ACE (file format)
Encyclopedia
In computing
, ACE is a proprietary data compression
archive file format
developed by Marcel Lemke, and later bought by e-merge GmbH. The peak of its popularity was 1999—2001, when it provided slightly better compression rates than RAR, which has since become more popular.
, maintained by e-merge GmbH, is used to compress and decompress ACE files under Microsoft Windows
. When installed, it lets the user choose between paying for a registration or installing WhenU
adware
. e-merge GmbH also produces a Commandline ACE for DOS; and a freeware command-line decompression tool for Linux (i386
) and Mac OS X called "Unace". e-merge GmbH also provides several libraries for developers, including a freeware decompression DLL
called "UnACE.DLL". Some third-party archivers can read the format using this DLL. None of the above is free software
.
An older version of an Unace 1.2b is free software
and licensed under the GPL
by the author Marcel Lemke, but it cannot extract ACE archives from version 2.0 and newer.
On November 23, 2007, version 2.69 of WinACE was released, including a less intrusive adware
application, MeMedia AdVantage, which replaces WhenU. No other major changes are in this release.
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, ACE is a proprietary data compression
Data compression
In computer science and information theory, data compression, source coding or bit-rate reduction is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than the original representation would use....
archive file format
File format
A file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for...
developed by Marcel Lemke, and later bought by e-merge GmbH. The peak of its popularity was 1999—2001, when it provided slightly better compression rates than RAR, which has since become more popular.
WinAce
WinAceWinAce
WinAce is an archiving program for Windows with its own "ACE" compressed archive format and built-in support for other common archive formats types such as ZIP, RAR and MS-CAB...
, maintained by e-merge GmbH, is used to compress and decompress ACE files under Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. When installed, it lets the user choose between paying for a registration or installing WhenU
WhenU
WhenU Save/SaveNow , developed by the company WhenU, is a piece of advertising software generally considered to be adware or spyware. The program delivers advertisements, compares shopping results and other offers to users' computers, and tracks their browsing habits...
adware
Adware
Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up. They may also be in the user interface of the software or on a screen presented to the user during...
. e-merge GmbH also produces a Commandline ACE for DOS; and a freeware command-line decompression tool for Linux (i386
Intel 80386
The Intel 80386, also known as the i386, or just 386, was a 32-bit microprocessor introduced by Intel in 1985. The first versions had 275,000 transistors and were used as the central processing unit of many workstations and high-end personal computers of the time...
) and Mac OS X called "Unace". e-merge GmbH also provides several libraries for developers, including a freeware decompression DLL
Dynamic-link library
Dynamic-link library , or DLL, is Microsoft's implementation of the shared library concept in the Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems...
called "UnACE.DLL". Some third-party archivers can read the format using this DLL. None of the above is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
.
An older version of an Unace 1.2b is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
and licensed under the GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
by the author Marcel Lemke, but it cannot extract ACE archives from version 2.0 and newer.
On November 23, 2007, version 2.69 of WinACE was released, including a less intrusive adware
Adware
Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up. They may also be in the user interface of the software or on a screen presented to the user during...
application, MeMedia AdVantage, which replaces WhenU. No other major changes are in this release.
Third-Party Support
Packing of ACE files is licensed as proprietary information and only available through WinACE, while Unpacking of ACE files is supported by a number of third-party archivers. However, virtually all of them (the ones that support ACE 2.x format) do this by using the proprietary "Unace.dll" from e-merge GmbH.See also
- Comparison of archive formatsComparison of archive formatsThere are many popular computer data archive formats for creating and maintaining archive files. The tables below compare many popular archive formats.-Purpose:The earliest use of archive formats was for backup, mobility, and archiving....
- List of archive formats
- List of file archivers