I am looking for the most effective (and free) way to compress files so I
can backup folders on CD. I tried using the Mac OS 10.4.5 Create Archive
function under the Finder's File menu, but it only shrunk 1,100 MB of files
down to 1,020 MB -- not very impressive. Is there a better free way to
compress folders (mostly filled with Word docs, Safari webarchives,
Powerpoint docs, etc.) so I can backup MORE than 700 MB of data on a CD-RW?

Also, when using OS X's Archive function, does it matter (in terms of
compression) whether I select whole folders instead of all the files inside
them? I have maybe 5 folders filled with 200-ish files, and the archive
function only compressed them down to 95% of their original size, which I
did by selecting the 5 folders and then hitting the Archive command in the
Finder. Does it work better if I expand the folders and then click on all
the files inside instead of just the folders' icons?

In article <C022ADB5.4CC4%spat@mchsi.com>, Spat <spat@mchsi.com> wrote:

> I am looking for the most effective (and free) way to compress files so I
> can backup folders on CD. I tried using the Mac OS 10.4.5 Create Archive
> function under the Finder's File menu, but it only shrunk 1,100 MB of files
> down to 1,020 MB -- not very impressive. Is there a better free way to
> compress folders (mostly filled with Word docs, Safari webarchives,
> Powerpoint docs, etc.) so I can backup MORE than 700 MB of data on a CD-RW?

Well, binary data won't compress much anyway, but _free_ and installed
on the mac you can look at the man pages for

zip
gzip
bzip2

(bzip2 is probably your best man for the most compression) and you can
check out

tar
pax
cpio

for ways of archiving your folder structures.

and I think that Stuffit have a "dropstuff" that's part of the free
distribution: http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/download3.html

andy you can also just create compressed (encrypted too if you want)
disk images with Disk Utility (new image from folder).
--
W. Oates
Teal'c: He is concealing something.
O'Neil: Like what?
Teal'c: I am unsure, he is concealing it.

In article <C022ADB5.4CC4%spat@mchsi.com>, Spat <spat@mchsi.com> wrote:

> I am looking for the most effective (and free) way to compress files so I
> can backup folders on CD. I tried using the Mac OS 10.4.5 Create Archive
> function under the Finder's File menu, but it only shrunk 1,100 MB of files
> down to 1,020 MB -- not very impressive. Is there a better free way to
> compress folders (mostly filled with Word docs, Safari webarchives,
> Powerpoint docs, etc.) so I can backup MORE than 700 MB of data on a CD-RW?

Well, binary data won't compress much anyway, but _free_ and installed
on the mac you can look at the man pages for

zip
gzip
bzip2

(bzip2 is probably your best man for the most compression) and you can
check out

tar
pax
cpio

for ways of archiving your folder structures.

and I think that Stuffit have a "dropstuff" that's part of the free
distribution: http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/download3.html

andy you can also just create compressed (encrypted too if you want)
disk images with Disk Utility (new image from folder).
--
W. Oates
Teal'c: He is concealing something.
O'Neil: Like what?
Teal'c: I am unsure, he is concealing it.