This allows you to set the number of bits per code used for compression only. It does NOT apply to already compressed files; these must be decompressed with the same number of bits as they were compressed with (handled automatically).
More bits require more RAM, therefore if you are moving the compressed file to a machine with a midget memory, you should set the bits paramater to 12 or 13 before compressing files.
More bits result in faster and greater compression than fewer bits.
MacCompress will dim the choices for which there is too little available memory. Although I have tested this program on a Mac II, I believe a 512K Mac should be able to utilize 16-bit compression.
