ARCHIVED: In Mac OS and Mac OS X, how do I compress and archive folders, files, and applications with StuffIt?

In Mac OS X, applications are often distributed as disk images or GNU zipped tar files. However, in the classic Mac OS (i.e., 9.x and earlier), DOS and Unix archive and compression formats aren't often used. Because of its dual-forked file structure, Mac-specific formats have emerged instead. One in particular, StuffIt, has become the de facto standard. With StuffIt, it is possible to compress files or compress and archive entire folder hierarchies into a single stuffed file.

Smith Micro has two applications for creating StuffIt archives: StuffIt Deluxe and DropStuff. StuffIt Deluxe is a more expensive commercial product with DropStuff built into the application. DropStuff is also available as part of the StuffIt Standard Edition suite of applications.

Using DropStuff

To create a StuffIt archive with DropStuff, select the icon or icons (folders or files) you want to archive and compress, and then drag the item(s) to the DropStuff icon. Release the mouse button when the DropStuff icon darkens and DropStuff will automatically perform the compression, creating a single .sit file containing the compressed item(s).

By default, if you drop a single file onto DropStuff, it will create a stuffed file with the same name, except it will have the .sit extension. Likewise, if you drop a single folder (regardless of its contents) onto the DropStuff icon, it will create a stuffed file (containing the compressed folder and all its contents) with the same name as the folder, but with the .sit extension added. If you drop more than one file or folder onto the DropStuff icon, it will create a file called Archive.sit.

Alternately, instead of using drag and drop, double-click the DropStuff icon, and then from the File menu, select Stuff.... A window opens that allows you to select and add or remove folders and files to a new StuffIt archive. Once you've finished adding files you want to be stuffed, click Stuff. Then choose a name for the archive and save it.

Using StuffIt Deluxe

Double-click the StuffIt Deluxe icon. From the File menu, select New.... Choose a name for the stuffed document, and click New or Save. StuffIt Deluxe will launch a window that can be used like a Finder window. You can drag files and folders to the window, and they will be added to the archive. Likewise, dragging files or folders from the window will remove them from the archive. You can even double-click folders in the StuffIt window to modify their contents. Once you are finished, close the StuffIt window.

If you wish to modify the contents of the archive later, just drag its icon over the StuffIt Deluxe icon and a window with its contents will open. Alternately, double-click the StuffIt Deluxe icon, and from the File menu, select Open.... In the dialog box, select the archive you wish to edit and click Open.