How can I manually compress a folder using WinXP compressed folder(not ZIP)

I have set a folder to compressed and it got compressed thereafter.
However, each new file added to it won't get compressed. What can I do?
What could be the reason? The files in that folder get downloaded via
internet and used immediatly (UT2004 cache). Any ideas? Thx.

--
Bye,
Andreas M.

Andreas

I think you are referring to this feature, which can be used on an NTFS
formatted partition. In Windows Explorer right click on any folder and
select Properties, General, Advanced and check the box before Compress
contents to save Disk Space.

File compression is a process you can do not a setting for the folder
that ensures the contents are automatically compressed every time you
add items to the folder.

With some files compression conveys little benefit. You need to right
click on the file, select Properties and compare the File Size to Size
on Disk to see the gain in disk space. Obviously it is hardly worth the
effort to compress small files. If the file is regularly accessed
compressing the file adversely affects system performance as compressed
files take longer to open. Uninstall folders in your Windows folder
typically: $NtServicePackUninstall$ and $NtUninstallKB282010$ etc are
files that when compressed do give significant disk space gains.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Andreas M. wrote:
I have set a folder to compressed and it got compressed thereafter.
However, each new file added to it won't get compressed. What can I
do? What could be the reason? The files in that folder get downloaded
via internet and used immediatly (UT2004 cache). Any ideas? Thx.

On 30.05.2008 11:26 Gerry wrote

I think you are referring to this feature, which can be used on an NTFS
formatted partition. In Windows Explorer right click on any folder and
select Properties, General, Advanced and check the box before Compress
contents to save Disk Space.

True. This is the compression I was referring to. Thanks for clearing
things up a little, my wording was too vague.

I have already set this flag on a folder and the files got compressed
therein, shrinking contents by about a 40%-50%. However, each new file
written to this folder does /not/ get compressed. I believe it may have
to do with the application (UT2004) doing something to the folder (ie:
locking it or so) while running. This is why I was wondering how/whether
I can invoke NTFS file-system level compression manually on these files.

typically: $NtServicePackUninstall$ and $NtUninstallKB282010$ etc are
files that when compressed do give significant disk space gains.

True. It seems Windows set these folders automatically to compressed
already, since they are compressed here and I did not set that manually.

--
Bye,
Andreas M.

Andreas

File Compression is a feature available as part of the operating system.
Your reference to UT2004 threw me as I have never before encountered the
software. Using Google I now appreciate what you are referring to.
UT2004 incorporates a file compression option, which is separate from
the Microsoft feature. The UT2004 feature is more like WinZip software.
The file is compressed so that it can be transported from one location
to another in a compressed state. There is more about UT2004 compression
in the link which follows:
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums...d.php?t=523701

Returning to the Microsoft feature. Automatic file compression can be
carried out using Disk CleanUp.

Compress Old Files - Windows can compress files that you have not used
recently. Compressing files saves disk space, but you can still use the
files. No files are deleted. Because files are compressed at different
rates, the displayed amount of disk space that you will gain is
approximate. An Options button permits you to specify the number of days
to wait before Disk Cleanup compresses an unused file.
Source: How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315246

When using Disk CleanUp many users are frustrated by the length of time
time it takes to load Disk CleanUp because it computes an approximate
saving in disk space. This frustration is often voiced in these
newsgroups. It is clear that Disk CleanUp is selective as to which files
it compresses both as to type and age. I do not know of any list as to
which types are iincluded for compression and which excluded. I would
imagine there is a list somewhere. As a file is only compressed after
the expiry of XX days you will find, as you have noticed, folders
containing some files compressed and others not compressed. You can
right click on the folder and manually compress the contents of the
folder regardless of the age of the file at any time.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Andreas M. wrote:
On 30.05.2008 11:26 Gerry wrote

I think you are referring to this feature, which can be used on an
NTFS formatted partition. In Windows Explorer right click on any
folder and select Properties, General, Advanced and check the box
before Compress contents to save Disk Space.

True. This is the compression I was referring to. Thanks for clearing
things up a little, my wording was too vague.

I have already set this flag on a folder and the files got compressed
therein, shrinking contents by about a 40%-50%. However, each new file
written to this folder does /not/ get compressed. I believe it may
have to do with the application (UT2004) doing something to the
folder (ie: locking it or so) while running. This is why I was
wondering how/whether I can invoke NTFS file-system level compression
manually on these files.
typically: $NtServicePackUninstall$ and $NtUninstallKB282010$ etc are
files that when compressed do give significant disk space gains.

True. It seems Windows set these folders automatically to compressed
already, since they are compressed here and I did not set that
manually.

On 01.06.2008 12:40 Gerry wrote

to another in a compressed state. There is more about UT2004 compression
in the link which follows:
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums...d.php?t=523701

Yes, but this does not seem to be of interest in my case, since this is
compression for the download of in-game map files. As already stated, I
can compress files with NTFS file-compression. Actually, I was able to
go from 34MB free to 400MB free when compressing the UT2004 map and data
files in my cache\ folder. So they do indeed compress very nice.

Returning to the Microsoft feature. Automatic file compression can be
carried out using Disk CleanUp.

DiskCleanup is the cleanup, that offers you to free up space once a disk
is below the threshold of free space. I know this utility and use it often.

containing some files compressed and others not compressed. You can
right click on the folder and manually compress the contents of the
folder regardless of the age of the file at any time.

Yes, this is what I am talking about. I right clicked the folder of
UT2004, which contains the cached (in-game-downloads) data-files,
selected "compress this folder" and the compression was very nice.

But since I have other folders put under compression to I was wondering,
why the UT2004/cache/ folder does not get compressed automatically,
while all my other folders, which are set to be compressed automatically
compress all files therein. As soon as I download new files into the
cache folder, which is set to compress=true, they do not get compressed.
Hence my question, whether there is a way to invoke NTFS
file-compression on files manually, without decompressing the folder and
then recompressing it again, so to gain advantage of compression for any
new files.

Thanks for your efforts.

--
Bye,
Andreas M.

Andreas

Andreas M. wrote:
On 01.06.2008 12:40 Gerry wrote

to another in a compressed state. There is more about UT2004
compression in the link which follows:
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums...d.php?t=523701

Yes, but this does not seem to be of interest in my case, since this
is compression for the download of in-game map files. As already
stated, I can compress files with NTFS file-compression. Actually, I
was able to go from 34MB free to 400MB free when compressing the
UT2004 map and
data files in my cache\ folder. So they do indeed compress very nice.

Are they files that the system uses when you play the game? If yes then
compression will slow the computer.

Are you short of free disk space? There are other other ways to increase
free disk space?


Returning to the Microsoft feature. Automatic file compression can be
carried out using Disk CleanUp.

DiskCleanup is the cleanup, that offers you to free up space once a
disk is below the threshold of free space. I know this utility and
use it often.
containing some files compressed and others not compressed. You can
right click on the folder and manually compress the contents of the
folder regardless of the age of the file at any time.

Yes, this is what I am talking about. I right clicked the folder of
UT2004, which contains the cached (in-game-downloads) data-files,
selected "compress this folder" and the compression was very nice.

If you compress files that you regularly access you slow down system
performance!


But since I have other folders put under compression to I was
wondering, why the UT2004/cache/ folder does not get compressed
automatically,

If there are lists of files considered / not considered for compression
it could be that the contents of the folder are the list not for
compression.Secondly if you regulatly use the files they will not become
old enough. It is speculation but some users think Disk CleanUp reads
access dates rather than the date the file was created or modified.

while all my other folders, which are set to be compressed
automatically compress all files therein. As soon as I download new
files into the cache folder, which is set to compress=true, they do
not get
compressed. Hence my question, whether there is a way to invoke NTFS
file-compression on files manually, without decompressing the folder
and then recompressing it again, so to gain advantage of compression
for any new files.

You only to compress the folder again but it is quicker to compress the
particular item that is not compressed. You cannot compress items in
use. Thus change logs in the latest System Restore point cannot be
compressed until the next System Restore Point has been created.


Thanks for your efforts.

Your welcome.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~