How to Compress a File With PKZip

By eHow Computers Editor

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PKZip is the original PC file compression program introduced in the late 1980s. It is the source of the jargon "zip" or "unzip" a file. PKZip compresses any computer file from 5 percent to 95 percent, depending on the file content, for easy transport through e-mail or on floppy diskette. PKZip is available free for personal use on Windows, DOS, OS/2 and Unix systems. This procedure describes PKZip Version 2.7 for Windows 95 and Windows 98.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Internet Service Providers
PKZip Software

Step1

Start the PKZip program.

Step2

Click the new file icon below the File menu.

Step3

Enter a file name, and choose the directory where it will be saved. Entering the file extension (.zip) is optional; the program will automatically append the extension.

Step4

Click Save to create the .zip file.

Step5

Select the directory (folder) to be compressed, or open the directory containing the files to be compressed.

Step6

Click Add Directory to compress an entire directory, or select files to be compressed and click Add Files.

Step7

Click OK to begin file compression.

Step8

Click Done to complete the file, and view the file information (file list, date, time and percentage of compression).

Tips & Warnings

Create a shortcut of PKZip, and move it to your desktop or Start menu for easy access.
Use File Wizard, available in PKZip Version 2.7, to guide you through the creation of a new zip file.
Select consecutive files quickly by holding the Shift key and clicking the first and last file names. Select nonconsecutive files by holding the Control key and clicking the file names.
Clicking the sponsor ad or online button in PKZip automatically launches your Internet access software. This action can cause additional charges to your ISP bill if you are billed by connect time.