Extract text from ShrinkIt archives (SHK)
To convert SHK archives to another format, you need ShrinkIt or other Compressed software.
To convert other file formats to the "Legacy Compressed Archive" file type, you need software like ShrinkIt or a similar tool.
The .SHK file extension is predominantly recognized as a ShrinkIt Archive, the de facto standard compression format for the classic Apple II computer platform. Developed in the 1980s by Andy E. Nicholas, these files rely on NuFX encoding to compress disk images and software collections, functioning similarly to modern ZIP files. Alternatively, an .SHK file may contain proprietary suspension analysis data created by Performance Trends Shock Dyno software, or custom text macros exported from ShortKeys.
The primary disadvantage of an .SHK archive is its obsolete NuFX compression algorithm. Modern operating systems and standard extraction utilities like 7-Zip or WinRAR cannot read or decompress these files. They are completely locked to the legacy Apple II ecosystem, requiring dedicated retro-utilities like CiderPress or an active Apple II emulator to access. Similarly, if the file is a macro or suspension data file, it is trapped within highly niche software, making cross-platform sharing practically impossible without the original application.
When converting vintage .SHK archives, the ideal target format depends on your objective. For emulation, converting the archive to standard DSK or PO disk images is the best approach. If you simply need to access the enclosed files, extracting the contents to a ZIP archive or exporting embedded code to standard TXT is recommended. For suspension data or macro lists, extracting the raw data points to CSV allows the information to be viewed seamlessly in spreadsheet software like Excel.
Due to the extreme age and proprietary nature of these formats, traditional online converters almost always fail to process them. The NuFX compression algorithms are largely undocumented in modern libraries, and the proprietary data structures of Shock Dyno or ShortKeys require the original software to parse accurately. However, just drag and drop your file into convert.guru to identify the format, view it, and convert it when possible. Our analysis engine will inspect the binary signature to determine exactly which type of .SHK file you have. If we detect supported standard text strings, macro lists, or embedded data tables, viewing or extraction may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your SHK file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ~SHK, BXY and ZIP files.
If you want to convert SHK file to ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ, LZMA, CAB, ACE, ARJ or LHA, you can use ShrinkIt or similar software from the "Apple II Compressed Archive" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert XXE, 7Z, Z, PAK, LHA, DEB, UUE, TAR, LZH, ZIP, PKG or RAR files to SHK, try ShrinkIt or another comparable tool in the "Apple II Compressed Archive" category.
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 SHK converter.