code: public static String[] decompose (String compoundKey)
      {
          String[] args = compoundKey.split("\\|");
          for (int ii = 0; ii < args.length; ii++) {
              args[ii] = unescape(args[ii]);
          }
          return args;
      }
docs: Decomposes a compound key into its constituent parts. Arguments that were tainted during
  composition will remain tainted.