In Tip #2, you were shown how to Get Organized by making folders and moving your home directory objects to logically named folders. Space is always a premium, even on the instructional network server! This time we will explore eliminating those objects that are no longer needed and compressing those objects that we may need later on.

Definitions: Compression: A software mechanism used to decrease the size of a file. Typically the compressed file has an extension of .ZIP or .ARJ. When you ZIP a file, you are compressing that file. In like manner, UNZIPPING a file returns it to its natural state. Multiple files can be ZIPPED together in one compressed file. These will separate during the UNZIPPING process.

1. Deleting an object.
   
   

   1. Highlight the object you wish to eliminate by left-hand clicking on that object. Press the Delete key or right-hand click and choose Delete from the pop-up menu. The following warning message box appears:
      
      

      

   2. CAUTIONM If you click on the Yes button, the object will be permanently eliminated. Clicking on the No button will cancel the entire operation.

   3. You can select multiple objects to delete (or move) by holding the Ctrl key and highlighting the objects to be eliminated. Then return to step I.a above.

2. Compressing an object or objects

   1. The process is similar to moving or deleting an object and requires you to highlight the object or objects as previously described. Then, after you have selected the objects you wish to compress, right-hand click within the home directory area and choose either Add to Zip or Add to OBJECT-NAME.Zip.

   2. In choosing the latter selection, a newly created object will appear with the same name as the original object but with two subtle differences. The first difference is that the extension of the new object is ZIP. The second is the icon graphic is changed to a clamp surrounding a file-cabinet as shown below:
      
      

      

   3. The original 1.19 MB is on the left and the compressed (981 KB) is on the right. This represents an 18% savings on space once I eliminate the original. It does not make sense to save both copies!

3. Conclusion: In these past two tips you have learned how to organize and clean up your home drive area. Please be considerate in using space. Eliminate or archive those objects that are either never needed or rarely needed.

4. Final Note - The common drive areas - Drives J & K.
   We all use the common drives (Teacher - Drive J, Student - Drive K) to correspond to colleagues and post files for our students. With three hundred people accessing these drives just in the High School it is easy to see how difficult it is to maintain. Take a moment to clean up your contributions to these drives and eliminate those objects that are no longer necessary. Thanks for your help here!