More about TAR.GZ to TAR (Archive converter)

Converting TAR.GZ to TAR: A Simple Guide

If you have a TAR.GZ file and need to convert it into a TAR archive, you are in the right place. Converting a TAR.GZ file to TAR involves extracting the compressed GZIP format and preserving the original TAR archive format. In this article, we will explain what TAR.GZ and TAR files are, why you may need to convert them, and how you can do this efficiently using different tools.

What Is a TAR.GZ File?

A TAR.GZ file is a compressed archive that combines the TAR (Tape Archive) format and GZIP compression. The TAR format is used to bundle multiple files and directories into a single file, while GZIP is a compression method that reduces the overall file size. The TAR.GZ format is commonly used in Unix/Linux systems for archiving and compressing large collections of files or software packages.

What Is a TAR File?

A TAR file is an archive file format that holds multiple files and directories together. Unlike other compression formats, TAR does not compress the files by itself. Instead, it bundles the files into a single archive. Compression is typically applied after creating the TAR file, resulting in formats like TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, or TAR.XZ. TAR files are widely used in Unix and Linux environments for packaging and transferring large sets of files.

Why Convert TAR.GZ to TAR?

There are various scenarios in which you might want to convert a TAR.GZ file back to its original TAR format:

• Decompression: Sometimes, you may need to extract a TAR.GZ file but prefer to keep the contents in the uncompressed TAR format for further use, as the TAR format can be more easily manipulated without compression.
• File Modification: If you need to modify the contents of a TAR.GZ archive, you may want to first convert it to TAR, modify the files, and then recompress the archive.
• Preserving the Original Archive: When you only need to remove the GZIP compression but maintain the original TAR structure, converting from TAR.GZ to TAR can be helpful.

How to Convert TAR.GZ to TAR

Converting a TAR.GZ file to a TAR archive involves extracting the GZIP compression and retaining the TAR format. Below are the methods to perform this conversion using different tools on various operating systems.

Using Command Line (Linux)

On Linux, the process is straightforward with the command line. Follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Use the tar command to extract the TAR.GZ file. The -x flag extracts the file, -z handles the GZIP compression, and -f specifies the file to extract:
• tar -xzvf file.tar.gz
3. This will extract the contents of the TAR.GZ file into a TAR archive. The result will be a .tar file that contains the original files.
4. Once extracted, you will have the TAR file in the same directory, ready for further handling.

Using Command Line (Windows with Cygwin or WSL)

If you are using Windows, you can install Cygwin or enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to use Linux-style commands. Follow these steps:

1. Install Cygwin or enable WSL.
2. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory containing the TAR.GZ file.
3. Extract the TAR.GZ file with the command:
• tar -xzvf file.tar.gz
4. This will extract the TAR.GZ file, leaving you with the TAR archive.

Using 7-Zip (Windows)

If you’re using Windows, 7-Zip is a great tool to extract TAR.GZ files. Here’s how to convert TAR.GZ to TAR:

1. Install 7-Zip if you haven’t already.
2. Right-click on the TAR.GZ file and choose "7-Zip" > "Extract Here" or "Extract to [folder name]".
3. Once extracted, you’ll have the original TAR file in the specified location.

Using WinRAR (Windows)

WinRAR is another popular tool to handle TAR.GZ files. To convert TAR.GZ to TAR using WinRAR, follow these steps:

1. Install WinRAR on your system if it is not already installed.
2. Right-click the TAR.GZ file and select "Extract Here" or "Extract to [folder name]".
3. After extracting the files, you’ll have the TAR archive ready for further use.

Conclusion

Converting a TAR.GZ file to TAR is a simple process that can be done using several tools and methods. Whether you are using the Linux command line, 7-Zip, WinRAR, or Cygwin/WSL on Windows, you can easily extract the compressed GZIP format and retain the original TAR structure. This conversion can be useful when you need to modify the contents of the archive or when you simply wish to remove the compression without altering the file structure. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you’ll have your TAR.GZ files converted to TAR format in no time!