If you purchase a digital file online, more than likely it was delivered to you as in a zip file format. This can become a bit of a confusing first step for many crafters if you are not familiar with compressed files. But don’t dispare unzipping a file is easy for anyone on any device.
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What is a zip file?
A zip file is a folder that holds one or many files and are compressed to make it easy to send. Compressing the files makes large files smaller to make them easier to send via download or email but still maintains the file quality. You can also send multiple files in one file to make it less work to send.
How to unzip files on a Mac
Macs make unzipping files very easy, once you click the download button normally it will be sent to your downloads file. Normally your mac computer will automatically open/unzip the file for you. But if you do recieve a file in unzipped format it is easy to open. How you open it is to double click on the file and it will unzip for you.
If you are using Safari, after you click the download button on your file. The file will automatically be sent to your downloads. You can select the little arrow on screen and it will display your downloads. Double click to open.
After you double click the file your downloads folder will open. You will see your most recent downloads at the top of the list. Now you can double click this folder to access your files.
If you are using Chrome your folder downloads as a zip folder you can find it in your downloads folder. Then double click on the zip file to open it.
How to unzip file on a PC
Unzipping files on a PC is a very useful skill to learn, once you learn how you will find downloading and uploading files to Design space so fast and easy to do. If you are easily intimidated by technology don’t worry I promise unzipping files is something anyone can learn and once you do it once you will remember how to do it over and over again.
If you are using your pc, after you click the download button you should see the zip file download to the bottom of the window on a chorme browser or to the top right with explorer. To open double click and the file will unzip and open.
If after you download the file you can’t see the zip folder. Than another place you can find it is in your “Downloads” folder. To navigate there double click on the little yellow folder “File explorer” sometimes found on the bottom of your screen.
Once you have double clicked a window will pop up with all your files. You can see the “Downloads” folder of the left bar. Click there to open and locate your zip file. Once located double click to unzip.
After the folder is unzipped click the unzipped folder to open and you will now see your files.
As you can see unzipping your files is quite easy. Once you learn how to do it the first time you can quickly find all your downloaded zip files to access your craft files.
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