TAP (I) 3/15/72 TAP (I)
NAME tap -- manipulate DECtape
SYNOPSIS tap [ key ] [ name ... ]
DESCRIPTION tap saves and restores selected portions of the
file system hierarchy on DECtape. Its actions
are controlled by the key argument. The key is a
string of characters containing at most one func-
tion letter and possibly one or more function
modifiers. Other arguments to the command are
file or directory names specifying which files
are to be dumped, restored, or tabled.
The function portion of the key is specified by
one of the following letters:
r The indicated files and directories, to-
gether with all subdirectories, are dumped
onto the tape. If files with the same
names already exist, they are replaced
(hence the "r"). "Same" is determined by
string comparison, so "./abc" can never be
the same as "/usr/dmr/abc" even if
"/usr/dmr" is the current directory. If no
file argument is given, "." is the default.
u updates the tape. u is the same as r, but
a file is replaced only if its modification
date is later than the date stored on the
tape; that is to say, if it has changed
since it was dumped. u is the default com-
mand if none is given.
d deletes the named files and directories
from the tape. At least one file argument
must be given.
x extracts the named files from the tape to
the file system. The owner, mode, and
date-modified are restored to what they
were when the file was dumped. If no file
argument is given, the entire contents of
the tape are extracted.
t lists the names of all files stored on the
tape which are the same as or are hierar-
chically below the file arguments. If no
file argument is given, the entire contents
of the tape are tabled.
l is the same as t except that an expanded
listing is produced giving all the avail-
able information about the listed files.
The following characters may be used in addition
to the letter which selects the function desired.
0, ..., 7 This modifier selects the drive on
which the tape is mounted. "0" is the de-
fault.
v Normally tap does its work silently. The v
(verbose) option causes it to type the name
of each file it treats preceded by a letter
to indicate what is happening.
r file is being replaced
a file is being added (not there before)
x file is being extracted
d file is being deleted
The v option can be used with r, u, d, and
x only.
c means a fresh dump is being created; the
tape directory will be zeroed before begin-
ning. Usable only with r and u.
f causes new entries copied on tape to be
'fake' in that no data is present for these
entries. Such fake entries cannot be ex-
tracted. Usable only with r and u.
w causes tap to pause before treating each
file, type the indicative letter and the
file name (as with v) and await the user's
response. Response "y" means "yes", so the
file is treated. Null response means "no",
and the file does not take part in whatever
is being done. Response "x" means "exit";
the tap command terminates immediately. In
the x function, files previously asked
about have been extracted already. With r,
u, and d no change has been made to the
tape.
m make (create) directories during an x if
necessary.
FILES /dev/tap?
SEE ALSO mt(I)
DIAGNOSTICS Tape open error
Tape read error
Tape write error
Directory checksum
Directory overflow
Tape overflow
Phase error (a file has changed after it was se-
lected for dumping but before it was dumped)
BUGS Asks about "fake" entries on "xw", when it should
ignore them. If a fake entry is extracted, and
the file already exists on disk, the extraction
does not take place (as is correct), but the mode
and user ID of the file are set to 0.