Format Conversion
Format Conversion is defined as the transfer of data between logical formats, to enable the reading of data on one platform having been written on another. An example of this may be reading a tape on an NT platform having been written as a UNIX TAR file. Format conversion is required if each computer has a different operating system. A Unix system often uses different file systems to a DOS system or an IBM mainframe.
The way that files are stored on tapes can vary enormously due to both operating system and application. Even on a Windows based PC, tapes could be written with ArcServe, NT Backup, Legato and many more. As a rule, each tape writing method is incompatible with others.