Visualizing Technology Chapter 3 File Compression Assignment

Objective - Learn how to compress and decompress files.

Assignment Instructions

Read this page. At the bottom click on File Compression assignment.
Follow the 7 Steps. Upload into Moodle your zipped folder (with the three (3) edited text files in it).

Working with Compressed Folders

Really big files can be difficult to move or copy. They're especially difficult to transfer to other users, whether by email or portable disk drive. Fortunately, Windows includes a way to make big files smaller. Compressed folders take big files and compress their size, which makes them easier to copy or move. After the file has been transferred, you can then uncompress the file back to its original state.

Extracting Files from a Compressed Folder

The process of decompressing a file is actually an extraction process. That's because you extract the original file(s) from the compressed folder. In Windows this process is eased by the use of the Extraction Wizard.
Follow these steps:
  1. Right-click the compressed folder to display the pop-up menu.
  2. Select Extract All.
  3. When the Extraction Wizard launches, select a location for the extracted files and then click the Extract button to complete the process. The default location is where the zipped folder is located.

This is the icon of a compressed folder containing one or more files or folders.
Zipped folder Notice the zipper and the .zip at the end of the folder name?

NOTE: DO NOT open and edit the files in the zipped folder.
Without more knowledge you cannot change, save, save as, or rename them for your use.

Open the regular folder.
This is the icon of a regular Windows folder containing files and other folders.
Normal Windows Folder icon  Notice there is NO zipper?
Open the files in the regular folder after extracted.

Compressing a File into a Compressed Folder

Compressing one or more files is a relatively easy task.
Just follow these steps:
  1. In the area where your files are located (probably your Desktop) right-click on a empty area to display the pop-up-menu.
  2. Select New and Compressed (zipped) Folder.
  3. Rename the new zipped folder your name - MAKE SURE you keep the .zip extension on the name.
  4. To add your new text files just drag them into the zipped folder (you will still have your original files).

You now have a new zip folder that contains compressed versions of the file(s) you selected. (This folder is distinguished by a little zipper on the folder icon and a .zip extension, as shown above.
Make sure if you rename it you add the .zip to the zipped folder name. You can now copy, move, or email this folder, which is a lot smaller than the original file(s).

Assignment To Do - Read and follow the 7 steps.

Complete the File Compression assignment.

Moodle

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