.asice — ASiC Container
European Committee for Standardization (CEN) · 2016
ASiC is a ZIP-based container format specifically designed for securely packaging and archiving electronic documents, often with associated digital signatures.
Key Features
- Based on the universal ZIP format for easy handling.
- Supports packaging of multiple files and metadata.
- Designed for long-term archiving and authenticity.
- Can securely embed digital signatures for integrity verification.
Best For
- Long-term digital archiving.
- Ensuring document authenticity with digital signatures.
- Packaging complex document sets with metadata.
- Compliance with e-archiving regulations.
Less Ideal For
- Everyday document editing (use DOCX, ODT).
- Simple file sharing (use ZIP, RAR).
- Multimedia content storage (use MP4, JPG).
- Web content delivery (use HTML, CSS).
Common Use Cases
- Archiving official government documents.
- Storing legal documents with verifiable digital signatures.
- Packaging electronic invoices or receipts for long-term retention.
- Securing and preserving digital evidence.
How to Open It
- Use any standard ZIP extraction tool (like 7-Zip, WinRAR, or built-in OS utilities) to access the contents.
- Specialized software designed for ASiC validation and viewing may be required to verify digital signatures and interpret the package structure.
- Government or archival institutions often provide specific tools for managing ASiC files.
What is a .asice file?
ASiC stands for "ASiC Container", a format designed to package electronic documents and their associated metadata. It's based on the widely adopted ZIP file format, making it easily accessible and manageable. ASiC is primarily used for electronic archiving and long-term preservation of official documents, ensuring their integrity and authenticity. It can contain multiple files, including the main document, digital signatures, and other relevant information, all within a single, standardized container.
Programs That Open .asice Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | 7-Zip | Free | |
| WinRAR | Paid | ||
| macOS | The Unarchiver | Free | |
| Linux | unzip (command-line) | Free | |
| 7z (command-line) | Free | ||
| Android | RAR | Paid | |
| iOS | iZip | Free |
How to Convert .asice Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .ZIP | Using a ZIP utility to extract contents |
Common Problems with .asice Files
Frequently Asked Questions
No, ASiC is a container format. It holds other documents (like PDF) and associated data, not the document content directly.
Generally, no. You typically need to extract the files, edit them with their respective applications, and then repackage them into a new ASiC if necessary.
ASiC provides a standardized structure and ensures the integrity and authenticity of the packaged documents, especially when digital signatures are involved, which a plain ZIP file does not guarantee.
Technical Details
An ASiC file is fundamentally a ZIP archive. It follows specific specifications (like ETSI TS 103 002) for how content, metadata, and signatures must be structured within the archive. The `MIMETYPE` file within the root of the archive is crucial for identifying it as an ASiC package.