Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Fri, 01 May 2009 03:04:05 -0500, Dale wrote:
>
>
>>> Tar needs to be given files or directories to include, you didn't and
>>> that's why it refused to make an empty archive. Since -C chnges to the
>>> directory you want to backup, you use . to tell it to backup the (now)
>>> current directory.
>>>
>
>
>> Would using a wild card work? Like this; /mnt/gentoo/* Just curious.
>>
>
> No, because the -C has already changed the working directory
> to /mnt/gentoo, so /mnt/gentoo/* would go back to where you were before
> (because of the leading/). Using * on its own wouldn't work, because
> the shell would expand it before running the tar command. Also, using
> * would exclude hidden files. You've been given a working command, why
> look for a more complex but flawed alternative?
>
True, just learning a little bit. I get these wild hairs every once in
a while. lol
> tar -C somewhere -blah
>
> is equivalent to
>
> cd somewhere
> tar -blah
> cd ${OLDPWD}
>
> and workd for both creation and extraction. As you are already using it
> for extraction, why not maintain consistency and use it for creation too?
>
>
>> And to think that I thought a period was only needed for the end of a
>> sentence. Learn something new every day I guess.
>>
>
> . = current directory
> .. = parent directory
>
>
Should those dots make my light bulb shine brighter? I did forget about
those tho. It's been a while since I used those too. You know, cd ..
goes up one level.
Thanks.
Dale
:-) :-)
