Files coloured blue in Explorer

[Alain Dekker]

I've got a folder containing a bunch of ZIP files. When I view the list of
files in Windows Explorer, the name of the file (and attributes like "Size"
when viewed in Details view) are coloured blue in Explorer, some black.
Usually all files are coloured black when I view them in Explorer. This is
true in all the possible view styles (Thumbnail, List, etc).

I've tried working out why by looking at the properties of the files, but
they all look similar. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Alain

 

[Gordon]

I've got a folder containing a bunch of ZIP files. When I view the list of
files in Windows Explorer, the name of the file (and attributes like
"Size" when viewed in Details view) are coloured blue in Explorer, some
black. Usually all files are coloured black when I view them in Explorer.
This is true in all the possible view styles (Thumbnail, List, etc).

I've tried working out why by looking at the properties of the files, but
they all look similar. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Alain

The blue files have been compressed.

 

[John Inzer]

I've got a folder containing a bunch of ZIP files. When I view the
list of files in Windows Explorer, the name of the file (and
attributes like "Size" when viewed in Details view) are coloured blue
in Explorer, some black. Usually all files are coloured black when I
view them in Explorer. This is true in all the possible view styles
(Thumbnail, List, etc).
I've tried working out why by looking at the properties of the files,
but they all look similar. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Alain

=================================
As Gordon stated...
"The blue files have been compressed".

If you right click one of the blue files and go to...
Properties / General tab / Advanced button...
you will find a checkmark in the
"Compress contents to save disk space" box.

--

J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Bob I]

Windows Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View, Show encrypted or
compressed NTFS files in color. Toggle to suite preference.

 

[Jim]

I've got a folder containing a bunch of ZIP files. When I view the list of
files in Windows Explorer, the name of the file (and attributes like "Size"
when viewed in Details view) are coloured blue in Explorer, some black.
Usually all files are coloured black when I view them in Explorer. This is
true in all the possible view styles (Thumbnail, List, etc).

I've tried working out why by looking at the properties of the files, but
they all look similar. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Alain

Blue = zipped ; black = non-zipped .

 

[Unknown]

Don't you really mean 'compressed'?

Blue = zipped ; black = non-zipped .

 

[Twayne]

IN XP's case, zip = compressed = zipped ... .

A zipped file is compressed, but a compressed file is not necessarily zipped
as there are other methods for compressing file sizes. In the case of XP,
with it compresses, it creates a zipped file.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Tim Slattery]

IN XP's case, zip = compressed = zipped ... .

A zipped file is compressed, but a compressed file is not necessarily zipped
as there are other methods for compressing file sizes. In the case of XP,
with it compresses, it creates a zipped file.

I don't think so. A file whose name is shown in blue has been
compressed by the OS. This is *not* zip compression, it's something
that the Windows OS does. It's not as drastic as zip, therefore
doesn't take as long to do or to undo.

WinXP also has built-in support for zipping and unzipping files but
it's a totally different thing.

 

[Unknown]

Well said Tim. That was my belief also.

I don't think so. A file whose name is shown in blue has been
compressed by the OS. This is *not* zip compression, it's something
that the Windows OS does. It's not as drastic as zip, therefore
doesn't take as long to do or to undo.

WinXP also has built-in support for zipping and unzipping files but
it's a totally different thing.

 

[joe]

Does the OS do this automatically and if so under what circumstances ?

 

[Tim Slattery]

Does the OS do this automatically and if so under what circumstances ?

You can tell it to compress or not compress files or directories
(Right-click|Properties|General|Advanced...). And I believe it will
automatically compress files and folders that are infrequently
accessed.

 

[Bob I]

Yes if you run disk cleanup (see below)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_Cleanup

Does the OS do this automatically and if so under what circumstances ?

 

[joe]

Thanks Bob and Tim. I was not aware of this and both of those situations
apply to me.
i.e. There are files which are infrequently accessed and I use 'disk
cleanup' all the time.
You learn something new every day

Yes if you run disk cleanup (see below)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_Cleanup

 

[Twayne]

In

I don't think so. A file whose name is shown in blue has been
compressed by the OS. This is *not* zip compression, it's something
that the Windows OS does. It's not as drastic as zip, therefore
doesn't take as long to do or to undo.

WinXP also has built-in support for zipping and unzipping files but
it's a totally different thing.

If you check, you'll find the blue is zipped/compressed files and green is
encrypted files. You can set/adjust these from the Properties menu for each
file you right click Properties and choose Advanced for.
Try it and see; You'll find that: Blue *IS* zip compression for XP NTFS
drives. Compress or encrypt a file and see what color it changes to. The
color indicator can also be turned off so they all display in black is so
desired.

In the future, please be more sure of your responses before becoming
emphatic.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Twayne]

In

Well said Tim. That was my belief also.

You're in error with your belief. It's easy enough to check out; try it.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Twayne]

Select a filename in win explorer;
right click it and choose Properties.
Click Advanced in the File Attributes area.
Notice you can set archive bit, compress the file, or encrypt the file
from there.
Click to Compress the file and OK/close your way out.
You might have to close/open explorer once in order to update so you can
see the change, but the filename will have turned to blue text as long as
you haven't turned off the colored display in Options. If instead you
encrypted a file, the filename would have turned green.
Caveat: You can't encrypt a file that has been compressed. I don't know
why but that's the rule.
Also, XP-compressed files are only compressed while on the disk; they are
uncompressed as they are read from the drive, before they get to memory.
With encryption, the only account that can view the files there of course
are the account that created the encryption.

HTH,

Twayne





In

 

[Twayne]

In

You can tell it to compress or not compress files or directories
(Right-click|Properties|General|Advanced...). And I believe it will
automatically compress files and folders that are infrequently
accessed.

No, you can only compress the files/folders in that limb of the tree that
way. To get infrequently used files compressed, use the Options settings so
it applies to all folders on the drive.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Unknown]

Take a blue colored .ini file. It isn't unzipped. It is opened by Notepad.
Try it.

 

[Unknown]

I selected a file. The attribute compress is NOT checked. Yet the file name
is in blue.
I still think you are mistaken. It is not zipped but is compressed.

 

[Tim Slattery]

Take a blue colored .ini file. It isn't unzipped. It is opened by Notepad.

Try to open a blue colored *.txt file in WinZip. It can't do it
because it's not a zip file.