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Archive Extenstions Glossary

(03/28/97)

A friend of mine complained, "Just because you take for granted what all these extensions mean and how to deal with them; it does not mean everyone knows what they are." So I decided to add this page for all you newbies out there. These are all the archive extensions I know of and what you can do to unarchive them. I am in no way associated with the authors of the software. Please send your questions to the company or the authors of the software.

  • .ZIP: Over 90% of the files you download off the Internet will be in this format. It's sort of like the industry standard in compressional archiving. The original is written by PKWAREŽ Inc.; there is also WinZip (along with many others) that will create or 'unzip' files with the .ZIP extension. You can download it at www.pkware.com/download.html or you can contact PKWARE Inc. at:

    PKWAREŽ Inc.
    9025 N. Deerwood Dr.
    Brown Deer, WI 53223-2480
    414-354-8699 Voice
    414-354-8559 FAX
    414-354-8670 BBS
    Web: www.pkware.com
    Email: info@pkware.com
    Email: webmaster@pkware.com
    Email: sales@pkware.com

  • .ARJ: Also very popular. It is written by ARJ Software. You can download it at http://www.websoftware.com/arj.htm.

    • .A01-A##: These are actually split up ARJ files. To unarchive these, use the x -va switch (i.e. arj x -va filename.A01)
    • .001-0##: These can also be split up ARJ files. To unarchive these, use the x -va switch (i.e. arj x -va filename.A01) Note: These extensions are also often used by RAR.
ARJ Software
Robert and Susan Jung
P.O. Box 249
Norwood MA 02062
USA
FAX : 617-769-4893
Web: http://www.websoftware.com/arj.htm
Email: robjung@world.std.com

  • .RAR: This is an relatively obsecure archival utility though it seem to be gaining in popularity. It is usually only used for software installation. You can download it at ftp.csc.se/pub/pallin/csc/cscftp4.html". You can also find Web info for it at: http://www.zetnet.co.uk/RAR.T-Mail/index.html.

  • .ARC: Fairly outdated. Seems like they've gone out of business sometime back in the 1992. You can download a copy of it at ftp://ftp.coast.net/pub/Coast/disk2/msdos/archiver/arce41a.zip. Please do not ask me where to find these guys; below are the last known contact info:

    • System Enhancement Associates
    21 New Street
    Wayne, NJ 07470

    Vernon D. Buerg
    139 White Oak Circle
    Petaluma, CA 94952

    CompuServe: 70007,1212 (Go IBMSYS)
    Data/BBS: 707-778-8944, VOR 24-hour BBS, 300-2400 bps
    415-994-2944, VOR South, 300-9600, USR HST 9600
    707-778-8841, Motherboard, 300-9600, USR HST 19200
    707-778-8743, Motherboard, 300-9600, 9600 V.32 V.42
    FAX: 707-778-8728

  • .LHA or .LZH: This is also relatively obsecure. The last version (v2.13) came out in 1991. You can download a copy at ftp://ftp.coast.net/pub/Coast/disk2/msdos/archiver/lha213.exe. Below are the last known contact info:

    • Mail address :
    SDI00506 | PFF00253 on Nifty Serve.
    pcs02846 ASCII-NET pcs.
    FEM12376 PC-VAN.

    Oversea Users may send inquiries, also, to K.Okubo to the address:
    [74100,2565] on Compuserve,
    K.Okubo Genie,
    Email: c00236@sinet.ad.jp. INTERNET,CSNET etc.

  • .TAR: Unless you're using an Unix based system, you shouldn't really bother downloading anything with this extension. It stands for Taped Archive. If you must open this on a DOS based system, WinZip can actually handle these files.

  • .GZ: This is also an Unix based compressed archive. The utility created is called GZIP. Also use WinZip if you must extract it with a DOS based system.

  • .TGZ: You guessed it. Unix based compressed archive. It's a shorthand for .TAR.GZ, which means it is a .TAR file which has also been GZIP'ed. WinZip can also handle these extensions.

  • .BZ2: This is also an Unix based compressed archive. The utility created is called BZIP2. Also use WinZip if you must extract it with a DOS based system.

  • .SIT: These are compressed archives created by StuffIt (of Aladdin Systems, Inc.) for Macintosh based systems. The PC version can be downloaded at ftp://ftp.aladdinsys.com/pub/UNSITINS.EXE.

  • .Z: This is another Unix based archive made by COMPRESS. Also use WinZip if you must extract it with a DOS based system.
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