[Top][All Lists]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [Bug-tar] maybe need for clarification: --unlink-first vs. default o
From: |
Sergey Poznyakoff |
Subject: |
Re: [Bug-tar] maybe need for clarification: --unlink-first vs. default operation when extracting files |
Date: |
Wed, 25 May 2005 12:51:08 +0300 |
Helmut Waitzmann <address@hidden> wrote:
> I guess, that tar removes a file which is to be replaced by an archive
> member before extracting, right?
Right.
> So, what's the purpose of the '--unlink-first' option? What does
> "unconditionally" mean in this context?
The default operation is:
1. Try to create file name to be extracted.
2. If open fails because the file exists - remove the file.
3. Create the new file.
The operation with --unlink-first is:
1. Unlink the file first.
2. Create the new file.
So, two steps, instead of three. Thus, --unlink-first can speed up
extracting of large archives.
Regards,
Sergey