View source for ARI (compressed archive)

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Archiving
|extensions={{ext|ari}}
|released=1991?
}}
'''ARI''' is a compressed archive utility for DOS, and associated file format, developed by RAO Inc. It was distributed as freeware, and there was a registered version with more features.

== File structure ==
(Based on educated guesswork.) An ARI file is a sequence of "member file" segments. In simplest form, each segment starts with 28-byte header that starts with 11 bytes for the space-padded "8.3" filename. However, if a directory path is stored, it precedes the filename, and it's not obvious how its size is determined. The software has many other features whose effect on the format has not been tested.

== Related formats ==
* [[ERI (compressed archive)]] - successor?

== Software ==
* [http://old-dos.ru/index.php?page=files&mode=files&do=show&id=1621 Various versions of ARI at old-dos.ru]
* {{CdTextfiles|pdos9606/ARCHIVER/TOOLS/ARI112.ZIP|ARI 1.12}} (incomplete?/nonworking)
* [http://mpolibbs.steptail.com/software/DOS/COMPRESS/ARI113V.ZIP ARI 1.13V]
* [http://www.dcee.net/Files/Archiver/ari114.com ARI 1.14]
* [http://mpolibbs.steptail.com/software/DOS/COMPRESS/ARI114C.ZIP ARI 1.14C]
* {{CdTextfiles|simtel/stmsdos9709/disk1/DISC1/ARCERS/ARI215.EXE|ARI 2.15}}
* {{CdTextfiles|simtel/simtel0101/simtel/arcers/ari22.exe|ARI 2.2}}