How to Use WinRAR
Level of difficulty: Easy
WinRAR is a compression tool. One of the application’s uses is to compress one or several files together. This is for reducing the size of the files for storage or transfer. WinRAR can compress the files in either ZIP or RAR file format. The program can also compress files into CAB, ARJ, LZH, AZE and ISO file formats. The WinRAR program may also unpack or extract files with a ZIP or RAR file format from the Internet.
Materials Needed:- PC
- winrar archiver program
- file to compress
- compressed files
Step 1
Ensure that the computer you are going to use for compressing files has WinRAR program installed before proceeding with the compression of file.
Step 2
Select all the files to you want to compress by using the mouse and the CTRL button or the SHIFT button. The CTRL button is for selecting several files in the same folder or location. The SHIFT button is for selecting blocks of files.
Step 3
Right click on the selected files to display a drop down menu. Select the 'Add to Archive' option from the drop down list. This will display a WinRAR window menu.
Step 4
Input a name for the compressed files in the Archive name section in the General tab. Ensure that the name is not similar to any other compressed files in the save location.
Step 5
Select the file format of the compressed file after the deciding on the name. File formats can either be RAR or ZIP. There are also other options such as deleting of the original file after the compression, putting authenticity verifications, and putting a recovery record.
Step 6
Click the 'OK' button after completing all the required fields in the menu. The WinRAR application will compress the files and save in the same folder or location as the original files.
Step 7
The WinRAR program can also extract compressed files with a RAR or ZIP format. Select the files that require extraction using the pointer.
Step 8
Right click on the selected file to display a drop down menu. Select the 'Extract files' option from the menu. This will display a window from the WinRAR program.
Step 9
Specify where the extracted files will be located in the 'Destination path' option of the General tab. Do not replace the destination path if the extracted files will also be placed in the same location as the compressed file.
Step 10
Click the 'OK' button after filling the required fields in the window. This will start the extraction process of the RAR or ZIP file.