diff --git a/runtime/autoload/tar.vim b/runtime/autoload/tar.vim
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/autoload/tar.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+" vim:set ts=8 sts=4 sw=4:
+"
+" tar.vim -- a Vim plugin for browsing tarfiles
+" Copyright (c) 2002, Michael C. Toren <mct@toren.net>
+" Distributed under the GNU General Public License.
+"
+" Version: 1.01
+" Last Change: 2005 Jul 26
+"
+" Updates are available from <http://michael.toren.net/code/>.  If you
+" find this script useful, or have suggestions for improvements, please
+" let me know.
+" Also look there for further comments and documentation.
+"
+" This part defines the functions.  The autocommands are in plugin/tar.vim.
+
+let s:version = "1.01"
+
+function! tar#Write(argument)
+    echo "ERROR: Sorry, no write support for tarfiles yet"
+endfunction
+
+function! tar#Read(argument, cleanup)
+    let l:argument = a:argument
+    let l:argument = substitute(l:argument, '^tarfile:', '', '')
+    let l:argument = substitute(l:argument, '^\~', $HOME, '')
+
+    let l:tarfile = l:argument
+    while 1
+	if (l:tarfile == "" || l:tarfile == "/")
+	    echo "ERROR: Could not find a readable tarfile in path:" l:argument
+	    return
+	endif
+
+	if filereadable(l:tarfile) " found it!
+	    break
+	endif
+
+	let l:tarfile = fnamemodify(l:tarfile, ":h")
+    endwhile
+
+    let l:toextract = strpart(l:argument, strlen(l:tarfile) + 1)
+
+    if (l:toextract == "")
+	return
+    endif
+
+    let l:cat = s:TarCatCommand(l:tarfile)
+    execute "r !" . l:cat . " < '" . l:tarfile . "'"
+	\ " | tar OPxf - '" . l:toextract . "'"
+
+    if (a:cleanup)
+	0d "blank line
+	execute "doautocmd BufReadPost " . expand("%")
+	setlocal readonly
+	silent preserve
+    endif
+endfunction
+
+function! tar#Browse(tarfile)
+    setlocal noswapfile
+    setlocal buftype=nofile
+    setlocal bufhidden=hide
+    setlocal filetype=
+    setlocal nobuflisted
+    setlocal buftype=nofile
+    setlocal wrap
+    setlocal syntax=tar
+
+    let l:tarfile = a:tarfile
+    let b:tarfile = l:tarfile
+    let l:cat = s:TarCatCommand(l:tarfile)
+
+    if ! filereadable(l:tarfile)
+	let l:tarfile = substitute(l:tarfile, '^tarfile:', '', '')
+    endif
+
+    if ! filereadable(l:tarfile)
+	echo "ERROR: File not readable:" l:tarfile
+	return
+    endif
+
+    call s:Say("\" tar.vim version " . s:version)
+    call s:Say("\" Browsing tarfile " . l:tarfile)
+    call s:Say("\" Hit ENTER to view a file in a new window")
+    call s:Say("")
+
+    silent execute "r!" . l:cat . "<'" . l:tarfile . "'| tar Ptf - "
+    0d "blank line
+    /^$/1
+
+    setlocal readonly
+    setlocal nomodifiable
+    noremap <silent> <buffer> <cr> :call <SID>TarBrowseSelect()<cr>
+endfunction
+
+function! s:TarBrowseSelect()
+    let l:line = getline(".")
+
+    if (l:line =~ '^" ')
+	return
+    endif
+
+    if (l:line =~ '/$')
+	echo "Please specify a file, not a directory"
+	return
+    endif
+
+    let l:selection = "tarfile:" .  b:tarfile . "/" . l:line
+    new
+    wincmd _
+    execute "e " . l:selection
+endfunction
+
+" kludge to deal with compressed archives
+function! s:TarCatCommand(tarfile)
+    if a:tarfile =~# '\.\(gz\|tgz\|Z\)$'
+	let l:cat = "gzip -d -c"
+    elseif a:tarfile =~# '\.bz2$'
+	let l:cat = "bzip2 -d -c"
+    else
+	let l:cat = "cat"
+    endif
+    return l:cat
+endfunction
+
+function! s:Say(string)
+    let @" = a:string
+    $ put
+endfunction