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Mac How To Extract Files

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A .DMG file is a container file commonly used to distribute applications for Mac OS X. Installing software from one of these requires you to mount the image and move its contents to your computer's 'Applications' directory.

A MAC file contains a macro, which may be created by various programs, such as UltraEdit, Minitab, and Cabrilog Cabri Geometry II.It contains a list of commands in plain text that are used to perform functions in the respective application. MAC files can be opened by the programs that created them. #2 Recover Deleted or Lost Excel File in Mac Trash. When deleting an Excel file on mac, we just moved the file to Trash, if we didn't continue to 'Delete Immediately' in Mac Trash, it is still possible for us to recover the deleted or lost Excel file on mac from Trash. Tap the ZIP file you want to extract. Then, tap and hold for a second or two to open a pop-up menu. Finally, tap OK in the pop-up. This will automatically unzip (or extract) all the files in the ZIP folder.

One of the most common mistakes I see among new Mac users is fumbling with how to install and open .dmg files or new software. The process for installing new applications on your Mac can be confusing at first because it differs greatly from Windows' software installation process. Nevertheless, the Mac method of installing software is actually quite simple and intuitive once you are accustomed to it. If your desktop is littered with DMG files and white 'drive'-looking icons, read on!

Contents

What are .DMG Files?

DMG stands for Disk Image, and is a format commonly used to distribute files and applications among Apple computers. A DMG file is like a virtual DVD or hard drive. They can be 'mounted' on your Mac in order to work with their contents, or even burned to an actual physical disc.

In order to understand the concept of a DMG disk image, think of a storage volume such as a CD, DVD, hard drive, or external drive. A DMG file is like one of these devices in that it serves as a means to encapsulate documents, images, software, and other files. The difference is that with a DMG, there is no physical storage medium. There is only the DMG file, which can be written to a hard drive, burned to a CD or DVD, or sent over the Internet.

In order to work with the contents of a DMG file, you must mount the the disk image to your system. This may sound daunting, however 'mounting' a DMG file with Mac OS X is no more complicated than double-clicking it' icon. The operating system will load the load image and place a new icon both on your desktop, and in the sidebar of the Finder. The icon will have the same name as the DMG, and you'll be able to browse through its contents like any other folder.

Once you are done working with the contents of the file, you will want to remove or 'unmount' it from your system. Do this by opening the Finder and clicking the eject icon next to the virtual drive's icon. Or, go to the Desktop, click once on the icon, and press CMD+E.

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How to Install and Open .dmg Files on a Mac

Software installation with Mac OS X is very different than in the Windows world. On a Windows PC you run an installer, tick off a few checkboxes, and wait for the progress meter to reach completion. There usually is no such 'installation wizard' on a Mac &emdash; you simply drag and drop the program into your computer's 'Applications' directory. The trick is that most Mac applications are distributed as images called DMG files, and many new Mac users end up running applications directly from the image instead of installing them to the 'Applications' directory.

Enough explanation, here's how to install an OS X app from a DMG file:

  1. Find the downloaded file, which usually ends up in your Desktop or Downloads folder.
  2. Double-click the .DMG file to mount it. A new Finder window showing its contents should appear.
  3. If the window also contains a shortcut icon to 'Applications', drag and drop the app onto the shortcut.
  4. If not, double-click the mounted volume on your desktop and drag the app icon from there to the 'Applications' icon in the Finder sidebar.

Further Explanation

Alright, that was the abridged version. Here's the long version. I've just downloaded the DeskLickr application, and the DeskLickr_1.2.dmg is sitting on my desktop. I double-click it and a new icon labeled 'DeskLickr 1.2' appears on my desktop. Here's what my desktop looks like at this point:

Since most of the time a new Finder window also pops up when the image is ready for use, this one is now sitting on my desktop:

Extract Now For Windows 10

Mac How To Extract Files

Different applications are going to show you slightly different Finder windows. Each application's designers like to add their own artwork. Glitter aside, most applications are trying to tell you the same thing. See the arrow pointing from the DeskLickr icon to the 'Applications' shortcut? It's telling you to drag and drop the icon into that folder. Once you've done so, the app will be installed.

If a program doesn't provide a shortcut to the Applications folder, you'll need to pop open a new Finder window. Press CMD+N to open a new window, then drag the program over to 'Applications' in the left-hand side of the window.

Also useful: How to CTRL + ALT + DEL on a Mac

House Cleaning

Once the new program is installed it's time to do some house cleaning. You no longer need the disk image you downloaded, so follow these steps:

  1. Close any Finder windows that have been left open.
  2. Eject the disk image (not the .DMG file). Click on its desktop icon, then press CMD+E.
  3. Delete the .DMG file by dragging it to the trash.

That's it! Your new Mac application is ready to use. But wait…

Bonus Tip: Add Your New Application to the Dock

I knew you were going to ask, so I figured I would cut you off at the pass. In order to add the new application to the dock, follow these steps:

  1. Open up a new Finder window.
  2. Click on 'Applications'.
  3. Locate your new program's icon.
  4. Drag the icon to your Dock, and drop it wherever you like.

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hourglass_empty

Extract On Mac

4min Read

How To Extract Files On Mac

Sometimes when you want to download a file, you might notice that it comes in a .zip format. If you don't know what it is and are having trouble opening it, you've come to the right place! This article is going to teach you how to unzip files using default applications in Windows and macOS as well as third-party programs.

  • Two Ways to Unzip Files

What is a .zip File?

A .zip file is an archive containing one or more files that have been compressed to reduce its size. Zipping a file is useful to spare up to 80% or more storage space.

Additionally, zipping big files enables users to upload and send them faster over the internet, simultaneously decreasing the chance of it being corrupted. Users can also use .zip format to encrypt their data for extra security.

There is plenty of software that can be used to unzip files. However, your computer is generally already equipped with a built-in program that can perform the task just fine.

Two Ways to Unzip Files

Mac

Different applications are going to show you slightly different Finder windows. Each application's designers like to add their own artwork. Glitter aside, most applications are trying to tell you the same thing. See the arrow pointing from the DeskLickr icon to the 'Applications' shortcut? It's telling you to drag and drop the icon into that folder. Once you've done so, the app will be installed.

If a program doesn't provide a shortcut to the Applications folder, you'll need to pop open a new Finder window. Press CMD+N to open a new window, then drag the program over to 'Applications' in the left-hand side of the window.

Also useful: How to CTRL + ALT + DEL on a Mac

House Cleaning

Once the new program is installed it's time to do some house cleaning. You no longer need the disk image you downloaded, so follow these steps:

  1. Close any Finder windows that have been left open.
  2. Eject the disk image (not the .DMG file). Click on its desktop icon, then press CMD+E.
  3. Delete the .DMG file by dragging it to the trash.

That's it! Your new Mac application is ready to use. But wait…

Bonus Tip: Add Your New Application to the Dock

I knew you were going to ask, so I figured I would cut you off at the pass. In order to add the new application to the dock, follow these steps:

  1. Open up a new Finder window.
  2. Click on 'Applications'.
  3. Locate your new program's icon.
  4. Drag the icon to your Dock, and drop it wherever you like.

Also Check:Cool Fortnite Names of 2020

hourglass_empty

Extract On Mac

4min Read

How To Extract Files On Mac

Sometimes when you want to download a file, you might notice that it comes in a .zip format. If you don't know what it is and are having trouble opening it, you've come to the right place! This article is going to teach you how to unzip files using default applications in Windows and macOS as well as third-party programs.

  • Two Ways to Unzip Files

What is a .zip File?

A .zip file is an archive containing one or more files that have been compressed to reduce its size. Zipping a file is useful to spare up to 80% or more storage space.

Additionally, zipping big files enables users to upload and send them faster over the internet, simultaneously decreasing the chance of it being corrupted. Users can also use .zip format to encrypt their data for extra security.

There is plenty of software that can be used to unzip files. However, your computer is generally already equipped with a built-in program that can perform the task just fine.

Two Ways to Unzip Files

There are two ways to extract zipped files: either by using your operating system's built-in software or by using third-party tools.

Regardless of what tool you use, it is a good practice to delete the .zip file after you extract its content because keeping both consumes more space.

1. Using an OS Built-In Tool

First, let's take a look at how to extract files using native software found in Windows and macOS. Because you're only using what your computer already has, there is no need to download another tool.

Windows

While it is possible to see the content of a zip file by double-clicking on it on Windows, you still need to extract the files to use it. The Windows default support for .zip goes by the name of Compressed (zipped) folders and here's how to use it:

  1. Right-click the file that you want to decompress and choose Extract All.
  2. Choose the directory where you want to keep the extracted files and click Extract. It is optional to check the box underneath if you need to see the content immediately after the extraction is done.
  3. The files that were inside the .zip now can be found in the location you picked in step two.

macOS

Archive Utility is Mac's built-in tool that handles the .zip format. To unzip a file, follow these steps:

  1. Double-click on the file you want to unzip.
  2. Once extracted, the file will appear in the same folder as its archive.

If you want to change the default folder location, access Internal Hard Drive -> System -> Library -> Core Services -> Archive Utility. Once there, select Preferences and set the location by clicking Save Expanded Files.

If you're using Linux, read here for an in-depth guide on how to unzip your file.

2. Using a Third-Party Tool

While it is not necessary to download third-party tools to extract a .zip file, they do come with added features that allow you to customize, password-protect, and repair your zip files.

Below are our recommendations.

7-Zip

This file archiver is a free and open-source program with a 2-10% higher compression rate compared to WinZip and PKZip. It also has its own 7z extension that compresses data 30-70% better than the .zip format.

Among the many features are secure encryption and an easy-to-use file manager. Plus, it is also localized for 87 languages.

Mac How To Extract Files

Although it is only available for Windows, it also has a port for Linux/Posix command line called p7zip.

To unzip with this tool, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the file that you plan to extract. 7-Zip should be listed there after installation.
  2. Hover your mouse above the program name, and you will see a drop-down menu with multiple commands. Click Extract Files.
  3. In the next menu, choose the save location by clicking on the three dots, leave it be if you want it in the same folder as the original. Click OK.
  4. Alternatively, you can also choose Extract Here to immediately save your file in the archive's location or Extract to [File Name] to make a folder out of the extracted data.

PeaZip

PeaZip is a Windows and Linux-supported free unzipping program that is compatible with over 180+ extensions. Among its best features are a powerful file manager and reliable security protection with two-step verification. Additionally, it also has a portable version that you can use without installing it.

Using PeaZip on Windows is pretty straightforward and works the same as with the previous tool. The only differences are the name of the commands:

  • Extract – use to unpack your data to another location.
  • Extract here – saves the content inside the same location as the archive.
  • Extract here (smart) – used to create a standalone folder for the files.

Zipware

Just like 7-Zip, Zipware is also a Windows-only extractor. However, it has a few features that stand out, such as a streamlined file manager, a password manager, conversion of all compatible formats to .zip, .exe, or .7z and a virus scan.

Again, decompressing using this tool follows the same method as the previous ones with slightly different options:

  • Extract to this folder – for immediate extraction to the location of the zip.
  • Extract to this folder + Filenames – for a similar effect but with a folder made out of the file.
  • Extract to other… – opens a drop-down menu to choose another location.

Conclusion

A zip file is an archiving method that is useful to save storage since it compresses file sizes.

You can unzip files either using default Windows and macOS settings or by utilizing third-party software such as Zipware, PeaZip and 7-Zip.

The process itself takes only a few clicks, so you can have the task done in no time.





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