TAR File Extractor

Extract a single file from TAR archive by exact path (requires 7zip command)

Click to upload file or drag and drop file here

Maximum file size: 500MB Supported formats: application/x-tar, application/tar, application/octet-stream, .tar

Enter the exact file path from the archive. Use preview tool to see available files.

Key Facts

Category
Conversion & Encoding
Input Types
file, text
Output Type
file
Sample Coverage
4
API Ready
Yes

Overview

The TAR File Extractor allows you to quickly pull a specific file from a large TAR archive without needing to extract the entire contents. By specifying the exact file path, you can save time and storage space when you only need one piece of data from a massive backup or project folder.

When to Use

  • •When you need to retrieve a single configuration file from a large server backup archive.
  • •When you want to avoid extracting gigabytes of data just to access one specific document.
  • •When you are working on a system where you need to isolate a specific asset from a TAR package.

How It Works

  • •Upload your TAR archive file using the file selector.
  • •Use the preview tool to identify the exact path of the file you wish to extract.
  • •Enter the precise file path into the input field.
  • •Submit the request to extract and download only the requested file.

Use Cases

Retrieving a single log file from a multi-gigabyte system backup.
Extracting a specific source code file from a project archive without unpacking the entire repository.
Isolating a single image or asset from a large collection stored in a TAR container.

Examples

1. Extracting a single log file

System Administrator
Background
A server backup was stored as a 400MB TAR file, but the admin only needed to check the error logs from a specific date.
Problem
Extracting the entire 400MB archive would take too long and consume unnecessary disk space.
How to Use
Upload the backup.tar file, identify the path 'logs/2023-10-01.log' via preview, and enter it into the path field.
Outcome
The tool instantly extracted only the requested log file, allowing for immediate analysis.

2. Retrieving a configuration file

Developer
Background
A developer needed to recover a specific 'config.json' file from an old project archive.
Problem
The archive contained thousands of files, making a full extraction messy and inefficient.
How to Use
Upload the project.tar file and provide the path 'src/config/config.json' to extract just that file.
Outcome
The specific configuration file was extracted successfully, ready to be used in the current project.

Try with Samples

file
Markdown Link Extractor Samples
Sample Markdown documents with various link types for testing the Markdown Link Extractor tool
title token extractor
sample
Phone Number Extractor Samples
Collection of mixed text containing phone numbers from various countries for extraction testing
title token extractor
sample
Changelog Extractor Samples
Various changelog formats for testing changelog parsing and extraction tools
title token extractor
sample
Time Zone Workflow Scheduler ICS Samples
ICS files generated in the same structure returned by the Time Zone Workflow Scheduler, with multiple VEVENT meeting candidates exported from overlap windows
matched family file
file

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FAQ

Do I need to extract the whole archive?

No, this tool is specifically designed to extract only the single file you specify, saving you time and disk space.

How do I know the correct file path?

You should use the archive preview tool to list the contents of your TAR file and copy the exact path of the file you need.

Is there a limit to the file size I can upload?

Yes, the tool supports TAR files up to 500MB in size.

What happens if the file path is incorrect?

The tool will be unable to locate the file within the archive and will return an error; please verify the path using the preview tool.

Does this tool support other archive formats like ZIP or RAR?

No, this tool is strictly for TAR archive files.

API Documentation

Request Endpoint

POST /en/api/tools/tar-selective-extract

Request Parameters

Parameter Name Type Required Description
tarFile file (Upload required) Yes -
filePath text Yes Enter the exact file path from the archive. Use preview tool to see available files.

File type parameters need to be uploaded first via POST /upload/tar-selective-extract to get filePath, then pass filePath to the corresponding file field.

Response Format

{
  "filePath": "/public/processing/randomid.ext",
  "fileName": "output.ext",
  "contentType": "application/octet-stream",
  "size": 1024,
  "metadata": {
    "key": "value"
  },
  "error": "Error message (optional)",
  "message": "Notification message (optional)"
}
File: File

AI MCP Documentation

Add this tool to your MCP server configuration: 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elysiatools-tar-selective-extract": {
      "name": "tar-selective-extract",
      "description": "Extract a single file from TAR archive by exact path (requires 7zip command)",
      "baseUrl": "https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=tar-selective-extract",
      "command": "",
      "args": [],
      "env": {},
      "isActive": true,
      "type": "sse"
    }
  }
}

You can chain multiple tools, e.g.: `https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=png-to-webp,jpg-to-webp,gif-to-webp`, max 20 tools.

Supports URL file links or Base64 encoding for file parameters.

If you encounter any issues, please contact us at [email protected]