• From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2006-03-30
  • Posts: 1,593

Topic: WAY off topic....

I've got a question for "Zip Heads"....fans of sending and receiving zipped files.

I recently downloaded a 12.2 MB zip file. Out of curiosity, I checked the properties of the unzipped file to discover it was only 13 MB to start with. My question: Why bother?

I'm no math whiz, but that's about 6.1% compression. That means if a file was so large that it took 5 minutes to download it as a zip file, it would have only taken 5 minutes, 18 seconds to download it in it's original form...and then you don't have to mess with unzipping it.

Am I missing something? Does zipping a file do something other than compress a file that's beneficial? I know...it's weird to even wonder about this...but when the going gets weird...

  • Matt
  • Matt
  • Platinum
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  • From: N. Ireland
  • Registered: 2007-04-07
  • Posts: 311

Re: WAY off topic....

Hey Stu, I had a quick google and i guess i found your answer smile

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/ … 01033.aspx

Hope it helps big_smile,
Matt

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: WAY off topic....

Stu Craig wrote:

I've got a question for "Zip Heads"....fans of sending and receiving zipped files.

I recently downloaded a 12.2 MB zip file. Out of curiosity, I checked the properties of the unzipped file to discover it was only 13 MB to start with. My question: Why bother?

I'm no math whiz, but that's about 6.1% compression. That means if a file was so large that it took 5 minutes to download it as a zip file, it would have only taken 5 minutes, 18 seconds to download it in it's original form...and then you don't have to mess with unzipping it.

Am I missing something? Does zipping a file do something other than compress a file that's beneficial? I know...it's weird to even wonder about this...but when the going gets weird...

Unless it was encrypted, that was a waste of time.  I have a feeling the properties weren't accurate when it was packed up.

But really who knows?  It's cyberwierd.  I work there every day.

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

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  • From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2006-03-30
  • Posts: 1,593

Re: WAY off topic....

After reading the article (thanks Matt) it makes since. It was graphic/image heavy, and so the compression was a lot less than if it were all text. I learned something today. Thanks!