Question 1

How do I convert an ARC file to WARC using warctools?

Accepted Answer

Use the arc2warc command-line tool with options like -Z for compression and --description for metadata. For example, 'arc2warc -Z input.arc > output.warc.gz' converts and compresses the file, preserving key headers as noted in the README.

Question 2

Warctools vs Python warc library – which is better?

Accepted Answer

Warctools is more comprehensive with CLI utilities and supports both WARC and ARC formats, making it ideal for practical archive processing. However, if you need strict specification compliance or specialized features, other libraries might be more suitable, so evaluate based on your project's needs.

Question 3

How to filter WARC files by date in warctools?

Accepted Answer

Use the warcfilter command with the -D option for WARC-Date header matching. For instance, 'warcfilter -D "2023-.*" archive.warc' filters records by date patterns, allowing flexible regex searches as described in the tool's help.

Question 4

Is warctools compatible with Python 3?

Accepted Answer

Yes, warctools is based on Python 2/3, as stated in the README, ensuring it works with modern Python versions while maintaining backward compatibility. This makes it a versatile choice for diverse development environments.

Question 5

What are the limitations of warctools validation?

Accepted Answer

Warctools' warcvalid tool doesn't enforce strict ISO standards, such as whitespace rules and required headers, so it's best for practical checks rather than formal compliance. The README admits this, highlighting its focus on real-world utility over specification rigidity.

Question 6

How to extract HTTP content from WARC records with warctools?

Accepted Answer

Use the warc2warc command with -D option to decode HTTP messages, stripping chunked encoding and gzip, or handle it programmatically via the Python library. This allows access to raw HTTP payloads for further analysis or processing.

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