How to Zip Email Attachments

Use your zip program to send large attachments or to make multiple attachments fit into one email.

Sending a file through email is easy enough if the file is small. However, if a file is large, it can take a long time to send it because bigger files eat up bandwidth. Also, if you have many files to send at once, it can take up your own precious time to attach them each individually. In both cases, zipping the file, or compacting it, can make a difference and make your life easier.

Instructions

1. Decide if you would like to email several pieces of information, such as several files, pictures or programs, as an attachment or if you only have one file to send as an attachment. If you have more than one file you'd like to zip, place all of the files in a folder on your desktop. Right-click on your desktop and select "New" and then "New Folder." Name the folder and place everything inside of it that you'd like to send. If you are only zipping and sending one file, place the file on your desktop.

2. Right-click on the folder or file. Choose "Send to" and then "Zip" or "Zipped File." Most computers come standard with a zip program. If you do not see this option, go to the zip download site (see references) to get the zip program. It is a short download. After you have sent the file or folder to a zip file, it will appear in the same location but will be zipped. It should have a zipper icon on it to indicate it is now zipped.

3. Open up your email program, compose a message and click "Attach" to attach your zipped file. Select 'Browse" to browse through the files on your desktop. Once you've found your zipped file or folder, select it and click "Ok" or "Attach" to complete the attachment.

References

• Secureworks: Zipping Files
• WINFERNO: Zip Download