In order to install or upgrade SMF, when using the Install or Upgrade packages, you will need to extract files from an compressed archive package. The three available packages that you can download on the SMF Downloads page are: .zip, .tar.gz, and .tar.bz2. The decision of which one to use isn't normally a concern. However, if one type of package does not seem to work for you, it is recommended to try another one of them. For more information on how they are different and what one you should use, try searching with the search engine of your choice.

Depending on what program you decide to use to extract your files, the instructions will vary. It is never a bad idea to consult with the documentation for the specific extractor software you use for information on how to use it. Usually, you can right click on the package (or Ctrl + Click if you are using a Mac without a right click button), and select "Open With" and find the extraction program you want to use. Hopefully, from there, the user interface will be clear enough so that you can figure out how to extract the files. Often, there is some kind of "Extract" button or option that you can select, which will then prompt you where to extract the files to.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of some of the more well known file extraction programs available:

• Windows: 7-Zip, WinZip, Winrar
• Mac: StuffIt Expander
• Linux: GZip

Most operating systems come with support for the file types that we use, but you may want to install one of the above applications.