Compact
Displays and alters the compression of files or directories on NTFS partitions. Used without parameters, compact displays the compression state of the current directory.
Syntax
compact [{/c|/u}] [/s[:dir]] [/a] [/i] [/f] [/q] [FileName[...]]
Parameters
/c : Compresses the specified directory or file.
/u : Uncompresses the specified directory or file.
/s : dir : Specifies that the requested action (compress or uncompress) be applied to all subdirectories of the specified directory, or of the current directory if none is specified.
/a : Displays hidden or system files.
/i : Ignores errors.
/f : Forces compression or uncompression of the specified directory or file. This is used in the case of a file that was partly compressed when the operation was interrupted by a system crash. To force the file to be compressed in its entirety, use the /c and /f parameters and specify the partially compressed file.
/q : Reports only the most essential information.
FileName : Specifies the file or directory. You can use multiple file names and wildcard characters (* and ?).
/? : Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
The compact command, the command-line version of the NTFS file system compression feature, displays and alters the compression attribute of files and directories on NTFS partitions. The compression state of a directory indicates whether files added to the directory will be automatically compressed. When you set the compression state of a directory you do not necessarily change the compression state of files that are already there.
You cannot use compact to read, write, or mount volumes that have been compressed using DriveSpace or DoubleSpace.
Examples
To set the compression state of the current folder and its subfolders and existing files, from the current folder, type:
compact /c /s
To set the compression state of files in the current folder, subfolders in the current folder, and files within all subfolders without altering the compression state of the current folder, from the current folder, type:
compact /c /s *.*
To compress a volume, from the root folder of the volume, type:
compact /c /i /s:\
This example sets the compression state of the root folder and all folders on the volume and compresses every file on the volume. By using the /i parameter, you ensure that error messages do not interrupt the compression process.
To compress all files that end in .bmp in the \Tmp directory and all subdirectories of \Tmp, but not modify the compressed attribute of these directories, type:
compact /c /s:\tmp *.bmp
To force complete compression of the file Zebra.bmp, which was partially compressed at the time of a system crash, type:
compact /c /f zebra.bmp
To remove the compressed attribute from the directory C:\Tmp, but not change the compression state of any files in that directory, type:
compact /u c:\tmp
Formatting legend
Format |
Meaning |
|---|---|
Italic |
Information that the user must supply |
Bold |
Elements that the user must type exactly as shown |
Ellipsis (...) |
Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line |
Between brackets ([]) |
Optional items |
Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} |
Set of choices from which the user must choose only one |
Courier font |
Code or program output |