# mstore Formats

mstore files come in different formats:

- 8.1 format — The legacy mstore format. This is the only format that an EMS 8.1 or earlier server accepts.
- 8.2 format — This is the default format created by all EMS servers from version 8.2 and later. This format provides faster performances than the 8.1 format and supports no-limit `compact`. When an 8.1 or earlier mstore is opened for the first time by an EMS 8.2 or later server, it is automatically converted to this format.
- 8.3 format — This format is compatible with the time-bound `compact` and the `mstore_truncate` property. Note that an EMS 8.3 or later server does not automatically create or convert mstores to the 8.3 format. You must convert an older mstore to 8.3 using the `tibemsdbconvert` tool.

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