How to Upgrade from a tar file

Hi 

If I want to upgrade any program in my linux system
with a newer version with a *.tar file. Do I have to
uninstall the older first? or I just compile and
install de new one. What happend with the older one?
Do exist bouth in the system? What if I just want the
new one?

any one that can helpme guys? 


=====
Jose Trinidad Flores Ramírez

Proyectos y Edificaciones Integrales S.A. de C.V.
Gerencia de Proyectos

Tel. (52) 57 93 53 00
Fax. (52) 57 93 21 35

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