0 Open a Zipped File

Once this was explained to me in easy to understand language I realised how easy it actually is. Please allow me to share this with you here.

So why is a folder zipped?

Imagine you had 20 freshly squeezed oranges and you pour the juice into a container that would hold that amount of juice. Now if you had another container the exact same size and you tried to get the 20 whole oranges into that, ones that hadn't been squeezed – you couldn't (have fun trying though!). But in there compressed state they will fit.

Well a zipped file is similar in nature. It holds or stores numerous files in one manageable container. You can then send or download this small compressed package much more quickly and easily. To send or download numerous files individually would take up a lot of your time.

But thanks to this very clever facility called a zipped folder, being able to compress the files neatly into a small bundle and then zipping it up, you now have a much smaller file to transport. And it can be downloaded in minutes. Very cool!

Now let's open a zipped file – Let's get our hands on what's inside

    Double click on the zipped folder to open it.
    Note to your left the heading Folder Tasks.
    Directly underneath this is the option to Extract All Files.
    Click on Extract All Files and an Extraction Wizard window opens.
    Click on Next and it will start extracting – note the green bars as it extracts.
    When it's complete Click on Finish.
    A new window opens with a folder inside – these are your extracted files.
    And Voila! Well done!

Almost done – to finish let's tidy up your Desktop!

    You now have two windows open on your desktop – the zipped folder and the unzipped folder - close both of them.
    Now you can see clearly that one has a zip and one doesn't.

An interesting thing to note before we continue

Remember the zipped folder is actually smaller than all the files that are in the folder!

To prove this and to see this for yourself do the following:

Right click on the zipped folder and choose Properties – note the file size.

Now Right click on the unzipped folder and choose Properties – note the file size! Clever!

    So, because you have extracted the files from the zipped folder – you can now delete this, the one with the zip on it – you no longer need it.
    This also keeps your desktop tidy and uncluttered.
    To delete you can either right click on it and click ok to delete.
    Or click and drag it to the recycling bin on your desktop.
    And that's it – you're all done! Well done!

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