Quantum compressed archive

From Just Solve the File Format Problem
Jump to: navigation, search
File Format
Name Quantum compressed archive
Ontology
Extension(s) .q, others
Released ≤1994

Quantum is a compressed archive utility, and associated file format, developed by Cinematronics corporation. It runs on a normal computer, not a quantum computer.

Contents

Discussion

As of v0.97, the distribution includes:

  • PAQ.EXE - Compressor for DOS
  • UNPAQ.EXE - Decompressor for DOS
  • QWIN.EXE - Decompressor for Windows 3.x

The software (at least for v0.96-0.97) is consistently named "Quantum", despite filenames that may suggest other names.

Identification

Files begin with bytes 'D' 'S'. The next byte (the major version number) is probably always 0x00.

Specifications

Software

Sample files

Related formats

  • Some Microsoft CAB files use the same "Quantum" compression scheme as this format.
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox