Abstract: Data to be archived may be stored in a data storage system in a compressed format that allows the compressed data to be accessible without decompression. Along with the data, supporting information is stored in the data storage system. The supporting information may include a location of the data in the storage system and at least one of a schema associated with the data and application information The application information may include a name and version number of an application used to access the data. One or more queries used to access the data may be stored in the storage system or elsewhere. Query attributes also may be stored in the storage system or elsewhere. Query attributes may include a location of a stored query and at least one of data, data formats, and database schemas compatible with a query.