While trying to compile and install the latest Pidgin, I had a problem trying to "tar xjvf" the package.
I entered "tar xjvf" and pasted the package into the command by dragging it from where it was (my home folder). It didn't work, saying "no such file..." Eventually, I figured out that the problem was that I was currently in my home folder, and trying to untar the package from there. (So I solved it by leaving my home folder before unpacking.) Apparently, unpacking a package from inside the folder that contains it is not allowed. Why not?

To extract into the current directory use tar -xvvf for .tar files and tar -xvvzf for .tar.gz files.

I have no clue what is going on here....

You say that you enter "tar xjvf" and then drag something???? Why? How?

To unpack an archive, simply go to the directory where it is and type "tar <options> filename" For long messy filename, use *

Suppose I want to unpack "cleverprogram_version_38.9.6.578_Beta.tar.gz": I can probably simply do: "tar -xzvf clever*"

I must have been unclear; my apologies. I typed "tar xjvf" and then dragged the package from an open Konqueror window into the terminal, which pasted the name in.

That's great--assuming that the package was in the right place.

Why not do the simple thing? CD to the directory where the package is and then unpack it.

I'm not sure, but probably because the first time I ever did any unpacking, that was the first way to do it that I figured out; and I am a substantial creature of habit.