Locked files on a MAC

Niel has provided the correct answer by not only giving the Feedback link, but also provides a way to do exactly what you want.

I would say that your use case is only an issue for a very small number of users. Very few will find a need to Lock a file and even less would need to compress a folder that contains that locked file. For the users like you that do have a need to do that, the provided Script will unlock all files in a folder and you can also create your own Script that will do that and compress the folder simply by dragging the folder onto the script. The Script Editor is a powerful tool that will let you do much more to personalize your workflow. For more information on creating your own scripts:

Script Editor User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Click here and pick a form.

If you're referring to the Compressor application, use the one for it.

If you're referring to the Compress menu item in the Finder, use the macOS one.

To unlock all items in a folder, choose Utilities from the Finder's Go menu, open the Script Editor, and run:

do shell script "chflags -R nouchg " & quoted form of POSIX path of (choose folder)

(251799)

There are some misunderstandings here - starting with the fact that the issue at hand has nothing to do with Compressor! The question is about compressing (zipping) files in Finder. Compressor is a professional video application, used to encode video with different formats, bit rates, etc.

If I had noticed this earlier, I'd have suggested this be moved to a more appropriate forum, but now it is pointless (perhaps).

Having set that out of the way... I can only imagine the reason why: the zip format does not allow the locking mechanism. In other words, if you were to zip and then unzip, the locked files would no longer be locked.

If you don't mind that, then you can easily unlock the files, as already explained.

Another alternative is to zip using Terminal. This in effect ignores the Finder lock, and (as predicted) the files will be unlocked if you unzip them.

This strictly a user to user forum. Please use feedback in FCP to make a feature request.

Could you explain what the file is and how it’s locked? Is this a video file used in a project, which is what I first assumed?

I find all answers below not addressing the actual issue which is :

why is Apple preventing file compression (zipping) (with the "compress file" menu in the finder) of files which are locked. Does not make sense. you lock a file because you do not want to delete it and zip operation do not delete it.

Looks more a bug than a intentional feature.

FCP stands for Final Cut Pro. The applications are very often used in conjunction. There is feedback in Compressor as well.

It may matter if the file is embedded in an FCP project, which is the most common source of content used in Compressor.

I’ll assume it’s standalone video file of a basic format and codec and locked singly in the Finder and not at a folder level.

Based on the assumptions I made I could not reproduce the problem. I opened a locked 4K file into Compressor. Dragged a preset onto it and processed it to the Desktop.