If you do not have PowerArchiver installed, click here.

Now that you have downloaded a compressed file and installed PowerArchiver, you are ready to decompress it. 

Note: this process will work for any compressed file in any directory, the ones used below are just examples.

Step 1.  Launch PowerArchiver  

If you used the defaults during installation go to:

        Start > Programs > PowerArchiver > PowerArchiver

You should see a window link this:

Step 1.  Open the archive

• Click on the Open button (a new box will popup)
• Navigate to directory where the compressed file is

In this case:
C:\downloads\data\compress\

• Select the file

In this case:
democnty_id_esri.tgz

• Click on the Open button

Now, you should see a window like this:

Step 2.  Extract the archive

• Select all the files listed by
  • clicking on the first one
  • hold down the Shift key
  • clicking on the last one
• Click on the Extract button (a new box will popup)
• In the Extract to: box type the directory where you want to put the file

  In this case:
  C:\downloads\data\uncompress\

• Click on the Extract button
• Close PowerArchiver (File > Exit)

That's it!  Your file is now decompressed.

Navigate to the C:\downloads\data\uncompress\ directory and make sure you have the following four files in it:

democnty_id_esri.dbf
democnty_id_esri.prj
democnty_id_esri.shp
democnty_id_esri.shx

There are many different ways to decompress data.  Here, we have demonstrated just one.  You may want to experiment a bit to find out which way works best for you.