Very Computer

Hi, is there a way to view what is in a tar file without actually
un-tar'ing (expanding) the tar file?

I've tried tar vt file.tar, but the tar program instead looks
at /dev/rmt/0, which I presume is a typical mount point for a tape.

  dp> Hi, is there a way to view what is in a tar file without actually
  dp> un-tar'ing (expanding) the tar file?

  dp> I've tried tar vt file.tar, but the tar program instead looks
  dp> at /dev/rmt/0, which I presume is a typical mount point for a tape.

Lordy.  Man pages are your friend!

If you want tar to look at a file, you have to use the "f" option:

  $ tar tvf file.tar

Just like you'd need the "f" option to extract it:

  $ tar xf file.tar

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 "Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     These are my opinions--Bay Networks takes no responsibility for them.

: Hi, is there a way to view what is in a tar file without actually
: un-tar'ing (expanding) the tar file?

: I've tried tar vt file.tar, but the tar program instead looks
: at /dev/rmt/0, which I presume is a typical mount point for a tape.

tar tvf file.tar

The 'f' specifies the file you want to perform the operation on.

--

Having a child keeps your priorities straight. You know that you'll never
waste a prayer on anything frivolous again.
- Alice Kahn

tar tvf file.tar

the f is used for specifying a file or device which is not the default.

Cheers
Sean

Regards,

"The first human being who hurled an insult instead of a stone
was the founder of civilization.
  --Signmund Freud (1856-1939)

tar -xv --to-stdout <your file inside the tar> | less -ri

--to-stdout may also be -o or -O

or something similar