Quantum compressed archive

File Format
Name	Quantum compressed archive
Ontology	Electronic File Formats Archiving Quantum compressed archive
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.

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

• quant097.zip → QUANTUM.DOC → "Archive file format" section
• Quantum compression format

Software

• Quantum 0.96
• Quantum 0.97

Sample files

• http://cd.textfiles.com/1000games/ → *.PAK
• dexvert samples — archive/quantum

Related formats

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