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How to Compress a Mac File With StuffIt

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By eHow Contributing Writer
(6 Ratings)

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. Step 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. Step 2

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

  3. Step 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. Step 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. Step 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.
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