@set xref-exclude-from @xref{exclude}
@set pxref-exclude-from @pxref{exclude}
+@set op-exclude-caches @kbd{--exclude-caches}
+@set ref-exclude-from @ref{exclude-caches}
+@set xref-exclude-from @xref{exclude-caches}
+@set pxref-exclude-from @pxref{exclude-caches}
+
@set op-extract @kbd{--extract} (@kbd{--get}, @kbd{-x})
@set ref-extract @ref{extract}
@set xref-extract @xref{extract}
@set xref-volno-file @xref{Using Multiple Tapes}
@set pxref-volno-file @pxref{Using Multiple Tapes}
+@set op-seek @kbd{--seek}
+@set ref-seek @ref{seek}
+@set xref-seek @xref{seek}
+@set pxref-seek @pxref{seek}
+
@c Put everything in one index (arbitrarily chosen to be the concept index).
@syncodeindex fn cp
@syncodeindex ky cp
Similar to @samp{--exclude}, except @command{tar} will use the list of
patterns in the file @var{file}. @FIXME-xref{}
+@item --exclude-caches
+
+Automatically excludes all directories
+containing a cache directory tag. @FIXME-xref{}
+
@item --file=@var{archive}
@itemx -f @var{archive}
(see --info-script)
+@item -n
+@itemx --seek
+
+Assume that the archive media supports seeks to arbitrary
+locations. Usually @command{tar} determines automatically whether
+the archive can be seeked or not. This option is intended for use
+in cases when such recognition fails.
+
@item --newer=@var{date}
@itemx --after-date=@var{date}
@itemx -N
to be a better way to go.
@command{tar} doesn't access @var{snapshot-file} when
-@value{op-create} or @value{op-list} are specified, but the
+@value{op-extract} or @value{op-list} are specified, but the
@value{op-listed-incremental} option must still be given. A
placeholder @var{snapshot-file} can be specified, e.g.,
@file{/dev/null}.
To restore files that were archived using a scripted backup, use the
@code{restore} script. Its usage is quite straightforward. In the
-simplest form, invoke @command{restore} without options, it will
+simplest form, invoke @code{restore --all}, it will
then restore all the filesystems and files specified in
@file{backup-specs} (@pxref{General-Purpose Variables,BACKUP_DIRS}).
The full list of options accepted by @code{restore} follows:
@table @option
+@item -a
+@itemx --all
+Restore all filesystems and files specified in @file{backup-specs}
+
@item -l @var{level}
@itemx --level=@var{level}
Start restoring from the given backup level, instead of the default 0.
@FIXME{do the exclude options files need to have stuff separated by
newlines the same as the files-from option does?}
+@table @kbd
+@item --exclude-caches
+Causes @command{tar} to ignore directories containing a cache directory tag.
+@end table
+
+@findex exclude-caches
+When creating an archive,
+the @samp{--exclude-caches} option
+causes @command{tar} to exclude all directories
+that contain a @dfn{cache directory tag}.
+A cache directory tag is a short file
+with the well-known name @file{CACHEDIR.TAG}
+and having a standard header
+specified in @url{http://www.brynosaurus.com/cachedir/spec.html}.
+Various applications write cache directory tags
+into directories they use to hold regenerable, non-precious data,
+so that such data can be more easily excluded from backups.
+
@menu
* controlling pattern-patching with exclude::
* problems with exclude::
the original current working directory of @command{tar}, due to a previous
@samp{--directory} option.
-@FIXME{dan: does this mean that you *can* use the short option form, but
-you can *not* use the long option form with --files-from? or is this
-totally screwed?}
-
When using @samp{--files-from} (@pxref{files}), you can put @samp{-C}
-options in the file list. Unfortunately, you cannot put
-@samp{--directory} options in the file list. (This interpretation can
-be disabled by using the @value{op-null} option.)
+options in the file list. Notice, however, that in this case the
+option and its argument must occupy two consecutive lines. For
+instance, the file list for the above example will be:
+
+@smallexample
+@group
+-C
+/etc
+passwd
+hosts
+-C
+/lib
+libc.a
+@end group
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+To use it, you would invoke @command{tar} as follows:
+
+@smallexample
+$ @kbd{tar -c -f foo.tar --files-from list}
+@end smallexample
+
+Notice also that you can only use the short option variant in the file
+list, i.e. always use @option{-C}, not @option{--directory}.
+
+The interpretation of @value{op-directory} is disabled by
+@value{op-null} option.
@node absolute
@subsection Absolute File Names
@subsection Creating and Reading Compressed Archives
@cindex Compressed archives
@cindex Storing archives in compressed format
-@UNREVISED
+
+@GNUTAR{} is able to create and read compressed archives. It supports
+@command{gzip} and @command{bzip2} compression programms. For backward
+compatibilty, it also supports @command{compress} command, although
+we strongly recommend against using it, since there is a patent
+covering the algorithm it uses and you could be sued for patent
+infringement merely by running @command{compress}! Besides, it is less
+effective than @command{gzip} and @command{bzip2}.
+
+Creating a compressed archive is simple: you just specify a
+@dfn{compression option} along with the usual archive creation
+commands. The compression option is @option{-z} (@option{--gzip}) to
+create a @command{gzip} compressed archive, @option{-j}
+(@option{--bzip2}) to create a @command{bzip2} compressed archive, and
+@option{-Z} (@option{--compress}) to use @command{compress} program.
+For example:
+
+@smallexample
+$ @kbd{tar cfz archive.tar.gz .}
+@end smallexample
+
+Reading compressed archive is even simpler: you don't need to specify
+any additional options as @GNUTAR{} recognizes its format
+automatically. Thus, the following commands will list and extract the
+archive created in previous example:
+
+@smallexample
+# List the compressed archive
+$ @kbd{tar tf archive.tar.gz}
+# Extract the compressed archive
+$ @kbd{tar xf archive.tar.gz}
+@end smallexample
+
+The only case when you have to specify a decompression option while
+reading the archive is when reading from a pipe or from a tape drive
+that does not support random access. However, in this case @GNUTAR{}
+will indicate which option you should use. For example:
+
+@smallexample
+$ @kbd{cat archive.tar.gz | tar tf -}
+tar: Archive is compressed. Use -z option
+tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
+@end smallexample
+
+If you see such diagnostics, just add the suggested option to the
+invocation of @GNUTAR{}:
+
+@smallexample
+$ @kbd{cat archive.tar.gz | tar tfz -}
+@end smallexample
+
+Notice also, that there are several restrictions on operations on
+compressed archives. First of all, compressed archives cannot be
+modified, i.e. you cannot update (@value{op-update}) them or delete
+(@value{op-delete}) members from them. Likewise, you cannot append
+another @command{tar} archive to a compressed archive using
+@value{op-append}). Secondly, multi-volume archives cannot be
+compressed.
+
+The following table summarizes compression options used by @GNUTAR{}.
@table @kbd
@item -z
@itemx --gzip
@itemx --ungzip
Filter the archive through @command{gzip}.
-@end table
-
-@FIXME{ach; these two bits orig from "compare" (?). where to put?} Some
-format parameters must be taken into consideration when modifying an
-archive.@FIXME{???} Compressed archives cannot be modified.
You can use @samp{--gzip} and @samp{--gunzip} on physical devices
(tape drives, etc.) and remote files as well as on normal files; data
to or from such devices or remote files is reblocked by another copy
of the @command{tar} program to enforce the specified (or default) record
size. The default compression parameters are used; if you need to
-override them, avoid the @value{op-gzip} option and run @command{gzip}
-explicitly. (Or set the @env{GZIP} environment variable.)
-
-The @value{op-gzip} option does not work with the @value{op-multi-volume}
-option, or with the @value{op-update}, @value{op-append},
-@value{op-concatenate}, or @value{op-delete} operations.
-
-It is not exact to say that @GNUTAR{} is to work in concert
-with @command{gzip} in a way similar to @command{zip}, say. Surely, it is
-possible that @command{tar} and @command{gzip} be done with a single call,
-like in:
+override them, set @env{GZIP} environment variable, e.g.:
@smallexample
-$ @kbd{tar cfz archive.tar.gz subdir}
+$ @kbd{GZIP=--best tar cfz archive.tar.gz subdir}
@end smallexample
@noindent
-to save all of @samp{subdir} into a @code{gzip}'ed archive. Later you
-can do:
+Another way would be to avoid the @value{op-gzip} option and run
+@command{gzip} explicitly:
@smallexample
-$ @kbd{tar xfz archive.tar.gz}
-@end smallexample
-
-@noindent
-to explode and unpack.
-
-The difference is that the whole archive is compressed. With
-@command{zip}, archive members are archived individually. @command{tar}'s
-method yields better compression. On the other hand, one can view the
-contents of a @command{zip} archive without having to decompress it. As
-for the @command{tar} and @command{gzip} tandem, you need to decompress the
-archive to see its contents. However, this may be done without needing
-disk space, by using pipes internally:
-
-@smallexample
-$ @kbd{tar tfz archive.tar.gz}
+$ @kbd{tar cf - subdir | gzip --best -c - > archive.tar.gz}
@end smallexample
@cindex corrupted archives
lose some compressibility. But this would have make recovering easier.
So, there are pros and cons. We'll see!
-@table @kbd
@item -j
@itemx --bzip2
Filter the archive through @code{bzip2}. Otherwise like @value{op-gzip}.
Filter the archive through @command{compress}. Otherwise like
@value{op-gzip}.
-@item --use-compress-program=@var{prog}
-Filter through @var{prog} (must accept @samp{-d}).
-@end table
-
-@value{op-compress} stores an archive in compressed format. This
-option is useful in saving time over networks and space in pipes, and
-when storage space is at a premium. @value{op-compress} causes
-@command{tar} to compress when writing the archive, or to uncompress when
-reading the archive.
-
-To perform compression and uncompression on the archive, @command{tar}
-runs the @command{compress} utility. @command{tar} uses the default
-compression parameters; if you need to override them, avoid the
-@value{op-compress} option and run the @command{compress} utility
-explicitly. It is useful to be able to call the @command{compress}
-utility from within @command{tar} because the @command{compress} utility by
-itself cannot access remote tape drives.
-
-The @value{op-compress} option will not work in conjunction with the
-@value{op-multi-volume} option or the @value{op-append}, @value{op-update}
-and @value{op-delete} operations. @xref{Operations}, for
-more information on these operations.
+The @acronym{GNU} Project recommends you not use
+@command{compress}, because there is a patent covering the algorithm it
+uses. You could be sued for patent infringement merely by running
+@command{compress}.
-If there is no compress utility available, @command{tar} will report an error.
-@strong{Please note} that the @command{compress} program may be covered by
-a patent, and therefore we recommend you stop using it.
+@item --use-compress-program=@var{prog}
+Use external compression program @var{prog}. Use this option if you
+have a compression program that @GNUTAR{} does not support. There
+are two requirements to which @var{prog} should comply:
-@value{op-bzip2} acts like @value{op-compress}, except that it uses
-the @code{bzip2} utility.
+First, when called without options, it should read data from standard
+input, compress it and output it on standard output.
-@table @kbd
-@item --compress
-@itemx --uncompress
-@itemx -z
-@itemx -Z
-When this option is specified, @command{tar} will compress (when
-writing an archive), or uncompress (when reading an archive). Used in
-conjunction with the @value{op-create}, @value{op-extract},
-@value{op-list} and @value{op-compare} operations.
+Secondly, if called with @option{-d} argument, it should do exactly
+the opposite, i.e. read the compressed data from the standard input
+and produce uncompressed data on the standard output.
@end table
-You can have archives be compressed by using the @value{op-gzip} option.
-This will arrange for @command{tar} to use the @command{gzip} program to be
-used to compress or uncompress the archive wren writing or reading it.
-
-To use the older, obsolete, @command{compress} program, use the
-@value{op-compress} option. The @acronym{GNU} Project recommends you not use
-@command{compress}, because there is a patent covering the algorithm it
-uses. You could be sued for patent infringement merely by running
-@command{compress}.
-
@FIXME{I have one question, or maybe it's a suggestion if there isn't a way
to do it now. I would like to use @value{op-gzip}, but I'd also like
the output to be fed through a program like @acronym{GNU}
data on the tape will be overwritten (unless it is no longer needed).
Before reading an archive, you should make sure the tape head is at
the beginning of the archive you want to read. (The @code{restore}
-script will find the archive automatically. @FIXME{There is no such
-restore script!}@FIXME-xref{Scripted Restoration}@xref{mt}, for
+script will find the archive automatically. @FIXME-xref{Scripted Restoration}@xref{mt}, for
an explanation of the tape moving utility.
If you want to add new archive file entries to a tape, you should
projects / chaz / tar / blobdiff