gzip problems...Newbie!

["Person, Rod" <RPerson@cvty.com>]

	Hey All,

	I downloaded some *.gz (midnight commander, leap database and
maxwell). I have followed the various instructions on extracting these
programs but "here's the rub"......

	mc say to use this.

	gzip -d <mcfile | tar -xf -

	I have also tried

	gzip -cd filename | tar -xf -

	I always get the error invalid argument. I don't have much
experience with gzip, so can someone tell me which argument is bad? What
is the correct structure to use?

	Also when I tried leap. I got error that it could not create
directory or file. For leap I tried....

	gzip -cd leap-1_2.deb | tar -xO
	gzip -cd leap-1_2.deb | tar -xf 
	gzip -cd leap-1_2.deb | tar -xF install

	help a newbie please.....

	Rod