Very Computer

is there a difference between:
tar xzf    file.tar.gz and
tar -xzf   file.tar.gz ?

i could'nt find it in manpages

thanks
Bart

SYNOPSIS
       tar  [-] ...
            ^^^
            this tells you that the hypghen is optional

You could also just have tried it to find out.

Dragan

    Bart> Hi, is there a difference between:
    Bart> tar xzf file.tar.gz and
    Bart> tar -xzf file.tar.gz ?

The  first one  is the  correct form.   The second  form is  in theory
INCORRECT.  

However,  this  mistaken  has  been observed  so  commonly  throughout
decades that  the developers of GNU  tar decided long ago  to make GNU
tar tolerate with  the second form.  Note that  this kind of tolerance
applies  only   to  GNU  tar,  and   may  not  be   present  in  other
implementations of 'tar' (such as those on Solaris, AIX, IRIX, HP-UX).
Now  that you've discovered  the first  form, it's  better for  you to
learn to stick  with the first form, so that when  you have the chance
to use  other Unices,  you won't get  stuck there wondering  why 'tar'
doesn't work as  you're used to.  (Of course, GNU  tar has been ported
to all major Unices, but whether  the local admin has installed it and
taken away the "native" tar is not a predictable parameter.)

    Bart> i could'nt find it in manpages

You should.

From "              30 October 2000                   TAR(1)":

        The first argument to tar must
        be one of the options: Acdrtux, followed by  any  optional
        functions.  

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Home page: http://www.informatik.uni-freiburg.de/~danlee