tp(1) tp(1)
NAME
tp - manipulate tape archive
SYNOPSIS
tp [key] [name ...]
DESCRIPTION
tp saves and restores files on DECtape or other magnetic
tape. Its actions are controlled by the key argument. The
key is a string of characters containing at most one
function 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
listed. In all cases, appearance of a directory name refers
to the files and (recursively) subdirectories of that
directory.
tp is useful for importing tapes made on older systems.
The function portion of the key is specified by one of the
following letters:
r The named files are written on the tape. If files
with the same names already exist, they are
replaced. ``Same'' is determined by string
comparison, so .abc can never be the same as
/usr/sbo/abc even if /usr/sbo is the current
directory. If no file argument is given, . is the
default.
u Updates the tape. u is like 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 command if none is given.
d Deletes the named files from the tape. At least
one name argument must be given. This function is
not permitted on magnetic tapes.
x Extracts the named files from the tape to the file
system. The owner and mode are restored. If no
file argument is given, the entire contents of the
tape are extracted.
t Lists the names of the specified files. If no file
argument is given, the entire contents of the tape
is listed.
The following characters may be used in addition to the
letter which selects the function desired.
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tp(1) tp(1)
m Specifies magnetic tape as opposed to DECtape.
0,...,7 This modifier selects the drive on which the tape
is mounted. For DECtape, x is default; for
magnetic tape 0 is the default.
v Normally tp does its work silently. The v
(verbose) flag option causes it to type the name of
each file it treats preceded by the function
letter. With the t function, v gives more
information about the tape entries than just the
name.
c Means a fresh dump is being created; the tape
directory is cleared before beginning. Usable only
with r and u. This flag option is assumed with
magnetic tape since it is impossible to selectively
overwrite magnetic tape.
i Errors reading and writing the tape are noted, but
no action is taken. Normally, errors cause a
return to the command level.
f Use the first named file, rather than a tape, as
the archive. This flag option is known to work
only with x.
w Causes tp 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 tp 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.
EXAMPLE
tp x file1
extracts file1 from a tp formatted magnetic tape mounted on
drive 0.
FILES
/bin/tip
/dev/tap?
/dev/mt?
SEE ALSO
ar(1), cpio(1), tar(1).
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tp(1) tp(1)
DIAGNOSTICS
Several; the non-obvious one is Phase error, which means the
file changed after it was selected for dumping but before it
was dumped.
BUGS
A single file with several links to it is treated like
several files.
Binary-coded control information makes magnetic tapes
written by tp difficult to carry to other machines; tar(1)
avoids the problem.
tp does not copy zero-length files to tape.
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