Download and Unzip Your Reports
(Or any other “zipped” group of files)
The process of “zipping” files originally started way back in ‘ancient’ internet times, when most folks were on dial-up connections that only allowed a very small amount of data to be transferred between computers, at very slow speeds. If you had a lot of files to move over the ‘net, it was a very time-consuming job! So someone created a software program to “squeeze” big files down to size – to make them easier to send online. The “zipping” or “compressing” process also allows multiple files and folders to be “zipped” into one larger, single file… again, making it easy to send over the internet.
When you download a zipped file, it may contain several files, folders, or a combination of both. After downloading to your PC, you need to “unzip” it to see all the folders and files in their proper format, so you can read and use them on your computer. First we’ll look at downloading, then unzipping.
“Downloading” a file simply means transferring it from one computer (mine) to another (yours), for example. It’s a nifty, high-tech term, but “file transfer” would have meant exactly the same thing. Here’s how it’s done:
On any given web page (like the ones on PC Help For Small Business), you may see a download “link.” That’s a line of text or an image (picture) that’s connected to the file to be downloaded. Usually the text (or picture) will say something like “Click here (or right-click here) to download your file.” You may receive different instructions from other websites, but the easiest way to do this is simply to place your mouse directly over the link text or picture, and then give it a single right-click. A new menu will open (see the screenshot) offering several options. Your PC may show different options, depending on the web-browsing software you’re using. The pictures shown here use Microsoft Internet Explorer, the most popular web browser, but there are others, including Firefox and Chrome. The Mouse clicks are the same, but the name of the commands to click on may be slightly different.
Once you right-click on a download link in Internet Explorer, a new menu will open, and you’ll see an option to “Save Target As.” Note: In Firefox, the item you’re looking for on the menu will say “Save Link As” but it’s exactly the same command.
Roll your mouse to that text and give it a single left click. At this point, Internet Explorer will display a new menu / dialog box, asking where you want to save the incoming file. Best to simply let it save in the suggested folder. Take a note of that, so you can find it later! (See the screenshot below)
Then the download will finish, and you’ll get another box, telling you it’s done.
Unzipping: Once the file has been downloaded to your PC, time to unzip it. The most recent versins of Windows have a built-in folder called “Downloads” so you’ll probably find it there. Open the Downloads folder and find your new file. When you find it, roll your mouse over it and give it a single right-click. Again, a new menu will open. Roll to the menu item that says “Extract Files” and give it a single left-mouse-click. Windows will automatically “unzip” the folder. (See screenshot)
You may be given the option to give the folder a new name, but it’s usually best to leave the existing name (makes it easier to find). When it’s done, Windows may give you the option to open the new folder. You can click to choose that, or come back at a later time. Either way, you’ll find a new sub-folder in the Download folder. This folder will have the same name as the zipped file you downloaded. Click to open that and see your downloaded material!
If you have any other questions, please post them below and I’ll do my best to answer them.
