File Compression

ZIP and RAR file compression and uncompression.

Embird allows you to uncompress files compressed in the ZIP or RAR file formats by either:

"permanently" uncompressing the files, or
temporarily uncompressing them.

Both mechanisms assume the file is visible in Manager's Files window, near the bottom right.

It's best to "permanently" uncompress files that you will be working on, for ease of use and to allow Iconizer to display properly, while you're working with the files. You can compress them again after you've finished your work.

Permanent uncompressing

Embird can uncompress ZIP and RAR files "permanently" into a folder of your choosing. Just right-click the file and choose "Extract Zipped files to...", and if you don't like the defaults, choose the disk and folder and filename. You can (and should) use Embird Manager's excellent Folders feature to store files where you can find them:

Your personal embroidery files should be stored in a folder you chose, not in the EMBIRD32\files folder. The likelihood of problems may be small, but why not use your own file folder system

Temporary uncompressing

Embird can temporarily uncompress ZIP and RAR files. Just double-click the file. Lots of negatives, but convenient for quickly viewing the contents of compressed files.

Changes made to temporarily unzipped files may be lost, if you're not careful. The files are saved in the temporary location, but you may not realize this when you're looking for them.
Commercial embroidery file types like .DST will probably display goofy colors when working with a temporarily unzipped file, because the associated color file isn't found (it's still zipped).

Nested Zips:

You may receive a compressed folder that contains other compressed folders. Perhaps they sent your flower designs in one compressed folder, and your animal designs in another. In this case, you need to uncompress each layer of compression. First, you'd uncompress the top layer, revealing the compressed folders for your flowers, and your animals, then you'd need to uncompress each of these, and so on until your uncompressed files are all available.

Using Windows' built-in ZIP file capabilities:

Files compressed in the ZIP format can be uncompressed using Windows' built-in capabilities. You don't need any third-party utility. For help on this Windows capability, enter "Zip compression" into Windows' Help and Support, and you should see

SNAG-0040

Windows can compress and uncompress files compressed in the .ZIP file format, but not files zipped in the .RAR file format. (Note that Embird can uncompress RAR files).
The RAR format offers a somewhat higher degree of compression, and is favored by geeks.
Embird can uncompress RAR files, but you need Winrar to compress .RAR file types.

Please remember that most users of Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 don't need a commercial ZIP file handler since Windows has everything needed to zip and unzip files. Commercial ZIP file handlers offer more features, such as creating self-extracting files, handling other compression formats, etc.

PKWARE, Inc. is the creator of the ZIP standard for data compression and security. The .ZIP file format is now used by millions of users around the world. PKWARE introduced PKZIP in 1989, which quickly set the standard for compression on DOS, Windows, UNIX, Linux, iSeries, zSeries, and other platforms.

WinZIP actively marketed the ZIP file format.

WinRAR - Their site can be confusing, but I believe they have the best utility available for handling ZIP files. In addition, WinRAR can compress and uncompress .RAR files, which are more compact than a corresponding .ZIP file.

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Labels: Files, Newbie_Tips, FAQs