Tag: utility

The Benefits of Archive Utility on Mac: An Essential Tool for File Management

Success in file management with Mac often relies on proper tool selection, and the Archive Utility is among the most helpful. It’s a built-in utility within macOS that makes file compression and extraction easier; it assists all those who have to deal with big files, frequently downloading them or organizing documents. Let’s dive into the benefits and best practices for using Archive Utility Mac for file management.

What Is Archive Utility and Why It Matters on Mac

This utility is a compression tool, thus shrinking the size of the file in its size, which, in turn, enables users to save space and keep things in order. Large project folders, for instance, could be shrunk instantly into much smaller and control-sized files with Archive Utility by saving space but making these files easier to store and share.

On the extraction side, things couldn’t be easier with Archive Utility. You can think of an incoming ZIP full of documents or media files. You would not have to use any third-party software; you’d open it right there and then with Archive Utility, which saves you from searching headaches for compatible software to decompress or compress the data. It’s handy, dependable, and perfectly cut to macOS cloth.

Key File Formats Supported by Archive Utility

Examples include cross-platform formats such as ZIP and TAR, allowing you to share files between Mac, Windows and Linux systems easily. You’ll also find the utility supports GZ and CPGZ file types, both of which have several uses in development and data compression. These formats are especially convenient for those who work with large volumes of data and plan to use some kind of data compression to save space.

In case some file types require more specialized handling, for example, if a user wants to unrar file on Mac, lightweight third-party options can easily be installed to complement the functionality of Archive Utility. For all three, ZIP, TAR, and GZ, this utility offers an all-in-one solution that reduces reliance on third-party software and simplifies workflows.

How Archive Utility Enhances File Management on Mac

Saving Storage Space through Compression

This tool helps to enable better storage options in that compressed files occupy a smaller space. In this, you can keep your documents, photos of particular moments, or even work projects in order without the thought of clutter. It is not only a matter of saving space but also of creating a systematic way of storing backups or collections.

This is also helpful for file backup; since the files are smaller when compressed, they are easier to store for longer periods or to transfer onto external drives. For example, should one have been working on design projects over the past year, compressing them using Archive Utility will allow everything to be kept in one archive, occupying less space and keeping it neat for easy access at any moment it is needed.

Efficient Ways to Organize and Share the Files

The other major advantage of Archive Utility is how easy it makes file organization and sharing. Compressing a batch of files, for instance, is one of those ways in which Archive Utility packages them together into one neat archive, thereby reducing the clutter of one file after another. For professionals who have to manage several project files, or for personal users who are arranging family photos, that would save them quite a lot of time.

This is very useful in the case of email attachments or uploading to cloud storage, where the file size limit provides a barrier. Compressing files ensures that even large attachments can meet the size limit, so you don’t have to go back and forth trying to send an overly large file. 

Password Encryption of Files

Besides file organization, Archive Utility can also provide the option of setting a password on compressed files- a rather basic but effective way of protecting information. Suppose you are sharing financial documents or personal data; using a password on the archive adds a layer of security that keeps access to the file limited to only authorized users. This is especially useful in creating file backups onto shared storage or even sending archival files with sensitive information.

Advanced Tips to Use Archive Utility on Mac More Effectively

Customizing Archive Utility Settings for Better Control

This utility also allows the setting of default save locations for extracted files, which might be of extreme use since it saves users from a lot of hassle regarding file organization. This means that instead of having to manually move files to their proper locations after extraction, you can simply set Archive Utility to save files to one single folder automatically so that everything remains in order without extra steps. 

Automate File Compress and Extracting Work

You could use Automator to configure how Archive Utility handles routines and makes the application perform repetitive tasks without your intervention. Say, for instance, that at the end of every month, you compress some project files; you could create a workflow for that, and instead, you’d invest more time in other productive activities.

An Automator can also help with batch processing, such as pressing or extracting many files all at once. It helps handle big projects and simplify your work by ensuring that you will be able to handle bulk files with no delays. By integrating Archive Utility into Automator, users will be able to establish efficient, hands-free file management routines that ensure maximum productivity.

Conclusion

For the typical Mac user, Archive Utility is far more than what might be referred to as simply a utility. With its support for ZIP, CPIO, and TAR formats, it’s, in fact, an everyday tool that creates order, effectiveness, and safety in digital life.

Esri Ireland strengthens utility sector expertise with UDC partnership

Esri Ireland, the market leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology in Ireland, has teamed up with the digital utility services provider UDC to offer specialist consulting services for Esri Ireland’s utility sector. Through this partnership, gas, electricity, water and wastewater companies will be able to access enhanced support when implementing ArcGIS Utility Network, Esri’s next generation spatial information system for utility management.

“Several of Esri Ireland’s customers in the utility sector are planning to migrate to ArcGIS Utility Network or have already begun on this journey,” says Paul Synnott, Managing Director of Esri Ireland. “By collaborating with UDC, we are giving our customers easy access to utility sector specialists who can advise them about data migration and help them optimise the benefits they gain from their investment in Esri technology.”

Where appropriate, consultants from UDC will join Esri Ireland projects and work alongside Esri Ireland’s Professional Services Team to deliver agreed outcomes for utility customers. In particular, UDC will provide guidance on best practice data cleansing and data migration methods and advise customers on how to represent utility assets digitally. Utilities will also be able to take advantage of UDC’s proprietary auto-migration HEIDE tool, which helps accelerate data migration processes.

Esri Ireland and UDC have already worked together on a successful collaboration with Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks. As part of a project team led by Esri Ireland, UDC carried out a Data Readiness Assessment to evaluate the utility’s data quality, highlighted data recommendations and prepared it for a full data migration. This allowed NIE Networks to quantify the time and resources it will need to migrate data to the new system.

UDC has been providing ArcGIS-based solutions and services for utilities in the USA and Canada for nearly twenty years. It is a Platinum Partner in the Esri Partner Network programme and holds Esri specialty certifications in gas and electric utilities services. For organisations that are migrating to ArcGIS Utility Network, it delivers services ranging from strategic roadmap guidance to data assessment and migration readiness planning, and full migration support.

“After successfully serving North American utilities for the last 20 years, we now have had the good fortune to cross the Atlantic, forge a strong and growing partnership with Esri Ireland, and work with utilities in Ireland,” shares Hamid Akhavan, CEO of UDC. “We are delighted to be working with the fantastic Esri Ireland team, helping more gas, electric and water utilities achieve maximum benefit through digital transformation, leveraging ArcGIS Utility Network.”

7 in 10 people feel uncomfortable about giving personal data to providers

Most Irish people (70pc) feel some level of discomfort around giving their personal information away to product and service providers. Of this group half say it makes them anxious to do so, while the other half say they are very guarded and will not give personal data away unless they “absolutely have to do so”.

Additional key outputs of Compliance Ireland’s ESG Consumer Survey revealed that:

  • Almost half of people aged 55+ (49pc) are extremely hesitant to share details about themselves unless absolutely necessary, compared with just a quarter of people aged 25 to 34.
  • Women are much more troubled by handing over their personal data than men at 77pc vs. 64pc.
  • Three times as many men than women don’t give it a second thought (16pc vs. 5pc).

The Compliance Institute say that, with Ireland being at the top of the EU league table for the aggregate fines imposed last year, these statistics give an insightful picture of people’s rightful protectiveness over their information.

Michael Kavanagh, CEO of the Compliance Institute commented:

“The large volume of people expressing their reluctance to providing personal information is most likely a consequence of the many data leaks and breaches that have been given prominence  in recent Irish news stories. 

The younger generation have less reservations around providers accessing personal data, which is perhaps understandable given that they have grown up in an online world whereas the older generation are extremely hesitant to share details about themselves unless absolutely necessary.”

The Compliance Institute survey shone a light on the huge mistrust that exists amongst the general public around social media companies. These giants of the digital world topped the poll as the least trusted entities when it comes to guarding the personal information of users, with six in ten (56pc) people regarding them as the most untrustworthy. Those aged 18-24 were significantly more likely to feel this way at 74pc.

Online retailers came in second place with almost one in five (18pc) saying they would be least likely to trust these businesses with their personal information.

Mr. Kavanagh, added: “Social media platforms such as Facebook and Tik-Tok have exploded in recent years with a huge amount of people, both young and old, sharing personal details and minute-by-minute updates of their lives with their world of followers which results in a large volume of personal data being in the hands of social media companies. From a GDPR perspective, information is considered personal when it can identify an individual either directly or indirectly.”

Other notable findings from the survey include:

  • Just over one in ten (12pc) say they are least likely to trust government agencies such as HSE, Dept of Social Protection, Revenue Commissioners etc. with their personal data.
  • Over one in five of those who view Government agencies as the least trustworthy with their data were aged between 25 and 34.
  • 7pc claim they don’t trust banks with their data.
  • Telecoms providers such as mobile phone or broadband providers as well as, utility providers such as gas and electricity providers came in lowest at 4pc and 2pc respectively meaning, people tend to trust these entities the most with their information.

Mr. Kavanagh concluded, “Cybercriminals are either keeping pace with, or advancing ahead of, the cyber-security measures being put in place and people are acutely aware of the menacing risk of identity theft being on the rise.

Product and service providers collect a vast array of information on people, and even if one piece of data alone doesn’t identify someone, when paired alongside other pieces of data, a person’s identity can quickly become known.”