How to Compress RTF Files (3 Steps)

Browse an online compression utility such as NippyZip, which avoids downloading a program that takes up hard disk space and could contain malware. You are limited to a maximum file size of 5KB but can compress up to ten files at once in zip format. You can also send the ZIP files to an email address for later retrieval, or download it directly from the site. A verification number prevents autobots from hogging the site.

Download, install and run a free compression utility such as 7-Zip, which can compress your RTF into ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR. A proprietary 7Z format is also available, which provides compression ratios up to ten percent better than ZIP and can create self-extracting archives. Because the software is open source, developers can tinker with the code to suit their needs. Security encryption is available for the 7Z and ZIP formats, and a built-in File Manager makes it easy to organize multiple files. Though you can use the utility through an interactive window, a command line version allows more complex option combinations.

Buy, install and run a commercial compression program such as WinZip, which bills itself the "world's most popular utility for file compression." The latest version features a Microsoft 2010 ribbon interface with all the options under tabs. The utility compresses files to a self-extracting ZIP, LHA and the proprietary ZIPX files, which produces the smallest archives. Archives can go directly to CDs and DVDs. You can define your own password policy to encrypt confidential files and automatically delete encrypted files after viewing. You can also email a ZIP file from within the program.