Convert ARJ to GZ

Understanding ARJ and GZ file formats

ARJ (Archived by Robert Jung) is a compressed archive file format that was popular in the 1990s for its high compression ratios and support for multi-volume archives. It is less common today but still used for legacy data.

GZ (Gzip) is a widely used compression format based on the GNU zip algorithm. It is commonly used on Unix and Linux systems for compressing single files and is recognized for its speed and efficiency.

Why convert ARJ to GZ?

Converting ARJ archives to GZ format can improve compatibility with modern systems and tools, as GZ is more universally supported. This is especially useful for transferring files between different operating systems or for long-term archiving.

How to convert ARJ to GZ

There is no direct ARJ to GZ converter, as these formats serve different purposes. The typical process involves extracting the contents of the ARJ archive and then compressing them into a GZ file.

1. Extract the ARJ archive: Use a tool like 7-Zip (Windows) or unarj (Linux) to extract files from the ARJ archive.
2. Compress to GZ: Use gzip (Linux/macOS) or 7-Zip (Windows) to compress the extracted files into GZ format.

Recommended software for ARJ to GZ conversion

• 7-Zip (Windows): Free and open-source, supports both ARJ extraction and GZ compression. Use File → Extract for ARJ, then File → Add to archive and select gzip format.
• unarj (Linux): Command-line tool for extracting ARJ files. Combine with gzip for compression: unarj e archive.arj then gzip filename.
• PeaZip (Windows/Linux): Another free tool supporting both formats with a user-friendly interface.

Step-by-step example using 7-Zip

1. Open 7-Zip and navigate to your ARJ file.
2. Select the ARJ file and click Extract to unpack its contents.
3. Select the extracted file(s), click Add, and choose gzip as the archive format.
4. Click OK to create your GZ file.

Conclusion

While there is no one-step ARJ to GZ converter, extracting ARJ files and recompressing them as GZ is straightforward with tools like 7-Zip or unarj and gzip. This process ensures your files are stored in a modern, widely supported format.