How to Use the Command 'rar' (with Examples)

The rar command is a powerful and versatile tool used for creating, managing, and extracting RAR archives. RAR archives are a popular format for compressing files and directories to save storage space and facilitate easier sharing. This command supports multiple features, including multi-volume archives and the option to create self-extracting archives, making it a suitable choice for various use cases, from simple file compression to complex distribution needs.

Use Case 1: Archiving One or More Files

Code:

rar a path/to/archive_name.rar path/to/file1 path/to/file2 path/to/file3

Motivation:
There are instances when you need to bundle multiple files into a single archive for easier distribution or storage. By using the rar command, you can consolidate multiple files into a single, compressed RAR file, simplifying file transfers and backups.

Explanation:

• rar: This is the command to invoke the RAR archiver.
• a: This argument stands for “add”, indicating that we are creating a new archive.
• path/to/archive_name.rar: This is the path and name of the archive file you wish to create.
• path/to/file1 path/to/file2 path/to/file3: These are the paths of the individual files you want to add to the archive.

Example Output:

Creating archive path/to/archive_name.rar

Adding path/to/file1
Adding path/to/file2
Adding path/to/file3

Use Case 2: Archiving a Directory

Code:

rar a path/to/archive_name.rar path/to/directory

Motivation:
At times, you may need to compress an entire directory, including all its files and subdirectories, to preserve its structure while reducing space. This is useful for backups or when packaging software and related resources.

Explanation:

• rar: Invokes the RAR archiver.
• a: Stands for “add”, signifying that a new archive is being created.
• path/to/archive_name.rar: Specifies the destination for the archive.
• path/to/directory: The path of the directory you wish to archive.

Example Output:

Creating archive path/to/archive_name.rar

Adding path/to/directory/
Adding path/to/directory/file1
Adding path/to/directory/file2

Use Case 3: Splitting the Archive into Parts of Equal Size

Code:

rar a -v50M -R path/to/archive_name.rar path/to/file_or_directory

Motivation:
Sometimes it’s necessary to divide an archive into smaller, equally-sized parts. This is especially useful for circumventing email attachment limits or storage constraints on certain media.

Explanation:

• rar: Calls the RAR command line tool.
• a: Indicates the creation of a new archive.
• -v50M: Specifies the size of each volume (50 megabytes in this case).
• -R: Ensures recursion into subdirectories if a directory is specified.
• path/to/archive_name.rar: The name for the RAR archive.
• path/to/file_or_directory: The file or directory you aim to archive.

Example Output:

Creating a multi-volume archive path/to/archive_name.part001.rar

Adding path/to/file_or_directory

Use Case 4: Password Protecting the Resulting Archive

Code:

rar a -ppassword path/to/archive_name.rar path/to/file_or_directory

Motivation:
When dealing with sensitive or private data, it may be crucial to protect the content of an archive with a password to ensure only authorized individuals can access it.

Explanation:

• rar: Initiates the RAR tool.
• a: Specifies the action to add files to a new archive.
• -ppassword: This option applies a specified password to the archive.
• path/to/archive_name.rar: The resulting archive file.
• path/to/file_or_directory: The contents to be archived and protected.

Example Output:

Creating archive path/to/archive_name.rar

Adding path/to/file_or_directory

Enter password (will not echo):

Use Case 5: Encrypting File Data and Headers with a Password

Code:

rar a -hppassword path/to/archive_name.rar path/to/file_or_directory

Motivation:
For enhanced security, you may want to encrypt not just the file data but also the file headers. This ensures that file names or directory structures aren’t revealed without password authentication.

Explanation:

• rar: Activates the RAR command.
• a: Directs the RAR tool to add files to a new archive.
• -hppassword: Encrypts both the data and headers with the provided password.
• path/to/archive_name.rar: Where the secure archive is stored.
• path/to/file_or_directory: What to include in the encrypted archive.

Example Output:

Creating encrypted archive path/to/archive_name.rar

Adding encrypted data path/to/file_or_directory

Enter password (will not echo):

Use Case 6: Using a Specific Compression Level

Code:

rar a -mcompression_level path/to/archive_name.rar path/to/file_or_directory

Motivation:
Adjusting the compression level can be important depending on your need for speed versus space savings. Higher compression levels reduce size but take longer, while lower levels might be quicker with less size reduction.

Explanation:

• rar: Invokes the RAR application through the command line.
• a: Means to add specified files or directories to an archive.
• -mcompression_level: Sets the compression level (range 0-5, where 0 is no compression and 5 is the maximum compression).
• path/to/archive_name.rar: The target RAR file.
• path/to/file_or_directory: The items that are to be compressed.

Example Output:

Creating archive path/to/archive_name.rar with compression level 3

Adding path/to/file_or_directory

Conclusion

The rar command is an indispensable tool for managing RAR archives, given its multifaceted functionality ranging from simple file archiving to encrypting sensitive data. These examples demonstrate the flexibility it offers in terms of compressing files and managing space with various options like multi-volume splitting, password protection, and different compression levels. This makes rar a key utility for efficient file management and data security.