ZIPPING TECHNIQUES>

There are many programs available to zip files. The most popular is probably Winzip. You can get an evaluation copy at www.winzip.com

You won't be able to compress an mp3 file much, though. MP3 is already a compressed file format. Other files,like txt, or exe, can be compressed by as much as 90%.

Any file can be zipped.
Some compressed files actually get bigger when they are compressed! (jpegs for instance)

Prior to CD-RW drives, zipping a file was the simplest way to share large files between users.
As files grew larger, the ability tospan multiple disks was added.

Now, the primary use of zip archives is to speed file transfer over the internet. Or to group a number of files together into a single file. (This is often done for device drivers, software updates, and software installation files)

The compression in a zipped file comes from removing blank and repetative information.

The data pattern of the file determines the maximum compression.
I would not be surprissed if MP3s like Jpegs grow when they are zipped.
You can use several different software packages to zip files.
Windows 98SE, Me, and XP have built in zip archive functions.
Popular shareware programs include PKZip and WinZip.
There are also a few commercial packages available. Ontrack / Meijenix offers Zip Magic.

Links to freeware zip programs can be found at; www.nonags.com
www.completelyfreesoftware.com

Winzip has a Wizard mode that will guide you step by step through the process.

Remember, you have to extract a file from thezip archive before you can use it.
You will not be able to directly play an MP3 from the zip file.

Just wanted to add that I like WinRAR much better than WinZip but I do have both. WinRAR gives you a 40 day trial period. WinZips is 30 I believe.

http://www.rarsoft.com/
http://www.winzip.com/

You can compress typical files to like you have heard but the MP3 and Jpg file types are specialized compression types for music and pictures. They are used in placed of perfectly good formats like bmp and avi that don't compress files. You will see a huge difference if you zip a bmp or an avi but the mp3 and jpg do a better job for the most part. Zipping files is still very useful for putting a group of files into a single package. I am not going to try to tell you that one program is the best but I will say this. I have used WinZip since 95 and have that is the only zip program currently on my system. I have had problems unzipping files for use on a Palm Pilot so I tried a buch of them. Alladin Expander was really awesome, it was the only one that unzipped anything. I use Winzip to unzip and make Zip files. It has a drag and drop interface that is super easy to use. I am sure the others are affective as well, so get one and try it out. Most of them are free to evaluate

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