Re: tar - `extract dir' removes files, a BUG?

[Paul Eggert]

> From: Roland Huebner <address@hidden>
> Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 09:43:11 +0200

>  -- `extract dir'  removes all files `newer than' the incremental backup

That's how it's documented to behave.  tar.texi says:

   If the @value{op-incremental} option is used with @value{op-extract}, then
   when the entry for a directory is found, all files that currently
   exist in that directory but are not listed in the archive @emph{are
   deleted from the directory}.

   This behavior is convenient when you are restoring a damaged file
   system from a succession of incremental backups: it restores the
   entire state of the file system to that which obtained when the backup
   was made.  If you don't use @value{op-incremental}, the file system will
   probably fill up with files that shouldn't exist any more.

   @value{op-listed-incremental} handle new @sc{gnu}-format incremental backup.
   This option handles new @sc{gnu}-format incremental backup.  It has much the
   same effect as @value{op-incremental}....

I typically restore into a new directory myself.

I suppose it might be useful to have yet another option to have tar behave
the way that you want it to.