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Quick Start Guide

This guide introduces some file compression terms, describes some of the initial steps in installing WinZip, and provides a first look at using some WinZip® features. For additional information, see the tutorials that come with WinZip, WinZip help, and visit the WinZip web site at http://www.winzip.com

What is an Archive or Zip file, anyway?
Zip files are "archives" used for storing and distributing files, and can contain one or more files. Usually the files "archived" in a Zip file are compressed to save space. Zip files are often used to:
• Distribute files on the Internet: Only one Zip file transfer operation (download) is required to obtain all related files and file transfer is quicker because the archived files are compressed.
This Quick Start Guide introduces some file compression terms, describes some of the initial steps in installing WinZip, and provides a first look at using some WinZip® features. For additional information, see the tutorials that come with WinZip, WinZip help, and visit the WinZip web site at http://www.winzip.com

What is an Archive or Zip file, anyway?
Zip files are "archives" used for storing and distributing files, and can contain one or more files. Usually the files "archived" in a Zip file are compressed to save space. Zip files are often used to:
• Distribute files on the Internet: Only one Zip file transfer operation (download) is required to obtain all related files and file transfer is quicker because the archived files are compressed.
• Send a group of related files to an associate: When you distribute the collection of files as an archive you benefit from the file grouping and compression as well.
Save disk space: If you have large files that are important but seldom used, such as large data files, simply compress these files into an archive and then unzip (or "extract") them only when needed.

What does WinZip do?
WinZip makes it easy for Windows users to work with archives. WinZip features an intuitive point-and-click drag-and-drop interface for viewing, running, extracting, adding, and deleting files in archives with a standard Windows interface, and also provides a Wizard interface that further simplifies the process of working with Zip files.

Using the WinZip Wizard
If you have just installed WinZip and selected the WinZip Wizard interface, then at this point the Select Activity panel is on the screen.
If you have previously installed WinZip, you can start a WinZip session using the WinZip program item in the WinZip program group, the Start menu, or the WinZip icon on your desktop.
Here is a brief introduction to the features of the WinZip Wizard.

Quick Unzipping with the WinZip Wizard
1. In the Select Activity panel, choose Unzip or install from an existing Zip file and click Next. The Select Zip File panel will appear.
2. In the Select Zip File panel, click on the Zip file you want to work with and click Next. The Unzip panel will appear.
3. In the Unzip panel, click Unzip Now to open the files in the archive. The WinZip Wizard will open a Windows Explorer window showing the unzipped files.
That's it, you've just unzipped (extracted) a Zip file using the WinZip Wizard. You can now work with the unzipped files, or click Next to choose another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip Wizard window.

Quick Zipping with the WinZip Wizard
1. In the Select Activity panel, choose Create a new Zip file and click Next.
2. In the Choose Zip Name panel, type the name you want to use for your new Zip file and click Next. For example, if you are creating a Zip file that will contain some files related to monthly reports, you might type "June reports" as the name for your Zip file.
3. In the Select Files panel, click Add files to add files to your Zip file, then select the files you want to add and click OK.
4. Click Zip Now to create the new Zip file.
That's it, you've just created a Zip file using the WinZip Wizard. You can now click the WinZip Classic button if you would like to examine the contents of your new archive, or click Next to choose another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip Wizard window.

Using WinZip Classic
Here is a brief introduction to some of the features of WinZip Classic.

Quick Unzipping with WinZip Classic
1. In the WinZip Window click the Open toolbar button, or choose Open Archive from the File menu. The Open Archive dialog box will appear.
2. In the Open Archive dialog box you can locate the archive you want to unzip. Then click Open. The contents of the archive will be displayed in the WinZip window.
3. To extract files from the archive click the Extract toolbar button, or choose Extract… from the Actions menu. The Extract dialog box will appear.
4. In the box labeled Extract to: choose the folder where you want to place the extracted files and click Extract.
That's it, you have extracted the contents of the archive to the chosen directory. You can now work with the extracted files, or choose another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.
Note: You can also extract files from an archive in the WinZip Classic window by dragging them to the desired folder in Windows Explorer or to the desktop.

Quick Zipping with WinZip Classic
1. In the WinZip Window click the New toolbar button, or choose New Archive from the File menu. The New Archive dialog box will appear.
2. In the New Archive dialog box you can specify the location where you want to create the archive, and type the name you want to use for your new archive. Then click OK. The Add dialog box will appear.
3. In the Add dialog box select the files that you want to add to your new archive and click Add.
That's it, you have created a new archive. You can now examine the contents of your new archive, or choose another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.
Note: You can also add files to an archive by dragging the files from My Computer or Windows Explorer and dropping the files on the WinZip window.