I'm not sure WinZip or any of the other Zip programs suck. They all work pretty well, but some put their complex features, which are useful for experts, out front. If others use a simpler interface, recommending them here is probably helpful. I tried to learn WinZip as a computer newbie. I used the help files and a comprehensive tutorial, and got completely lost. There were a lot of concepts the less experienced user(me), could not handle. I didn't want to learn about archives, I wanted the darned file smaller. Then a friend told me the simple answer to my problems. 1-Ignore all that Help stuff. 2-Simply right-click on the object you want zipped and choose from the choices available. I don't have WinZip on my computer now so can't give exact instructions. 3-Just choose one of the WinZip options. Agree with the program(it's friendly but demands obedience) and continue till you have a zipped file beside your original one. 4-If this didn't work make another choice next time. It might take you 5 minutes to get it, tops. There aren't that many right-click choices. Opening Zipped Files-If you right-click on an object that is already zipped, you get the choices to open it. Choose the option to open in a folder of the same name, or already have the file in a folder by itself. Otherwise you will mix the unzipped files with unrelated files, disturbing your bliss and that of others who don't like screamed swear words.(Programs can have zillions, figuratively speaking, of files in the zip.) All the zip programs I've used have had this right-click context menu, so I think my suggestion will work for just about any zip program out there. David ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Stevens" <joe2phil@drizzle.com> To: <GEN-COMP-TIPS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 4:24 PM Subject: Re: [Gen-Comp-Tips] WinZip Sucks , was Which file compression program is best/free? > Hello Marie , I am very happy to see your post !! , I has thinking maybe I > am only ONE of 7 billion people that has trouble with that ' prog ' , > Being reasonable ' alive ' able to dress and feed myself , I figure I could > master a simple zipper prog , But it was not to be ! , I wonder how many > others are hiding , afraid to see the light of ' confession ' > Speak now people , Be not afraid , You will not suffer ! , Phil > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Marie Peer" <peer@mindspring.com> > To: <GEN-COMP-TIPS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 7:19 AM > Subject: RE: [Gen-Comp-Tips] Which file compression program is best/free? > > > > Good Morning Phil and Lance and List, > > > > I've not said anything because Phil has been saying it so well. I simply > > have not been able to make zip files work and WinZip is the program I've > not > > been able to make work. > > > > I've always figured it's just me and decided a couple of years ago that > life > > can go on without zip files. Amazingly it has. > > > > I can not tell you what I did, what didn't work nor other details. I've > > suppressed all of it although psychotherapy might bring it all back if I > > were willing to face the trauma. > > > > I'm grateful to the list for giving me the start of courage to have a go > at > > zip files once more. Phil, shall we start a Support Group for those who > > can't make WinZip work? We could be the founding members. > > > > Marie

Thank you, David. I'll give zips another try! Marie -----Original Message----- From: David Creelman [mailto:davidcr@sympatico.ca] Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 7:41 PM To: GEN-COMP-TIPS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [Gen-Comp-Tips] ZipZap- Zipping for the Relatively Inexperienced I'm not sure WinZip or any of the other Zip programs suck. They all work pretty well, but some put their complex features, which are useful for experts, out front. If others use a simpler interface, recommending them here is probably helpful. I tried to learn WinZip as a computer newbie. I used the help files and a comprehensive tutorial, and got completely lost. There were a lot of concepts the less experienced user(me), could not handle. I didn't want to learn about archives, I wanted the darned file smaller. Then a friend told me the simple answer to my problems. 1-Ignore all that Help stuff. 2-Simply right-click on the object you want zipped and choose from the choices available. I don't have WinZip on my computer now so can't give exact instructions. 3-Just choose one of the WinZip options. Agree with the program(it's friendly but demands obedience) and continue till you have a zipped file beside your original one. 4-If this didn't work make another choice next time. It might take you 5 minutes to get it, tops. There aren't that many right-click choices. Opening Zipped Files-If you right-click on an object that is already zipped, you get the choices to open it. Choose the option to open in a folder of the same name, or already have the file in a folder by itself. Otherwise you will mix the unzipped files with unrelated files, disturbing your bliss and that of others who don't like screamed swear words.(Programs can have zillions, figuratively speaking, of files in the zip.) All the zip programs I've used have had this right-click context menu, so I think my suggestion will work for just about any zip program out there. David ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Stevens" <joe2phil@drizzle.com> To: <GEN-COMP-TIPS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 4:24 PM Subject: Re: [Gen-Comp-Tips] WinZip Sucks , was Which file compression program is best/free? > Hello Marie , I am very happy to see your post !! , I has thinking maybe I > am only ONE of 7 billion people that has trouble with that ' prog ' , > Being reasonable ' alive ' able to dress and feed myself , I figure I could > master a simple zipper prog , But it was not to be ! , I wonder how many > others are hiding , afraid to see the light of ' confession ' > Speak now people , Be not afraid , You will not suffer ! , Phil > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Marie Peer" <peer@mindspring.com> > To: <GEN-COMP-TIPS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 7:19 AM > Subject: RE: [Gen-Comp-Tips] Which file compression program is best/free? > > > > Good Morning Phil and Lance and List, > > > > I've not said anything because Phil has been saying it so well. I simply > > have not been able to make zip files work and WinZip is the program I've > not > > been able to make work. > > > > I've always figured it's just me and decided a couple of years ago that > life > > can go on without zip files. Amazingly it has. > > > > I can not tell you what I did, what didn't work nor other details. I've > > suppressed all of it although psychotherapy might bring it all back if I > > were willing to face the trauma. > > > > I'm grateful to the list for giving me the start of courage to have a go > at > > zip files once more. Phil, shall we start a Support Group for those who > > can't make WinZip work? We could be the founding members. > > > > Marie ==== GEN-COMP-TIPS Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from this list send a message to GEN-COMP-TIPS-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.740 / Virus Database: 494 - Release Date: 8/16/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.740 / Virus Database: 494 - Release Date: 8/16/2004

A well written summation, David! Becoming too bogged down in technicalities is a trap many fall into. Stick to simple instructions and follow the prompts given by the program is the best mode of operation in most instances. Go off on technical side tracks or try to examine every little consequence of any action can create more disasters for an unwary user than they need. All of these zip programs have happy users. All of these programs do an acceptable job for most users - zip up files or un-zip downloads - that's enough for most genealogists. Just let the program do its job no matter which you use. Lance -----Original Message----- From: David Creelman [mailto:davidcr@sympatico.ca] Sent: Sunday, 22 August 2004 11:41 To: GEN-COMP-TIPS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [Gen-Comp-Tips] ZipZap- Zipping for the Relatively Inexperienced I'm not sure WinZip or any of the other Zip programs suck. They all work pretty well, but some put their complex features, which are useful for experts, out front. If others use a simpler interface, recommending them here is probably helpful. I tried to learn WinZip as a computer newbie. I used the help files and a comprehensive tutorial, and got completely lost. There were a lot of concepts the less experienced user(me), could not handle. I didn't want to learn about archives, I wanted the darned file smaller. Then a friend told me the simple answer to my problems. 1-Ignore all that Help stuff. 2-Simply right-click on the object you want zipped and choose from the choices available. I don't have WinZip on my computer now so can't give exact instructions. 3-Just choose one of the WinZip options. Agree with the program(it's friendly but demands obedience) and continue till you have a zipped file beside your original one. 4-If this didn't work make another choice next time. It might take you 5 minutes to get it, tops. There aren't that many right-click choices. Opening Zipped Files-If you right-click on an object that is already zipped, you get the choices to open it. Choose the option to open in a folder of the same name, or already have the file in a folder by itself. Otherwise you will mix the unzipped files with unrelated files, disturbing your bliss and that of others who don't like screamed swear words.(Programs can have zillions, figuratively speaking, of files in the zip.) All the zip programs I've used have had this right-click context menu, so I think my suggestion will work for just about any zip program out there. David --- avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 0434-2, 2004-08-20 Tested on: 22/08/2004 12:05:23 PM avast! - copyright (c) 2000-2004 ALWIL Software. http://www.avast.com