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Short URL: http://scripts.sil.org/DecompressUtil

Decompression Utilities, Downloading & Installation Tips

Lorna A. Priest, 2007-06-15; 31869 reads

    Downloading Tips
    Zip files
    Exe files
    Deb (Debian) packages
    After Extracting
        Applications
        Fonts
            Linux
            Macintosh
            Windows
    Page History

Downloading Tips

When you select a link for a download, you will have two options. You can choose to Open (or Run ) the download, or Save the download.

If you choose to Open (or Run ) the download, your computer will first of all transfer the file from the internet to your computer, and then run the program that you have downloaded. After you are finished, it will erase the download from your computer.

Selecting Save allows you to transfer the downloaded program to your computer (you can specify the name the file is to be saved under and the folder on your computer where the file will be saved.) After the file transfers to your computer, you can then Open or Run the file.

Zip files

“Zip files” or archives are simply a way of packaging a collection of files and folders into a single file, for more convenient downloading; the contents will also be compressed when possible, to reduce storage space and download time. To actually use the software or data, you need to extract the original files from the compressed archive.

Modern operating systems have built-in decompression utilities. When you double-click on a .zip file usually another window will pop-up which contains all the files that are in your .zip file. There is usually a way for you to Extract the files into a folder of your choosing. For example, in Windows XP you would click on File / Extract All..., and then follow the wizard; and in Mac OS X, double-clicking a .zip file expands the archive into a new folder, and you can then use the Finder to move or copy the files as needed.

If your operating system does not have a built-in way to expand your archive then you will need a decompression utility such as:

7-zip (Open Source)
WinZip (Windows) or
Stuffit Expander (Windows and Macintosh)

to expand the archive.

Exe files

If you do not have 7-zip, WinZip, Stuffit Expander or another decompression utility you should download the .exe file which is sometimes also provided as a download option.

An .exe is sometimes an installer and sometimes it is a compressed file which is simply a way of packaging a collection of files and folders into a single file, for more convenient downloading; the contents will also be compressed when possible, to reduce storage space and download time. To actually use the software or data, you need to extract the original files from the compressed archive.

Double-click on the file. If it is an installer it will take you through the installation process. If it is not an installer you will get a message like "WinZip Self-Extractor - <filename>". Then you should extract (unzip) the files in an easy to remember folder.

Deb (Debian) packages

Go to the folder where you have downloaded the .deb package, type sudo dpkg --install <filename>, then type in your password and everything will get neatly installed (on newer versions of Ubuntu you can now simply double-click on a deb and it will launch the installer).

After Extracting

Now that you have unzipped (extracted) the files, what do you do with them? After unzipping, navigate to the folder where you extracted the files.

Applications

If this is a computer application, you should have instructions for what to do with it.

Fonts

If it is a font package you still have to install the fonts. The files you extracted will probably include an installation guide. You should read that guide for more information. However, here are some steps which may prove helpful.

Linux

Many of our fonts have debian packages which should have done its job and put everything in the right places (normal and alternate versions of the fonts, documentation, license, fontlog and FAQs) but, in case you want to install the font from the zip archive, here are some instructions:

Under GNOME

launch Nautilus from a menu or desktop shortcut
type fonts: in the address bar (Ctrl-L will show the location bar if it is hidden). You can also use the System->Fonts menu entry, press Details and then Go to Font Folder to open the font folder. Or type nautilus fonts: directly from a shell.
Then simply drag and drop the fonts into your font folder

Under KDE

launch font install in your menu under Configuration-KDE/System/Font Install (you can also type kcmshell kcmfontinst directly from a shell).
Then simply use the dialog boxes to browse to your fonts and install them

You can do the same manually

copy the fonts in ~/.fonts. You will have to create the folder if it doesn't exist by typing mkdir ~/.fonts
And when you're in ~/.fonts, type fc-cache -f -v to update the fonts.cache-1 cache file

Note that OpenOffice.org version 2+ knows about system-wide fonts (using fontconfig) unlike earlier versions. There is no need to use specific
OpenOffice.org tools to install new fonts.

If you want, you can also use GNOME's System->Fonts menu entry or KDE's Configuration-KDE->System->Font to choose your desktop font and adjust the hinting and the anti-aliasing.

You can also copy the local.conf fontconfig definition file to activate
system-wide aliasing for your font and make it your main font:

type: sudo mv /etc/fonts/local.conf local.conf.old
type: sudo cp local.conf /etc/fonts/

(Making a backup of your original configuration file is always a good idea,
you can copy back the old file if needed).

You can also add the section between the alias tags to an already existing
local.conf using your favorite text editor.

Macintosh

See How do I install SIL fonts in Mac OS X?

Windows

Windows 2000 or XP

Font installation using the Control Panel is summarized below.

Click Start / Settings / Control Panel or Start / Control Panel.
Double-click on the Fonts icon to bring up the Fonts dialog.
Find and delete any old version(s) of the font you are installing.
On the menu, click File / Install New Font... to bring up the Add Fonts dialog.
Open the Drives list and select the drive where you have unzipped the fonts. Then under Folders:, navigate to the folder where you unzipped the fonts. In a few seconds the name of the fonts will appear in the List of Fonts.
In the same window, Copy fonts to Fonts folder should have a checkmark.
Click the font names to select (or Select All ), and then OK . In a few seconds, the fonts will be listed in the Installed Fonts list.
Click on File / Close or exit the window.

Note

Some people might attempt to bypass the "extracting" step above and just drag the .ttf file from the archive into the C:\Windows\fonts folder. This will not work. Windows requires you to extract the font file before installing it. Another method of installation is to extract the font and then you can drag it to the C:\Windows\fonts folder. Your font should be installed (if you have older versions of the fonts on your computer you must uninstall them first).

Note that certain applications may not see the new fonts immediately. You may have to quit and restart the application for the fonts to become available.

Windows Vista

In Vista it is much easier to install fonts. Navigate to the folder where you extracted your files. Select the file and right-click on it. Select Install. Your font should be installed (if you have older versions of the fonts on your computer you must uninstall them first).

Note

Uninstalling a Windows font

Click Start / Settings / Control Panel or Start / Control Panel. Double-click Fonts.
Scroll down to your font (or fonts) and click once to highlight.
Click File / Delete. Click Yes to delete.
Close the Fonts window.

Page History

2007-06-15 LP: added "Downloading Tips" "Exe files" and "After Extracting"

2006-05-31 LP: page creation