac OS X:

1. Open "Finder" and navigate to the file(s) you wish compress.
2. Highlight the file(s) you wish to compress.
3. Control-click or right-click on the selected file(s).
4. Select "Create Archive of filename."

   

5. The compressed file will appear in the same folder and will have the same name as the original, but with a .zip suffix.

Zipping files in Mac OS X:

1. Open "Finder" and navigate to the file(s) you wish compress.
2. Highlight the file(s) you wish to compress.
3. Control-click or right-click on the selected file(s).
4. Select "Compress filename."

   

5. The compressed file will appear in the same folder and will have the same name as the original, but with a .zip suffix.

Zipping files in Linux:

1. Open a shell prompt.


2. Enter the following:

The files contained within filedir will be compressed into a file with the name filename.zip and appear in the filedir directory.

Unzipping files in Windows XP and Vista:

1. Open "My Computer" and navigate to the Zip file you wish unzip.
2. Select the file you wish to unzip.
3. Right-click on the selected file(s).
4. Click "Extract All..."

   

5. Click the "Next" button in the "Folder Extraction Wizard."
6. Enter the folder in which you wish to extract the files.
7. Click the "Next" button.
8. Click the "Finish" button.
9. The files contained within the Zip file will be unzipped into the folder you specified.

Unzipping files in Mac OS X:

1. Open "Finder" and navigate to the Zip file you wish to unzip.
2. Double-click the file you wish to unzip.
3. The files contained within the Zip file will be automatically unzipped into the same folder as the original Zip file.

Unzipping files in Linux:

1. Open a shell prompt.
   


2. Enter the following:

The files contained within filename.zip will be unzipped into the directory where filename.zip is located.