.zip compression format is the most used compression format today and is used by most people in the world. The zip archive is so much used that Windows has incorporated this compression utility in XP by default thereby preventing the need to install Win Zip.

But there are many other compression tools that are picking up popularity like rar, 7z, cab, tar and others. Rar amongst them is quite popular because it can compress the files better than zip. Rar can compress 8 to 30 percent better than ZIP!

In spite of these features of rar, zip is used around the world. If I need to send them to a buddy I compress the files in zip format because he may not have rar installed in the system. Similarly if you have an important file in rar or other format but can view only in zip format, then you should try this tool called ArcConvert.

ArcConvert is a free and small utility developed by Dirk Paehl that can convert one compressed archive into another in different format.

ArcConvert can convert the following archives: 7-ZIP /LZH /CAB /ZIP /ARJ /ACE /RAR /TAR /TGZ /GZ /Z /BZ2 /YZ1 /YZ2 /GCA /BEL /RPM /DEB/ BH/ Noa32 /HKI /PAQAR /SQX /HA /ZOO /UHARC /LFB /ZLIB /UCL /IMP /RS /SPL /APK /Arc /DZ /MSI /ALZ /PMA /PAQ7 /CHM /UDA /PAQ8 /Cryptonite /ISO /LZOP /BMA

To the archive in following formats: ZIP, 7-ZIP, CAB, LHA, TAR, TGZ, BZ2, YZ1, BGA, RAR, ACE, NOA32, HKI, PAQAR, UHARC, YZ2, DZ, HA

The tool is easy to use and requires no installation. Just run the arc_convert.exe and select the format before pressing the convert button. So whether it is rar to zip, zip to rar or any other format, conversion is easy now. What say?

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