How to Convert ZIP to TAR 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 ZIP to TAR via C#

Convertation from ZIP to TAR 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 ZIP to TAR

Converting ZIP archives to TAR format involves transitioning between two compression formats with distinct characteristics. ZIP archives are known for their strong compression capabilities and widespread use. When converting them into TAR 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 archives may not offer the same level of compression efficiency as ZIP archives. Therefore, users should weigh their requirements, including compression needs and compatibility with the target system, when deciding to perform this conversion. Converting ZIP to TAR can be valuable for users who need to adapt ZIP archives for specific Unix-based scenarios while maintaining data structure and integrity.

Code from ZIP to various formats: The ZIP 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 (Tape Archive) format. This process is reminiscent of the typical practice in Linux environments.

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

The choice of TAR 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 packaging is complete, subsequent compression operations can be applied to the TAR archive to generate the desired output formats, such as GZ, LZ, Z, XZ, or BZ2.

Convert from ZIP to TAR - C#:

    using (TarArchive tarArchive = new TarArchive())
    {
        using (Archive archive = new Archive("source.zip"))
        {
            for (int i = 0; i < archive.Entries.Count; i++)
            {
                var ms = new MemoryStream();
                archive.Entries[i].Extract(ms);
                ms.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);
                tarArchive.CreateEntry(archive.Entries[i].Name.Replace('\\', '/'), ms);
            }
        }
        tarArchive.Save("output.tar");
    }



Free App to Convert ZIP to TAR

Check our live demos for ZIP to TAR 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 ZIP Conversions

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