Data Issues

Compressing (zipping) all the files in a folder into one file is a useful technique for sending data to someone else. There are different methods for doing this; the later versions of the Windows operating system has compression built in, older versions do not.

To compress a folder using Windows XP:

• Choose "Windows Explorer" or "My Computer" and navigate to the Snap-Plus folder containing the database you want to compress.
  
• This should be a COPY of the original database, since the compression makes the database "disappear" from Snap-Plus's point of view.
  
• RIGHT CLICK on it with the mouse.
• Move the cursor down to "Send To".
• Choose "Compressed (zipped) folder" and LEFT CLICK with the mouse.
• The new folder that appears with the zipper on it is the zipped file.
• If your computer does not allow you to zip files as described above, you can use the shareware "winzip" program to zip them.

To uncompress a folder compressed with Windows XP:

• Make sure the compressed folder is inside the folder you want the uncompressed data to end up in.
• Right click on the compressed folder with the mouse.
• Choose "Send To" and "uncompress folder".