Format

.parc format

.parc keeps the FreeArc container structure and adds optional directory fields:

• Blocks: HEADER, DATA, DIR, FOOTER and RECOVERY, with the same types and descriptors.
• Directory: UTF-8 names, sizes, CRCs, second-resolution base time and optional fields:
  • MTIME_NS_DELTA (tag 7): nanosecond timestamp as zigzag VInt deltas, lossless.
  • Windows attributes and Unix mode/permissions.
  • symbolic links and Windows junctions.
• Methods: the same strings FreeArc uses (lzma:..., rep:...+..., 4x4:..., etc.).
• Recovery: Reed–Solomon parc-rs1; the old .arc rotating XOR is gone.
• Encryption: method chain + AES/Blowfish/Serpent/Twofish, with an HMAC-SHA512 tag.
• Volumes: the same archive split into .001, .002…

The format version understood by this release is 1. The full specification, with tag tables and writing invariants, is in FORMATO-PARC.md.

PArc does not read .arc; use FreeArc-ex for that.