What is a compressed (ZIP/SIT) file

 
Files A File is an electronic document which can be text, pictures, sounds, videos or whole programs. Reminder: Never download files from someone you don't know. Files may contain dangerous Trojan Horse programs that may capture your AOL password, severely damage your computer, or contain objectionable graphics. To report a violation in an attached file, please forward the e-mail to screen name TOSReports. are zipped, or compressed, for two basic reasons: to fit a number of files into one space or to reduce one very large file to a smaller size. Compressed files download faster and save storage space, but they must be decompressed before you can use them.

Most compressed Windows files end with a ZIP file extension and most compressed Mac files end in a SIT file extension, and these compression formats are often not cross-platform compatible. For example, AOL Windows software cannot generally decompress Macintosh SIT files.

In most cases, you will not need additional software to compress or decompress your files.

If you attach more than one file to e-mail E-mail is typically a one-to-one communications system. With an AOL screen name, you can e-mail with other AOL and Internet users. you send, the AOL software will automatically compress your files together into one ZIP file.

When you sign off, the AOL software will automatically decompress any ZIP file you have downloaded, unless you have turned this feature off in your download preferences. To find and download third-party software for other compressing or decompressing needs, go to Keyword: Filesearch, click Shareware, and search on the word "zip." You'll find instructions for using these programs in the documentation that accompanies them.