Windows Vista

Working with Compressed Folders

Compressed folders allow you to condense many files into one folder so they take up less space. For example, if you need to send many files to someone, sending one zipped attachment can be much easier and saves more space. This document introduces you to the processes of adding files to a compressed folder and extracting files from it.

Adding Files to a Compressed Folder
Extracting Files from a Compressed Folder

Adding Files to a Compressed Folder

Compressed folders allow you to condense many files into one folder.

On the Taskbar, right click START» select Explore
Windows Explorer opens.
Navigate to and select the files you wish to add to the compressed folder
HINTS:
To select contiguous items, hold [Shift] and click on the desired files.
To select non-contiguous items, hold [Ctrl] and click on the desired files.
Right click the selected files » select Send To » Compressed (zipped) Folder
A new compressed folder appears in the File list with the name highlighted.
OPTIONAL: Type a new name for the folder
Press [Enter]
The compressed (zip) folder is created.

Extracting Files from a Compressed Folder

Before you can access files from the compressed folder, it is recommended that you extract them. This decompresses them back to their original file size.

Using Windows Explorer, locate the compressed folder from which you want to extract files
Right click the folder » select Extract All...
The Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders dialog box appears.
In the text box, type the desired location for the files to be extracted
OR
To find the location,
1. Click BROWSE...
  The Select a destination dialog box appears.
2. Navigate to and select the location
3. Click OK
OPTIONAL: To view the files after extraction, select Show extracted files when complete
Click EXTRACT
The files are extracted from the compressed folder.