tar and zip:    tar cfvz file.tarz files
untar and unzip:   tar xfvz files.tarz
look at contents of a tarz file: tar ztvf file.tar.gz
look at contents of a tar file:    tar tvf file.tar

exclude files:
1)make a text file called Exclude listing files you don't want tar'd up.
2)tar cfvzX file.tarz Exclude files


tar command example:
jacin01 ABINIT/abinit-5.4.4> find ./* -name mrgddb
./src/main/mrgddb