Zipping files

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Zipping files

You can find a copy of WinZip on almost every one of the free disks attached to the outside of the computer magazines. Check the section called utilities. Follow the instructions to install it.

It is not freeware but shareware. They want you to make a small contribution for the use of this software. It will save you a lot of time, so don't forget to pay up at some stage. These generous people allow you to continue using the programme even if you have forgotten to pay them. What trust!

When you are ready to order one of the services or send your book for publication you need to pack your manuscript up to send it.

To create a Zip file from your manuscript files.

Before you start, check your files.

	They really do need to be gathered together into a single folder or directory. Your computer has a file manager (possibly called Windows Explorer) which will help you move the files or set up a new folder.
	Now is a good time to rename them. You know the order of your chapters now but in 6 months time you might have trouble remembering how they fit together. Why not add a number at the end of the title (but before the extension). So Fatal meeting.doc might become Fatal meeting 01.doc.
	Please always send your manuscript as one file, not broken up into chapters.

The folder is called Heroes With the wildcard *.* or *.doc they are all selected.

Click new and you will be asked to give a name to the zipped file. As well as the file name you can also specify the directory for your work. Put it somewhere sensible. Why not leave it in your working folder or directory and create a sub-folder?

If you are creating a new folder, give it a straightforward name. Provide your zip file with a memorable name. Please avoid 'book' as we get a lot of them - if anything went wrong with the transfer it could be hard to identify your work. We would suggest using the book title as the file name and the number could then refer to the draft.

Next click on the add button to assemble the files of your manuscript.

Either select the chapter files in the normal way.

Or, notice that the form has a wildcard selector (*) so if you just click OK, all the files will be added (but this only works if you have put the chapters into a folder by themselves).

When you have gathered your chapters together you are ready to zip. Click and it is done. You can see on the screen how much space was saved. You should expect to reduce the storage requirement by a factor of 3 to 5.

This would be an excellent time to copy the compact, zip file to a disk. You can probably put a novel onto an ordinary disk once it is zipped. But you might need a Zip disk (no relation) which holds 100 Mb rather than the 1.4Mb for a 31/2" disk, if your work contains a lot of illustrations.

Click to view screen images of the steps in this process

UnZipping

If we send you back a zipped file, after editing or copy-editing, your first task is to detach it from the email.

If you right click on the attachment you should be offered a chance to save the file. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE NAME WE HAVE GIVEN THE FILES DOES NOT CLASH WITH AN EXISTING FILE YOU ALREADY HAVE. A file edited by us will probably still have the same name as the file you sent, so please check. (We do not return files of manuscripts sent for assessment or review but store them).

You might find that the file opens the zip programme automatically when you double click on the attachment.

If not:

Open the file

Expand the file

Save the files produced.