compression conversion articles updated

Author: nikola-yankov

net/developer-guide/advanced-usage/converting/conversion-options-by-document-family/convert-contents-of-rar-or-zip-document-to-different-formats-and-compress.md

@@ -1,91 +1,250 @@
 ---
 id: convert-contents-of-rar-or-zip-to-different-formats-and-compress
 url: conversion/net/convert-contents-of-rar-or-zip-document-to-different-formats-and-compress
-title: Convert contents of RAR or ZIP to different formats and compress
+title: Working with Archive Files (ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR)
 weight: 12
-description: "Learn how to convert contents of RAR/ZIP archives to a different format based on content type using GroupDocs.Conversion for .NET."
-keywords: Convert RAR, Convert ZIP
+description: "Learn three ways to work with archive files: extract and convert contents, repackage archive formats, or convert and re-compress using GroupDocs.Conversion for .NET."
+keywords: Convert RAR, Convert ZIP, Extract ZIP, Convert 7z, Archive conversion, ZIP to 7z, Extract and convert, Archive repackaging
 productName: GroupDocs.Conversion for .NET
 hideChildren: False
+toc: True
 ---
 
-GroupDocs.Conversion provides a flexible API to control the conversion of archives that contain other documents. 
+GroupDocs.Conversion provides flexible options for working with archive files like ZIP, RAR, 7z, and TAR. This guide covers three common workflows for processing archive contents using the FluentConverter API.
 
-The following code snippet shows how to convert each constituent
- file of a RAR archive into a PDF format and then compress them to a single ZIP archive:
+## Prerequisites
 
-With v24.10 and later:
+The workflows in this guide require the **FluentConverter API** (introduced in v22.1, reworked in v23.6). All examples use the v24.10+ syntax with `SaveContext`.
+
+## Three Ways to Work with Archives
+
+GroupDocs.Conversion supports three distinct workflows for archive files:
+
+| Workflow | What It Does | When to Use | Result |
+|----------|-------------|-------------|--------|
+| **[Workflow 1](#workflow-1-extract-and-convert-to-individual-files)** | Extract and convert each file separately | You need individual converted files, not an archive | Separate files (e.g., doc-1.pdf, doc-2.pdf) |
+| **[Workflow 2](#workflow-2-repackage-archive-format)** | Change archive format without modifying contents | Change compression format for compatibility or size | New archive format (e.g., ZIP → 7z) |
+| **[Workflow 3](#workflow-3-convert-contents-and-re-compress)** | Convert contents AND create new archive | Need converted files packaged in an archive | New archive with converted contents |
+
+## Workflow 1: Extract and Convert to Individual Files
+
+**Use Case:** You have a ZIP file containing multiple Word documents and need each one as a separate PDF file.
+
+This is the most common workflow. Files are extracted from the archive, converted to your target format, and saved as individual files—no re-compression.
+
+### Example: ZIP with DOCX Files → Separate PDFs
 
 ```csharp
-FluentConverter.Load("sample.rar")
-    .ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) => new MemoryStream()).WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
-    .Compress(new CompressionConvertOptions { Format = CompressionFileType.Zip }).OnCompressionCompleted(
-        compressedStream =>
-        {
-            using (var fs = new FileStream("converted.zip", FileMode.Create))
-            {
-                compressedStream.CopyTo(fs);
-            }
-        })
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.Fluent;
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.Options.Convert;
+using System.IO;
+
+// ZIP contains: report.docx, summary.docx, analysis.docx
+FluentConverter.Load("documents.zip")
+    .ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) =>
+    {
+        // Create separate output file for each document
+        string fileName = $"converted-document-{saveContext.PageNumber}.pdf";
+        return File.Create(Path.Combine(@"C:\output", fileName));
+    })
+    .WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
     .Convert();
+
+// Output: converted-document-1.pdf, converted-document-2.pdf, converted-document-3.pdf
 ```
 
-Before v24.10:
+### What Happens
+
+1. **Load:** Opens the archive file
+2. **ConvertTo:** Defines where each converted file should be saved
+3. **WithOptions:** Specifies the target format (PDF in this example)
+4. **Convert:** Executes the conversion
+
+Note: There is no `.Compress()` call, so files are saved individually, not re-compressed into an archive.
+
+### Using Original Filenames
+
+You can preserve original filenames from the archive:
 
 ```csharp
-FluentConverter.Load("sample.rar")
-    .ConvertTo(() => new MemoryStream()).WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
-    .Compress(new CompressionConvertOptions { Format = CompressionFileType.Zip }).OnCompressionCompleted(
-        compressedStream =>
+FluentConverter.Load("documents.zip")
+    .ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) =>
+    {
+        // Use original filename with new extension
+        string originalName = saveContext.SourceFileName ?? $"document-{saveContext.PageNumber}";
+        string fileName = Path.ChangeExtension(originalName, ".pdf");
+        return File.Create(Path.Combine(@"C:\output", fileName));
+    })
+    .WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
+    .Convert();
+
+// Output: report.pdf, summary.pdf, analysis.pdf
+```
+
+## Workflow 2: Repackage Archive Format
+
+**Use Case:** You have a ZIP file but need it as a 7z archive for better compression, without changing the files inside.
+
+This workflow changes the archive format while preserving the original file contents. No document conversion occurs.
+
+### Example: ZIP → 7z (No Content Conversion)
+
+```csharp
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.Fluent;
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.Options.Convert;
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.FileTypes;
+using System.IO;
+
+FluentConverter.Load("archive.zip")
+    .ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) => new MemoryStream())
+    .Compress(new CompressionConvertOptions
+    {
+        Format = CompressionFileType.SevenZ
+    })
+    .OnCompressionCompleted(compressedStream =>
+    {
+        using (var fileStream = File.Create("archive.7z"))
         {
-            using (var fs = new FileStream("converted.zip", FileMode.Create))
-            {
-                compressedStream.CopyTo(fs);
-            }
-        })
+            compressedStream.CopyTo(fileStream);
+        }
+    })
     .Convert();
+
+// Output: archive.7z containing the same files as the original ZIP
 ```
 
+### Why Repackage Archives?
+
+- **Better compression:** Convert ZIP to 7z for smaller file sizes
+- **Cross-platform compatibility:** Convert proprietary formats to open standards (e.g., RAR to ZIP)
+- **Standardization:** Consolidate different archive formats to one standard format
+- **Add security:** Repackage with password protection (see [CompressionConvertOptions]({{< ref "conversion/net/developer-guide/advanced-usage/converting/conversion-options-by-document-family/convert-to-compression-with-advanced-options.md" >}}) for details)
+
+### Supported Output Formats
+
+You can repackage archives to these formats:
+
+- **ZIP** - Most widely supported, good compression
+- **7z (SevenZ)** - Best compression ratio, open source
+- **TAR** - Standard on Unix/Linux systems
+- **Others:** TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, and more
+
+**Note:** RAR output is not supported due to licensing restrictions. RAR archives can be read as input but not created as output.
+
+## Workflow 3: Convert Contents and Re-compress
 
-The following code snippet shows how to convert each constituent
- file of a ZIP archive to a PDF format and then compress them as password-protected ZIP archive:
+**Use Case:** You have a RAR file containing Word documents and need them converted to PDFs, packaged in a new ZIP archive.
 
-With v24.10 and later:
+This workflow combines content conversion with re-compression. Files are extracted, converted to a target format, and packaged into a new archive.
+
+### Example: RAR with DOCX → ZIP with PDFs
 
 ```csharp
-FluentConverter.Load("sample.zip")
-    .ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) => new MemoryStream()).WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
-    .Compress(new CompressionConvertOptions 
-    { 
-        Format = CompressionFileType.Zip,
-        Password = "123"
-    }).OnCompressionCompleted(
-        compressedStream =>
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.Fluent;
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.Options.Convert;
+using GroupDocs.Conversion.FileTypes;
+using System.IO;
+
+FluentConverter.Load("documents.rar")
+    .ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) => new MemoryStream())
+    .WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
+    .Compress(new CompressionConvertOptions
+    {
+        Format = CompressionFileType.Zip
+    })
+    .OnCompressionCompleted(compressedStream =>
+    {
+        using (var fileStream = File.Create("converted-documents.zip"))
         {
-            using (var fs = new FileStream("converted.zip", FileMode.Create))
-            {
-                compressedStream.CopyTo(fs);
-            }
-        })
+            compressedStream.CopyTo(fileStream);
+        }
+    })
     .Convert();
+
+// Output: converted-documents.zip containing PDFs
 ```
 
-Before v24.10:
+### Password Protection Example
+
+Create a password-protected archive:
 
 ```csharp
-FluentConverter.Load("sample.zip")
-    .ConvertTo(() => new MemoryStream()).WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
-    .Compress(new CompressionConvertOptions 
-    { 
+FluentConverter.Load("sensitive-files.zip")
+    .ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) => new MemoryStream())
+    .WithOptions(new PdfConvertOptions())
+    .Compress(new CompressionConvertOptions
+    {
         Format = CompressionFileType.Zip,
-        Password = "123"
-    }).OnCompressionCompleted(
-        compressedStream =>
+        Password = "SecurePassword123"
+    })
+    .OnCompressionCompleted(compressedStream =>
+    {
+        using (var fileStream = File.Create("protected-archive.zip"))
         {
-            using (var fs = new FileStream("converted.zip", FileMode.Create))
-            {
-                compressedStream.CopyTo(fs);
-            }
-        })
+            compressedStream.CopyTo(fileStream);
+        }
+    })
     .Convert();
 ```
+
+For more advanced options including different compression formats, optimization settings, and best practices, see [Convert to Compression with advanced options]({{< ref "conversion/net/developer-guide/advanced-usage/converting/conversion-options-by-document-family/convert-to-compression-with-advanced-options.md" >}}).
+
+## Choosing the Right Workflow
+
+Use this decision guide to select the appropriate workflow:
+
+| Your Goal | Workflow | Key API Methods |
+|-----------|----------|-----------------|
+| Extract and convert each file separately | **Workflow 1** | `Load()` → `ConvertTo()` → `WithOptions()` → `Convert()` |
+| Change archive format only (no conversion) | **Workflow 2** | `Load()` → `ConvertTo()` → `Compress()` → `Convert()` |
+| Convert contents AND create new archive | **Workflow 3** | `Load()` → `ConvertTo()` → `WithOptions()` → `Compress()` → `Convert()` |
+
+**Quick Tips:**
+
+- **No `.Compress()`** = Individual files (Workflow 1)
+- **No `.WithOptions()`** = Archive format change only (Workflow 2)
+- **Both `.WithOptions()` and `.Compress()`** = Convert and re-compress (Workflow 3)
+
+## Supported Archive Formats
+
+### Input Formats (Read)
+
+GroupDocs.Conversion can read from these archive formats:
+
+- ZIP, RAR, 7z (7-Zip)
+- TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ
+- CAB, LZ, CPIO, ISO
+- And more
+
+### Output Formats (Write)
+
+You can create these archive formats:
+
+- ZIP (most compatible)
+- 7z/SevenZ (best compression)
+- TAR and compressed TAR variants
+- Other open formats
+
+**Important:** RAR archives can only be read, not created (licensing restrictions).
+
+## Version Compatibility
+
+All examples in this guide use **v24.10+ syntax** with `SaveContext`:
+
+```csharp
+.ConvertTo((SaveContext saveContext) => ...)
+```
+
+If you're using a version **before v24.10**, use the older syntax without `SaveContext`:
+
+```csharp
+.ConvertTo(() => ...)
+```
+
+The rest of the code remains the same.
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Convert to Compression with advanced options]({{< ref "conversion/net/developer-guide/advanced-usage/converting/conversion-options-by-document-family/convert-to-compression-with-advanced-options.md" >}}) - Complete API reference for CompressionConvertOptions
+- [Common Conversion Options]({{< ref "conversion/net/developer-guide/advanced-usage/converting/common-conversion-options/_index.md" >}}) - Watermarks, page selection, and more
+- [FluentConverter API Reference](https://reference.groupdocs.com/conversion/net/groupdocs.conversion.fluent/fluentconverter/) - Complete API documentation