Benefit of Zip files?

[Keebler Elf]

What is the benefit of zipping a single file (e.g., a .pdf file) if that file is not compressed in size? I understand the benefits of zipping multiple files or zipping a file to make it smaller (for download purposes), but I've come across a number of websites where you download a zipped file only to find that it was a single file and wasn't compressed. So what's the point?

Does zipping a file somehow protect it against "losing" a byte here or there in the transfer process?

 

[papasmerf]

As I recall it was always about size and portability. With the advent of DSL downloads have become faster and size is less of an issue.

 

[Keebler Elf]

According to Wikipedia, it's all about compression. So if the file isn't compressed, it sounds like a total waste of time...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_(file_format)

 

[hunter001]

You can use zip files to invoke an install script.

Some people who distribute files just like to run a genric script to upload files so they just use the same script to zip and upload files. It does matter to them if it is 1 file or xxx files...

 

[Berlin]

According to Wikipedia, it's all about compression. So if the file isn't compressed, it sounds like a total waste of time...

And on that, I have to agree.

There is another called RAR ( for windows , it's winrar ) , I find this works better than the others for compressing larger files.

 

[DUBZ]

You can also encrypt a zip file and put a password on it, if you want to.

You can do the same with PDFs.

The file should be significantly large to justify zipping a single file. Some formats such as JPG, MP3 and video are already highly compressed, so even setting the compression settings to maximum will not make the file much smaller, if at all. You get the best compression on text documents, shrinking files to less than 5% of their original size. With the current email inbox sizes, bandwidth capacity and media sizes, you would still need a fairly big document to justify this.

 

[DUBZ]

Interesting, how do you encrypt a pdf and put a password on it without an additional product?

In Adobe Acrobat (not the viewer, the full version) you go to File/Document Properties. There you can set security options that only allow you to open the file with a password. You can also encrypt it so you can't copy and paste text and disable printing. There's a lot of powerful options with PDF documents.

Of course, like most password based documents you can bypass all the measures with some tools.

 

[stang]

When I was a kid I had this friend once who got his pecker stuck in his zip.

 

[xix]

It's not about size

What is the benefit of zipping a single file (e.g., a .pdf file) if that file is not compressed in size? I understand the benefits of zipping multiple files or zipping a file to make it smaller (for download purposes), but I've come across a number of websites where you download a zipped file only to find that it was a single file and wasn't compressed. So what's the point?

Does zipping a file somehow protect it against "losing" a byte here or there in the transfer process?

Actually what they are making you do is. Donwload the file instead of reading it online, listening or watching it. PDF file can sometimes take longer than you think to open on your computer while online and that make the server more busier while you read it online.

It is easier for anyone for you to read it offline. If the file has the pdf extension yoru computer will automatically open it up. Unless you "right click it" "save target as"

10 years ago website would simply state "rename file to pdf" while it had the zip extension but it wasn't zipped at all.

 

[xix]

Finally

In Adobe Acrobat (not the viewer, the full version) you go to File/Document Properties. There you can set security options that only allow you to open the file with a password. You can also encrypt it so you can't copy and paste text and disable printing. There's a lot of powerful options with PDF documents.

Of course, like most password based documents you can bypass all the measures with some tools.

That is what I thought that freaking program did.
Do you know the title of any programs that can hack them?

 

[mmouse]

It's really annoying when torrents are zipped or rar'ed. Video files don't get any smaller. I've got no idea why people do that.

 

[raven@mirage]

Well with me having more then 1,000 pics of content for my website, and it just makes it easier when I need to put them together in sets.

That way I don't have big folders all ove rmy computer. I just have zip files of small sets so it makes it easier to load on my external harddrive , or memory sticks.

and sometimes a lot less stressful when sending an email.