Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

tar

Synopsis

                  tar [options] [tarfile] [other-files]

Copy files to or restore files from an archive medium. If any files are directories, tar acts on the entire subtree. Options need not be preceded by - (though they may be). The exception to this rule is when you are using a long-style option (such as --modification-time). In that case, the exact syntax is:

                  tar --
                  long-option 
                  -
                  function-options files

For example:

                  tar --modification-time -xvf tarfile.tar

Function options

You must use exactly one of these, and it must come before any other options:

-c, --create

Create a new archive.

-d, --diff, --compare

Compare the files stored in tarfile with other-files. Report any differences: missing files, different sizes, different file attributes (such as permissions or modification time).

--delete

Delete from the archive. This option cannot be used with magnetic tape.

-r, --append

Append other-files to the end of an existing archive.

-t, --list

Print the names of other-files if they are stored on the archive (if other-files are not specified, print names of all files).

-u, --update

Add files if not in the archive or if modified.

-x, --extract, --get

Extract other-files from an archive (if other-files are not specified, extract all files).

-A, --catenate, --concatenate

Concatenate a second tar file to the end of the first.

Options

[drive][density]

Set drive (0-7) and storage density (l, m, or h, corresponding to low, medium, or high). Not available in all versions of tar.

--anchored

Exclude patterns ...