How to Compress a Mac File With StuffIt

A compressed file takes up about half the disk space of a normal file; sending a compressed file over the Internet takes less time. StuffIt is the most common Macintosh compression application.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use the commercial file compression utility StuffIt Deluxe (about $75); or use Compact Pro, a $25 shareware utility you can download for free.

2. Install StuffIt on the hard drive of your Mac. Launch the application.

3. You can configure StuffIt to compress automatically any rarely used files, or to compress files you designate, or you can set it to compress a file by adding ".sit" or ".sea" to the filename. You can even compress a series of similar files into one, an "archive."

4. You can configure Compact Pro to compress large files into ".cpt" or ".sea" files. You can even compress a series of files into an "archive."

5. Send your compressed file over the Internet, via e-mail, and it will take much less time. If you choose the .sea format, your recipient will simply double-click on its icon to decompress it - the application that compressed it is not required.

Tips & Warnings

• StuffIt Deluxe and Compact Pro are both file compression utilities, but Compact Pro has fewer features and less technical support than StuffIt.
• StuffIt Deluxe will also decompress Compact Pro files.
• Both applications will allow you to password-protect (encrypt) your files.
• Compressed files cannot be used by an application until they are decompressed. However, you can set StuffIt to decompress files automatically.