Click the "Select File" button above, and choose your ARS file.
You’ll see a preview, if available.
Click the "Convert file to..." button to extract text information.
Convert ARS to another file type
To convert your ARS file to another format, you need Unreal Engine or other Settings software.
Convert a file to ARS
To convert other file formats to the "Configuration & Data Log" file type, you need software like Unreal Engine or a similar tool.
About ARS files
The .ARS file extension is a classic "chameleon" format used by three distinct industries, creating significant confusion for users.
Unreal Engine 5 Asset: According to recent data, the most common use (approx. 36%) is within Epic Games Unreal Engine, likely associated with Augmented Reality (AR) session configurations or specific asset registries. These are proprietary binary files designed for the engine, not for external viewing.
Industrial Data Logs: A massive portion of .ARS files are proprietary data logs from industrial hardware, specifically Arkel elevator systems (18%), HICART II medication dispensers, and CPI Gryphon vending machines. Users typically need to convert these from their raw, encrypted state into readable PDF reports or CSV spreadsheets for audit and maintenance purposes. The friction here is high: these files often require specific manufacturer software (like the Arkel ARS Viewer) just to open, blocking standard text editors.
Adobe Render Settings: For creative professionals, an .ARS file is an Adobe After Effects Render Settings template. These represent a small but vital share, allowing editors to share export presets (resolution, codec, frame rate) between machines. The limitation? They cannot be "opened" like a document; they must be imported directly into the Render Queue.
Best Conversion Targets:
For Industrial/Data Files: Convert to PDF for archiving maintenance reports or CSV to analyze the raw data in Microsoft Excel.
For Adobe Files: Do not convert. Import directly via the Edit > Templates > Render Settings menu.
For Game Assets: These are strictly for engine use and generally cannot be converted to standard 3D formats like OBJ or FBX without the source project.
Convert.Guru analyzes your ARS file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert ARS file to INI, CFG, CONF, CONFIG, JSON, XML, YAML, YML, TOML, ENV, PROPERTIES or RC, you can use Unreal Engine or similar software from the "Settings & Data Logging" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert ZSHRC, CONF, RCFILE, GITCONFIG, RC, PLIST, BASHRC, CONFIG, PROFILE, INI, PREFS or CFG files to ARS, try Unreal Engine or another comparable tool in the "Settings & Data Logging" category.
The ARS Converter Story
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our ARS converter.