Using PowerArchiver

Introduction

"PowerArchiver" is a compression and decompression program for Windows-based PCs. Compressed files, often with the suffix ".zip", are used on the internet to reduce file sizes, which increases the speed at which files can be transferred between the server and the local machine. Compressing files can greatly reduce the size of an E-mail attachment, as well as allow multiple related files to be combined into a single package.

Requirements

• A hard copy of the latest instructions (this document)
• A Windows-based PC running Windows 95 or later, with networking capabilities
• A copy of PowerArchiver (powarc61.exe)

Setting Up PowerArchiver

(Skip this section if you do not wish to install PowerArchiver on your own machine)

1. Download a copy of PowerArchiver to your local machine. Run the installer file, powarc61.exe, click ' Next >' 4 times, then ' Install', and finally deselect ' What's New' before finally clicking ' Finish'.
   
2. After the program has opened, select ' Options', then ' Configuration...'. In this screen, select the 'File Formats' tab. Leave all of the check-boxes selected unless you wish to associate the file extensions with other programs (.rar with WinRar, .ace with WinAce, etc...)

   

Compressing Files

1. To open PowerArchiver, double-click on the the PowerArchiver icon. This can be done from lab machines by selecting the following path: Start Menu -> All Programs -> System Apps -> PowerArchiver 2001. You may need to close the 'PowerArchiver Tip of the Day' box if it opens.
2. To create a new 'archive,' select the 'New' button on the left-hand side of the program. In the resulting window, you will be asked where you want to save your new archive file and what you would like to call it. You can save it wherever you like, but bear in mind that if you save the file to a lab machine's C: drive, it will be erased if the machine gets restarted.

   

3. After you select ' Save', you will be prompted with a new screen with the title 'Add' at the top. Here, you may select any files you wish to add to the archive. Select ' Add' after you have added all of the files you want in the archive.

   

4. The files are now in the archive. If you look at the status bar on the bottom of the program's window, you will see how much disk space has been saved by using an archived file.
   
5. In addition, files can be drag-and-dropped into the program. Just drag the documents into the PowerArchiver window, and release the mouse button. Click ' Add' when prompted.

Decompressing Files

1. To decompress a file, either open up PowerArchiver and select the [Open] button, or else double-click on the archive you wish to open.
   
2. Once the archive has been opened in PowerArchiver, you will need to extract the files. If you wish to just view the files in the archive, and not save them to your hard drive for later editing, you can simply double-click on the file, and it will open.
3. Another option is to extract the files permanently to a local drive. There are several ways to do this.
   
   1. First, you must select the files in the PowerArchiver window that you wish to extract. Then, you can extract the files by pressing the [Extract] button from the row of actions at the top of the PowerArchiver. A window will pop up, asking you to choose the location where you want to files to go. Note: Be careful to not automatically overwrite files upon extraction if you are not sure what may be overwritten.

      

   2. You can also extract files by simply dragging them from the program to their destination folder.
      
      
      

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