Question about using bash and tar.

amigatec · 10-02-2003, 10:11 PM

What does the -C / do at the end of the line? Also is their a reason that the zxvf is written as -zxvf?

tar -zxvf patch.tar.gz -C /

I have seen this in a few bash scripts.

trickykid · 10-02-2003, 11:06 PM

Straight from the man page:

-C, --directory DIR; change to directory DIR

activelylazy · 10-04-2003, 03:37 AM

in general, when you have a question on a command, check the man page (for instance, type "man tar" and hit enter)

Also, here are a couple good resources for linux commands:

Comprehensive:
http://www.oreillynet.com/linux/cmd/

Beginner's guide:
http://www.userlocal.com/helpbasic.php

/bin/bash · 10-04-2003, 04:45 AM

Also is their a reason that the zxvf is written as -zxvf?

tar -zxvf patch.tar.gz -C /

I have seen this in a few bash scripts.

tar -zvxf patch.tar.gz will work.
tar xzvf patch.tar.gz will work.
tar -zfxv patch.tar.gz will not work. The -f option means that the next item is a filename so f should be the last item in the option list.