title: How do I extract a tar file using python 2.4?
body: <p>I'm trying to extract a .tar file completely using python 2.4.2 and because of this not all of the aspects of the tarfile module are usable. I've looked through the python documentary and I have not found it to be helpful as I continue to make syntax errors. The following are commands I have tried(to no success):</p>
  
  <pre><code>tarfile.Tarfile.getnames(tarfile.tar)
  tarfile.Tarfile.extract(tarfile.tar)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is there a simple way to extract my tar completely? If so what is the formatting used? Also, I'd like to note that tarfile.TarFile.extractall() is not available in my python version. </p>