.tar.gz Archives

The first step does not require the developer mode:

1. Ctrl + Alt + T opens a new Chrome tab with the crosh shell (crosh is described in more detail in my article crosh Shell).
2. Entering the command shell into crosh (followed by hitting the ENTER key) will give you a new command prompt: "chronos@localhost ~ $". This showns that you have started the full-featured bash shell from inside the crosh. The new command prompt is put together like this: User (chronos ) at (@) local machine (local host) in home folder (~). "$" shows that the machine is waiting for orders.
3. With cd Downloads you can switch to the Downloads folder ("cd" is short for change directory).
   • File name completition: It is not required to completely type all letters of a file names like "Downloads" when entering commands. Try cd Dow and press the TAB key. The file name will be completed by the shell.
4. I will assume that you have downloaded a file named Diagrams.tar.gz that you want to decompress as an example. You will need two commands to do that (Again, the filename completion helps to save typing).

    gzip -dv Diagrams.tar.gz

    tar -xvf Diagrams.tar

When finished using the shell you can use the command exit to leave. The first time you enter exit you will return from bash to crosh. The second exit will close the crosh tab in the Chrome window.

Additional notes:

• gzip delete the archive file after unpacking. If you want to keep the archive you have to add the --keep option before the filenames.
• .tgz is an abbreviation for .tar.gz.