extract rar file in mac terminal with code examples

RAR is a popular file format for compressing and archiving large files. If you're working with RAR files on a Mac, you can use the Terminal to extract them. In this article, we'll show you how to extract RAR files in the Mac Terminal using code examples.

First, you'll need to download and install the command-line tool "unrar" on your Mac. This tool is not included by default in macOS, but it can be easily installed using Homebrew, a package manager for macOS.

To install Homebrew, open the Terminal and enter the following command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/main/install.sh)"

Once Homebrew is installed, you can install unrar by running the following command in the Terminal:

brew install unrar

With unrar installed, you can now extract RAR files in the Terminal. The basic command for extracting a RAR file is:

unrar e [file.rar]

For example, if you wanted to extract a RAR file named "example.rar" located in your "Downloads" folder, you would enter the following command in the Terminal:

unrar e ~/Downloads/example.rar

This will extract the contents of "example.rar" to the same directory.

You can also extract RAR files to a different directory by using the -o switch. For example, to extract "example.rar" to a new folder named "extracted" in your "Downloads" folder, you would use the following command:

unrar e -o+ ~/Downloads/example.rar ~/Downloads/extracted

Additionally, you can also use the -x switch to exclude certain files or folders from being extracted. For example, to extract all files except for files with the extension ".jpg" and a folder named "private" from "example.rar", you would use the following command:

unrar e -x*.jpg -xprivate ~/Downloads/example.rar

You can also use the -p switch to extract RAR files with a password. For example, to extract "example.rar" with the password "password", you would use the following command:

unrar e -ppassword ~/Downloads/example.rar

In this article, we've shown you how to extract RAR files in the Mac Terminal using code examples. With the unrar command-line tool and the examples provided, you should be able to easily extract RAR files on your Mac.

In addition to extracting RAR files, the unrar command-line tool also offers a number of other options for working with RAR files in the Mac Terminal.

One useful option is the -v switch, which displays the progress of the extraction process. For example, to extract "example.rar" and display the progress, you would use the following command:

unrar e -v ~/Downloads/example.rar

Another option is the -c- switch, which sets the file time to the current time instead of the time stored in the archive. This can be useful if the file time in the archive is incorrect or if you want to ensure that the file time is updated when the file is extracted. For example, to extract "example.rar" and set the file time to the current time, you would use the following command:

unrar e -c- ~/Downloads/example.rar

The unrar command-line tool also provides options for listing the contents of a RAR archive and testing the integrity of the archive.

To list the contents of a RAR archive, use the following command:

unrar l [file.rar]

To test the integrity of a RAR archive, use the following command:

unrar t [file.rar]

In addition to unrar, there are other command-line tools available for working with RAR files on a Mac. For example, the "rar" command-line tool, which is not included by default in macOS, but can be downloaded and installed. This tool provides similar functionality as unrar, but also allows for creating RAR archives from the command-line.

It's worth noting that RAR files can also be extracted using third-party apps such as The Unarchiver. These apps provide a GUI interface for extracting RAR files and often support a wider range of archive formats.

In conclusion, working with RAR files in the Mac Terminal can be easily done by installing the unrar command-line tool and using it with the different options that it provides. This can be useful for automating the process of extracting or testing RAR files and for users who prefer to work in the command-line.

Popular questions

1. What is the command to install the unrar tool on Mac using Homebrew?
   Answer: The command is: brew install unrar

2. How can I extract a RAR file in the Mac Terminal?
   Answer: The basic command for extracting a RAR file is unrar e [file.rar]. For example, to extract a RAR file named "example.rar" located in your "Downloads" folder, you would enter the command unrar e ~/Downloads/example.rar

3. How can I extract a RAR file to a different directory using the Terminal?
   Answer: You can use the -o switch to extract RAR files to a different directory. For example, to extract "example.rar" to a new folder named "extracted" in your "Downloads" folder, you would use the command unrar e -o+ ~/Downloads/example.rar ~/Downloads/extracted

4. How can I extract a RAR file with a password using the Terminal?
   Answer: You can use the -p switch to extract RAR files with a password. For example, to extract "example.rar" with the password "password", you would use the command unrar e -ppassword ~/Downloads/example.rar

5. Are there any other command-line tools available for working with RAR files on a Mac?
   Answer: Yes, other command-line tools like "rar" are available for working with RAR files on a Mac, but it needs to be downloaded and installed. Additionally, third-party apps such as The Unarchiver can also be used for extracting RAR files and often support a wider range of archive formats.

Tag

Archiving.