What are RAR files and how do I open them?

[ekatiel]

I'm pretty new at this digital scrapbooking stuff, but I've found some great freebies online that I have been able to use. However, recently I found a site with some really cute stuff, but the files are RAR files, and my computer doesn't recognize them. Does anybody know what these are or how to open them? --Katie

[angelwithin]

Hi Katie

its a version of file compressor similar to what a zip file does, unfortunetly you will need to download a small programme to unzip them - there a 3 you can download here http://codeguys.rpc1.org/rar.html

fiona x

[Ellenb]

winrar

Do a search for a program called winrar, it can also be used for zip files. I believe it's a trial version. I found some of those freebies with .rar extensions myself and this worked great. I think a years use of the program is something like $12.
Ellen

[*eng*]

Hmmmm....need an abbreviation translator aswell as a techie teacher thread for numpty's

[AmeliasMuma]

I was able to open the .rar file in winzip by clicking the winzip classic button. I didn't need to download any program.

[Marion]

You can also change the extension from .rar to .zip and you can unzip in any unzip program.

[Desmond]

From a technical point of view, rar files are not the same as zip files (a different algorithm is used to compress / extract the files).

SO ... there may be certain zip programs that will read the file headers and decompress it accordingly (Regardless of the extension) but I wouldn't count on this functionality.

The best thing to do is to download 7-ZIP -- one of my co-workers turned me on to this program (it's free), and it works great! Of course, it goes without saying that we can't support this software in any way, shape or form.

Good luck!
Desmond.

[AmeliasMuma]

Thanky Desmond

[Desmond]

You're welcome!

Desmond.

[Marion]

That's the one I use. It works great! and it does unzip those .rar files for me.

[AmeliasMuma]

Thats the one I'm gonna be using from now on.