How to Convert RAR to TAR.BZ2 Using C#

First, you need to obtain and reference the Aspose.Zip library in your C# project. You can typically download it from the Aspose website or use a NuGet package if available. Package manager, search for Aspose.ZIP and install. You may also use the following command from the Package Manager Console.

Manage NuGet packages with the Visual Studio Package

Package Manager Console Command:

PM> Install-Package Aspose.Zip

Steps to Convert RAR to TAR.BZ2 via C#

Convertation from RAR to TAR.BZ2 consist of following steps:

  • Extract archive to intermediate storage
  • Compress extracted data to desired format

System Requirements

Before running the conversion example code, make sure that you have the following prerequisites.

  • Microsoft Windows or a compatible OS with .NET Framework, Mono and COM Interop.
  • Development environment like Microsoft Visual Studio.
  • Aspose.Tasks for .NET DLL referenced in your project.

Sample code to convert from RAR to TAR.BZ2

Converting RAR archives to TAR.BZ2 format involves transitioning between two compression formats with distinct characteristics. RAR archives are known for their strong compression capabilities and widespread use. When converting them into TAR.BZ2 archives, which are commonly used in Unix-like systems, the original file structure and data are carefully preserved during the conversion process. This ensures that the content remains accessible and intact, making it suitable for specific use cases within Unix environments.

However, it’s important to consider that TAR.BZ2 archives may not offer the same level of compression efficiency as RAR archives. Therefore, users should weigh their requirements, including compression needs and compatibility with the target system, when deciding to perform this conversion. Converting RAR to TAR.BZ2 can be valuable for users who need to adapt RAR archives for specific Unix-based scenarios while maintaining data structure and integrity.

Code from RAR to various formats: The RAR archive typically contains multiple records or files. To convert this archive into formats such as GZ (Gzip), LZ (Lzip), Z (Unix Compress), XZ (XZ Utils), and BZ2 (Bzip2), a common approach is to first package the contents into a TAR.BZ2 (Tape Archive) format. This process is reminiscent of the typical practice in Linux environments.

In this conversion process, each file or record within the RAR archive is first bundled together into a single TAR.BZ2 archive. This TAR.BZ2 archive serves as a container for the individual files, preserving their original structure and metadata. Once the data is encapsulated within the TAR.BZ2 archive, it becomes easier to apply different compression algorithms and formats.

The choice of TAR.BZ2 as an intermediate format is due to its simplicity and wide compatibility across various Unix-like operating systems. It provides a straightforward way to group files together without applying compression directly. After the TAR.BZ2 packaging is complete, subsequent compression operations can be applied to the TAR.BZ2 archive to generate the desired output formats, such as GZ, LZ, Z, XZ, or BZ2.

Convert from RAR to TAR.BZ2 - C#:

    using (Bzip2Archive bzip2Archive = new Bzip2Archive())
    {
        using (TarArchive tarArchive = new TarArchive())
        {
            using (RarArchive rar = new RarArchive(@"archive.rar"))
            {
                for (int i = 0; i < rar.Entries.Count; i++)
                {
                    if (!rar.Entries[i].IsDirectory)
                    {
                        var ms = new MemoryStream();
                        rar.Entries[i].Extract(ms);
                        ms.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);
                        tarArchive.CreateEntry(rar.Entries[i].Name, ms);
                    }
                    else
                        tarArchive.CreateEntry(rar.Entries[i].Name + "/", Stream.Null);
                }
            }
            
            bzip2Archive.SetSource(tarArchive);
            bzip2Archive.Save ("output.tar.bz2");
        }
    }



Free App to Convert ZIP to TAR.BZ2

Check our live demos for RAR to TAR.BZ2 conversion with following benefits


A reliable Aspose.ZIP Library that can compress, extract, encrypt, decrypt, convert and merge archives. Aspose.ZIP for .NET API allows to manipulate various archive types without without going into the underlying complexity of the compress file formats with minimum coding efforts.

Other Supported RAR Conversions

You can also convert RAR into many other file formats including few listed below.