Thanks to ever - growing hard - drive capacities and ever - faster web connector , compact files is n’t quite the vital and frequent task it used to be . Still , it ’s useful in certain office ; for example , when attaching files to an e-mail content , when trying to fit 700 MB of data point onto a 512 MB fanfare drive , or when copying files to a host or drive that does n’t support Mac OS go metadata .

There are plenty of options for compressing file in OS X , many of them costless . The Finder ’s own Create Archive command creates .zip archive that preserve Mac resource forks and other information ; those who ’ve purchased the $ 80 StuffIt Deluxe can make similar , but more efficient , StuffIt archives ; and those versed in Terminal have access to several built - in command - line compression service program , such asgzipandtar .

But if you do most of your file cabinet - exchanging with Windows , Linux , or Unix user , these choice are n’t the good for your recipients . Preserving Mac resource crotch , .DS_Store files , and other invisible datum is smashing for Mac users , but all of this data is unusable by other operating system . As a result , when a non - Mac - using recipient decompress your archive , the licit data file will be accompany by a practiced muckle of virtual litter . ( I let the cat out of the bag about this issue when I covered BlueHarvest . )

Compress Files compress screen

Apimac’sCompress Files (; $ 10 ) is a handy tool for those who often file - exchange with users of computers other than Macs . In summation to providing a drained - dim-witted path to squeeze files in one of multiple formats , it ’s also the easiest way I ’ve found to automatically take away the extraneous datum remark above when sending file to users of other operating systems .

If you ’re copy data to a server or save it for by and by , tap the Compress button in Compress Files ’ independent window ; if you ’re institutionalise the datum via electronic mail , tap Email . In either case , your options are the same :

To omit Finder “ Desktop ” files—.DS_Store and similar — from the leave archive , check the “ Omit Finder Desktop files ” box ; to omit imagination fork ( which can seem to non - Mac user as nigh - twinned , but smaller , versions of every file ) , check over the “ Omit Mac - specific message files ” box seat .

Compress Files warning

The first time you tally one of these loge , Compress Files alerts you to what each really does ; for representative , here ’s the dialogue that appears after check out the “ Omit Mac - specific content files ” boxwood :

( As a side note , one other benefit of omitting these various single file when sending data to non - Mac users is that the result archive will be little . Sometimes only minimally , but other times surprisingly so . )

you may also pick out to mechanically delete the original files after the archive is make . Finally , take the character of archive : .zip , .tar , .tar.gz , .tar.bz2 , or .dmg . ( The latter is a Mac OS X disc range of a function ; you may choose between tight or encrypted options . You should avoid these formats when station to non - Mac exploiter , but they ’re useful when switch file between Macs ; Compress Files makes create such images flying and easy . )

Compress Files archive screen

Once you ’ve take your options , simply drag the files and folders you want to compact into the Compress Files window ; compression begins immediately . ( I initially chance this behaviour — go under your alternative first andthendragging your single file into Compress Files — confusing . ) In the future , you may also embroil files immediately onto the Compress Files program icon , which uses the most - recently - used options and stage setting when compressing . This is a convenient approach if you be given to habituate the same options frequently .

If you select Compress Files ’ Compress screen , the result archive will be saved in the position you correct in Compress Files ’ preferences : on the screen background or another default folder of your choosing , in the same folder as the original , or in a folder you chose when you haul the files into Compress Files . ( An option in the preferences dialog can prompt you to name the archive ; otherwise Compress Files names the archive for you . ) If you were using the Email projection screen , the archive is redeem but then your default option email lotion will open , a new content will be create , and the lead archive will be attach .

Compress File ’s Archive sieve let you create archive and then save them to a particular locating — for example , to a folder of file away Indian file on your own Mac , or to a shared directory on a connection waiter . ( Unfortunately , Compress Files does n’t include any FTP functionality , so it can save file only to a meshing volume already uncommitted in the Finder . ) This is a useful feature of speech for make an archive of archive ; however , because it ’s design for keep on backups of your own data , rather than for sending files to other the great unwashed , compressing files via the Archive screenpreservesFinder- and Mac - specific data point .

Compress Files ’ corroboration is thin ( some of the alternative in the predilection dialog do n’t appear to be documented anywhere ) ; its advance bar does n’t really show any progress ; and , as I observe above , I bid it could mechanically imitate files to FTP and other remote waiter . But if you frequently exchange filing cabinet with people who are n’t lucky enough to work on a Mac , Compress Files helps you be more considerate . It also have it easy to make archives in various formats .

Compress Files requires Mac OS X 10.4 or subsequently and is a Universal Binary .