How to Unzip Folders on Any Device

How to Unzip Folders on Any Device

 

All of my template files provided as digital downloads will arrive to you in a ZIP format folder and so I’m often asked by first-timers or infrequent users on how to best go about opening such files.

Most digital products are offered this way when multiple files need to be bundled together in a single folder. It is, unfortunately, the default delivery method for files across the internet. So it's something you are bound to come across time and time again.

If it's your first time coming across a .zip folder and you’re not particularly techie minded it can be a little frustrating to deal with depending on which computer operating system you have and how downloads are automatically handled on your computer.  And of course, mobile devices offer a whole separate challenge!

All of the solutions provided here use the default software already included within your operating system, no need for special programs or purchased software, with the exception of mobile devices.

Here are the basic instructions for each operating system:

Windows 7 thru 11
- Right-click on the Zip file icon and choose “Extract All”
- When prompted, choose a location for the folder to be extracted into
- Keep the "Show extracted files when complete" box unchecked
- Now click on the "Extract" button to start the extraction
- Once complete, this new folder is now your “unzipped” copy of the Zip folder
- You may keep the original Zip folder or delete it since it is a duplicate

OR

- in your downloads explorer window, you'll find an Extract menu button on the top navigation bar
- click this and follow the prompts, in much the same way as above

Windows XP and Vista
- Double click on the zip folder
- In the window that opens, click on the “Extract all Files” link
- The “Extraction Wizard” will open, click “Next”
- Choose a destination for your unzipped folder
- Click “Finish” to complete the process
- This new folder is now your “unzipped” copy of the Zip file
- You may keep the original Zip file or delete it

Mac
- double click on the zip file
- job done

 

Mobile Devices

You will need to install an appropriate app in order to download and open .zip files.

iOS
Winzip is a free app and comes highly recommended by experts

- Once the app is installed you will have an option to “Open in Winzip”
- This will reveal the contents of the zipped folder
- Click “Open In” to choose where you wish to extract the zip folder contents to
- You should now be able to access the files in their new location
- Note that you won’t be able to open a file type if you do not have a corresponding app to, but all image files will open in the camera roll or photos app

Android
ZArchiver is a free app and comes highly recommended by experts

- Open ZArchiver and use the file manager to find the zip folder
- Click on the file when you find it
- Use the View option to see the files in the zip folder
- If needed you can extract a single file or extract all
- once extracted the files will be in your main folder for full access

Happy Computing
Shawnna

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Why do Svg Files Show as HTML?

Why do Svg Files Show as HTML?

 

A fun little quirk about SVG files is that your computer might be listing them as html documents in your folders. And then next to the file name will be a web browser icon. If you double click that file, it will likely open as the image it is... in a web browser window. 

What the heck is that right?

Many an unsuspecting user has therefore assumed that the SVG file they just downloaded simply isn't in the folder where it should be and the HTML item is just something else.

This happens because SVG files are in fact, html code. Unlike other file types, SVG is made up purely from strings of code. So your computer is actually reading it correctly.

 

Windows comes with all sorts of default settings, including which program should open what type of file. So if it reads a file as being made up of web code... then it likely thinks the 'appropriate' program is a web browser, and that's what will be selected by default to open it. Hence the switcheroo, Windows thinks it's being very clever.

Here's an important thing to remember - just because Windows renamed the file, doesn't mean the file has been changed or will work any differently. You can still go ahead and use that file exactly as you intended, even if it does say html. But if it bothers you, there are a couple things you can do to fix this

 

Here's an example of the problem to show you exactly what I'm referring to:

As you can see, this folder contains an html file... or does it?

By simply making one tiny change to how the folder is viewed, suddenly that information becomes just a little clearer. Click the 'View' tab in your folder screen, as below, and then tick the 'File Extension' box. By adding the file extensions to the file names in the folder list you get a more accurate view of the actual file types you are looking at.

You don't necessarily need to do anything further. As I already mentioned, the integrity of the file itself is not affected at all and will work exactly as expected in whatever program you are using it in.

If however, you don't like that, and maybe you'd like to be able to double click the SVG file and have it open in a specific software program, you just need to change your computer's default settings. Something that is really not too difficult at all to do.

Right click on the SVG file name in your folder. A menu will appear with an option to 'Open With'. Choosing this creates another menu pop up which will have a list of a few possible programs you can select as the new default. 

If the program you want isn't on that short list select 'Choose Another App'. You'll be presented with a longer list of options to choose from. Ensure that the box 'always use this app to open .svg files' is ticked and select the program you want as your default, for example, Inkscape or Illustrator.

 

At this time, you can't choose your cutting machine software as a default program, because files need to be uploaded into that system in a different way.

But, your SVG files should now show up correctly on your PC, and will open nicely when clicked!

 

 

Happy computing!
Shawnna

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