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User profile for user: James Minor
James Minor Author
User level: Level 1
30 points

How to create a self-extracting downloaded Zip file ...

I have a question about Mac file compression for an eBook PDF. I know how to compress the file with Mac OS X 10.8.5. I right-click the PDF I want to compress and select "Compress <file name>" from the Contextual Menu. The file is compressed as a ZIP file. The file I'm compressing will be distributed from a web server to Mac users.


SITUATION: I want the Mac user to be able to download the ZIP file to their Mac. Once the ZIP file is downloaded to their Mac, I want the ZIP file to automatically open to place the eBook PDF on their desktop - so please indulge me here. I know that a Mac user only needs to double-click the ZIP file to extract the eBook PDF, BUT, IF POSSIBLE, I want this to happen automatically after the ZIP file is downloaded.


QUESTION: Is there any way to automatially extract the eBook PDF from the ZIP file once the Mac user downloads the ZIP file to their destop? If so, how do I do this? If not, is there anyother way to do this that does not required any additional software like StuffIt Expander to decompress the file? As an aside, If I compress the eBook PDF using Mac OS X 10.8.5, is this compressed ZIP file compatible with older versions of Mac OS, i.e., can they double-click the compressed ZIP file to open it?


Thank you in advance for your comments and help . . .


Jim Minor

Email: jaminor@blackfoot.net

iMac (24-inch Early 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 4GB RAM

Posted on Sep 25, 2013 3:29 PM

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User profile for user: arthur
arthur
User level: Level 5
5,242 points

Posted on Sep 25, 2013 4:49 PM

  1. In OSX, zip extraction depends on the browser and browser settings. For example, Safari will open files automatically depending on this setting in Sarari Preferences: User uploaded file So the short answer I think is no. Your zip recipients are going to have to click on the zips to open them if their browser is not set to open them automatically.
  2. I'm no zip expert but I would think a zip is a zip and should be compatible with older versions of OSX. That is, 10.4 or later, which didn't include Stuffit any more. Earlier versions would need Stuffit or something similar.
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User profile for user: arthur
arthur
User level: Level 5
5,242 points

Sep 25, 2013 4:49 PM in response to James Minor

  1. In OSX, zip extraction depends on the browser and browser settings. For example, Safari will open files automatically depending on this setting in Sarari Preferences: User uploaded file So the short answer I think is no. Your zip recipients are going to have to click on the zips to open them if their browser is not set to open them automatically.
  2. I'm no zip expert but I would think a zip is a zip and should be compatible with older versions of OSX. That is, 10.4 or later, which didn't include Stuffit any more. Earlier versions would need Stuffit or something similar.
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How to create a self-extracting downloaded Zip file ...

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