How to Select a File Compression Program

The file compression program you select depends on your computer system: PC, Macintosh or Unix. Also consider computer systems used by your friends or associates, if you exchange compressed files with them. File compression programs for PCs, for example, might not work with Macintosh files.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PKZips
• StuffIt Deluxe
• StuffIt Expander (Mac)
• WinZip
• Gzip

1. To create .zip files, try Pkzip, by PKware, a PC file compression program that is available for free as shareware. It can compress and decompress PC, Macintosh, DOS, OS/2, and Unix files. Pkzip can also create self-extracting PC files (.exe format).

2. Consider using WinZip, by WinZip, a popular PC file compression program that is available as an evaluation copy or registered copy to compress and decompress PC, DOS, Unix and Internet files in the following formats: .zip, .tar, .z, .gz, UUencode, BinHex, MIME and cab. Also use WinZip to create self-extracting PC files (.exe format).

3. Try Stuffit Lite, by Aladdin Systems, if you want to compress older Macintosh systems. It is available as shareware.

4. Try Stuffit Deluxe, by Aladdin Systems, which is available as a registered copy to create self-extracting Macintosh files in the .sea format. It can also compress and decompress Macintosh, PC, Unix and Internet files in .sit, .zip, .z, .gz, UUencode, BinHex and MIME formats.

5. Also consider DropStuff, by Aladdin Systems, which is available as shareware. Available for PC and Macintosh, it can compress files so that they can be understood by both systems.

6. Opt for DropStuff Expander, by Aladdin Systems. This freeware program comes in PC and Mac versions and can decompress PC, Macintosh and e-mail-encoded files.

7. To compress or decompress Unix files in the .gz format, try the Unix program, Gzip, by Jean-loup Gailly. It is available as freeware.

Tips & Warnings

• If the person receiving your compressed file does not have a program to decompress it, create a self-extracting compressed file (see "How to Create a 'Self-extracting' Compressed File" for WinZip, Pkzip and StuffIt).

[almighty30]

on 10/11/2009 I'll recommend ALZip, if you want to find really fast and easy-to-use compression program.
Just needs one-click to open zip files and supports 36 formats including 7z and others.

[almighty30]

on 10/11/2009 R

on 11/22/2005 You may want to try using other compression software, such as RAR/WinRAR, 7-zip, and others, to achieve higher rates of compression. Using WinRAR can compress files into a .RAR archive and usually save you an extra 10% of space over the .ZIP equivalent.