File Compression

Many programs are available which enable you to shrink the volume of a file by over 50% making for a shorter transfer time, and allowing you to store more information on a diskette or hard drive. Most FTP sites use these tools in order to reduce the amount of space their archives require and keep transfer times minimized. Therefore, if you use ftp much at all you will need to have a copy of some of the tools handy for uncompressing the things you download.

For the PC platform, most compressed files are in "zipped" (.zip) format. Compressed Macintosh files are usually in StuffIt (.sit) format. StuffIt Expander is a free utility from Aladdin Systems Inc. that is available for both Windows and Mac platforms, and handles both zip and sit files as well as several other popular compression formats StuffIt Expander is available from:
http://www.aladdinsys.com/

Activity:
1a. PC USERS: If you don't already have a zip utility, get the software from the site listed above.

Then, using your web browser, connect to http://freeware95.atlnet.com/, one of the many archives of free software available on the Internet and download a .zip file. After getting the file, use your compression software (StuffIt Expander in this example) to open the file. Choose the name of the file you downloaded and then click on File/Extract to uncompress it. Then you can run the file if it is a program or read it in your word processor if it is a text file. WARNING: Scan all executable files (programs) downloaded from the Internet PRIOR to running them. Viruses are an unfortunate reality from which we must all protect ourselves.

1b. MAC USERS: If you don't already have a StuffIt utility, get the software from the site listed above. After downloading the file double click on it to start the install process.

Then, using Netscape, to http://www.shareware.com and download a .sit file from one of it's Mac areas. If StuffIt does not automatically run after downloading the file open StuffIt and click on the File/Open. Choose the name of the file you downloaded and then click on Unstuff button to uncompress it. Then you can run the file if it is a program or read it in your word processor if it is a textfile. WARNING: Scan all executable files (programs) downloaded from the Internet PRIOR to running them. Viruses are an unfortunate reality from which we must all protect ourselves.

Note: Sometimes FTPed files require the user to have the application in which the file was created in order to view or use the file. For example, if the file was created using WordPerfect, you may need WordPerfect to open it. However, with text files, you can normally open the file by first opening your word processor and then choosing File/Open.