TUTORIAL - How to rename file extensions (from ZIP to WSZ files etc)

[GREEK_MP3]

How to rename/convert a .zip file to .wsz

All you have to is to rename the file(s) extension from .zip to .wsz. However, by default Windows 98 hides the file extensions of all known files, so what you see in your folders are files with their given names only, without the extension.

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/files_before.gif

To view the fullname (file name and file extension), you must enable this function first, so you will be able to rename the file extension directly. TO enable this, open any Windows Explorer Window first, then go to 'View' from the menu bar and select/click 'Folder Options...'.

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/select_folder_options.gif

The 'Folder Options' preference window will open up. Select the 'View' tab,
locate the 'Hide file extensions for known file types' and uncheck it (disable it).

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/folder_options_window.gif

Once you do that, press OK from below and the window will close, thus enabling you to view the file name as well as the file extensions of all registered (known) files; .mp3, .zip, .bmp, .txt, .wav, .jpg etc...

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/files_after.gif

Now you can go and rename the file extensions of any file directly. Say you created a winamp skin and have already zipped all the needed files into 1 zip file and now you need to rename the .zip file to .wsz. To do this, you can either right click on the select file and choose 'Rename' from the menu or easier you can select the file and press the 'F2' button, both ways will let you edit the file name.

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/rightclick_rename.gif

You may now delete the 'zip' extension and type in 'wsz' as the new extension. When done press 'Enter'. You may then get a warning prompt from Windows asking you if you really want to rename the file to what you have just renamed to... Select 'Yes'.

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/rename_prompt.gif

Once you have done that, your file will be renamed. The file icon will now be changed from the 'zip' icon to the 'Winamp skin' icon... By double clicking on a .wsz (Winamp Skin Zipped), the Winamp skin is automatically installed into your "C:\Program Files\Winamp\Skins\" directory and the skin also automatically becomes your Winamp default skin (Winamp may load when you install a new skin).

That's all folks concerning how to rename file extensions under Windows 98 and renaming compressed files (Winzip files etc) from .zip to .wsz; which is the extension for zipped Winamp skin files.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I hope this tutorial has answered all your questions about renaming file extensions and "converting" zip files to wsz files completely...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://forums.winamp.com/ubb/smile.gif Have a nice day !

[GREEK_MP3]

Continuing from before with additional information...

FAQ:

What is a zipped file? A zipped file is a collection of files compressed together into 1 single file using Winzip for instance (http://www.winzip.com), inorder to keep related files in 1 together and mainly to compress them using some algorithms (make their file size as small as possible for faster downloads).

What is the file extension of a file? Each file in Windows has to have an extension (usually consisting of 3 unique characters), which gives the capability of Windows to associate the files of a common type of extension to a specific program; for instance .mp3 files are associated with opening in Winamp. File associations can be changed though, say you have many mp3 players and you want to use another player other than Winamp to listen to .mp3 files, then you can go to that specific's programs options/preferences and change file associations from there...


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http://agrino.org/bouzouki/Greek_Flag.gif Tin mia mas pezoun Rock, tin alli Tsifteteli... Zhto h Ellas!

[GREEK_MP3]

Coninuing from before with more additional information...


Another way to change the file extension

If you are some one like me and doesn't like to have the file extension viewable at all times, you may download and install a program that will allow you to rename file extensions and other attributes, without having to disable the 'Hide file extensions for known file types' option.

I recommend using Properties Plus. PropertiesPlus is a Windows Explorer add-on that provides a menu for modifying attributes, extensions, and time stamps of a single file, multiple files, or files contained within a folder.
So when you want to change the extension of a zip file to wsz, you right click the file, go to properties plus tab and then edit the file extension, press ok.... Easy and fast !

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/rightclick_pplus.gif

It's good for batch editing attributes as well !!

http://agrino.org/bouzouki/images/properties_plus.gif
Get it from the following link: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/cool/kish/

Trust me, this is an awesome program !!! You can select thousands of files and change all their attributes in no time with just a single click !
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http://agrino.org/bouzouki/Greek_Flag.gif Tin mia mas pezoun Rock, tin alli Tsifteteli... Zhto h Ellas!

[This message has been edited by GREEK_MP3 (edited July 27, 2000).]

[GREEK_MP3]

Something else to have in mind...

When you enable Windows to include the file extensions of files in the filename, then whenever you want to rename a certain file, you will always have to include the extension for it, or else you will get a warning prompt. If you do rename a file without entering the extension, then the file will be saved without a file extension and thus will be associated with no application and it's icon will turn into Windows default icon...

Entering the file extension 'name.ext as in song.mp3' may become very cumbersome and may start to piss you off...

So I recommend when you are done renaming extensions, you should go to the options and enable the 'Hide file extensions for known file types' option...



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http://agrino.org/bouzouki/Greek_Flag.gif Tin mia mas pezoun Rock, tin alli Tsifteteli... Zhto h Ellas!

[DJMikE^14]

So that's how they do it... Why don't they tell us it is a renamed zip file ?

[Matt]

They do tell us in the FAQ.
http://www.winamp.com/getwinamp/faq/index.jhtml?filenumber=380&language=english&layout=normal&prevlayout=normal

It's worth looking at if you're new to Winamp.

I use http://www.musicsucks.com/CKSoft/CKRename/index.htm to rename the files. Easy for batch renaming and auto file numbering.