How can I really compress a file?

Discussion in 'Windows - Software discussion' started by solomong, Sep 4, 2010.

  1. solomong

    solomong Member

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    I've downloaded compressed files of about 350 or 700 Mb and when I open them they are twice the size. I've tried to do the same with some files, using Winrar or 7zip in best compression, but I always end up with just a 5 or 8% of compression. What kind of settings must the program (winrar or 7zip) be for me to REALLY compress a file?
     
  2. fanwars

    fanwars Regular member

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    It's up to the file how good the compression ratio is.
     
  3. FPCDG

    FPCDG Member

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    I recommend winrar. you can download that off of http://www.download.com . Once you download and install it, right click on the file that you want to compress. click add to archive. under compression method, click best. when you/other people uncompress it, they will need EACH file that you compressed it into. to uncompress them, add all the winrar files to another file. then right click on the first one that was made durning compression (they should be named 1,2,3,and so on, but if they arnt, label them). click extract here. after the first file extracts, it will ask for the second file. you browse, find the file, and click ok. its pretty easy. tell me if this worked for you. and any other questions just reply
     
  4. solomong

    solomong Member

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    I think what you just directed me to do is to use best compression and split the files (hence the name 1,2,3 and so on). I've done that and the compression ratio is around 5 to 10% at best. Is there some kind of setting that should be on (either on winrar or 7zip) to raise the ratio?
     
  5. ps355528

    ps355528 Active member

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    as before.. it depends on the contents of the file..

    ever seen 80MB's of SQL database files squashed into a 5MB gzip? .. I have.. just this morning.. because 70% at least of them is empty space.
     
  6. dailun

    dailun Active member

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    What (type of data) are you trying to compress?????

    Some data types are not readily compressible, such as video.

    Do a little study on how compression works and you will understand why some data is more compressible than others.
     
  7. FPCDG

    FPCDG Member

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    Well like they said above, it depends on what the files are that you are trying to download. You could tell me what the files are or send me the link to them, or something of the sort. Because there are different file compressors for different types of files. Like dvd files, can be compressed with certain compressors.
     
  8. ps355528

    ps355528 Active member

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    hahaha.. honestly.. these compression programs all do the same thing.. they strip whitespace from files..

    Last one of these was some muppet who had downloaded a zipped up iso for a dvd boot disk.. zip size 12mb's.. iso size when unpacked 4.3 gigs.. 99.9% whitespace.. size of data in iso.. 11.8mb's.. a few kb's of zip data.. like how much whitespace to add back in..

    7zip will do as well as anything else.. you can't compress 100mb's of packed data into any less than 100mb's.. avi files are already packed.
     
  9. FPCDG

    FPCDG Member

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    I know but there are also less common compressors for different file types. although 7zip, winrar, etc., pretty much compress everything
     

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