Re: TAR bug - seen under Linux, several versions

[D E Hammond]

[Posted and mailed]

address@hidden (DH127087) writes:
> Hello -
> 
>     there is a typical tar command which I have used for
>     years under Solaris, NCR UNIX, and many other
>     UNIX operating systems.
> 
>     tar -ft <filename>
> 
>     I just figured out today that the following command works:
> 
>     tar -t -f <filename>
> 
>     but this is very inconsistent with the normal syntax since
>     the following also works under linux:
> 
>     tar -xvf <filename>
>     tar -tf <filename>
> 
> [...]

The common characteristic in the three invocations that work is
that <filename> immediately follows the 'f' option.  This is
expected behavior.  There are other option styles documented at:

http://www.gnu.org/manual/tar/html_chapter/tar_3.html#SEC32

which says you can accomplish what you want with the "old option
style".  Something like: tar ft <filename> (note: no leading '-').

Hope that helps.

 - Don