System for selectively and automatically compressing and decompressing data and enabling compressed data to be rendered in a pseudo-native form

A system for selectively and automatically compressing and decompressing data in a manner such that the data file can be rendered in a pseudo-native form and such that a rendering application program can be invoked by the system, which includes:

• a first computer-based device having software thereon with means for determining whether a data file is one of a native uncompressed form and compressed form upon one of attaching, detaching, receiving, rendering and accessing said data file, means for transparently rendering an attachment with a .zip extension to a viewer in a pseudo-native form upon receipt of said attachment by dynamically manipulating said data file using said software to remove said .zip extension such that said first computer-based device can transparently access said data file, wherein said attachment remains compressed and rendered to appear as being in a native-uncompressed form without said .zip extension and without having to invoke a decompression utility.