TP(1)							      General Commands Manual							     TP(1)

NAME

       tp - manipulate tape archive

SYNOPSIS

       tp [ key ] [ name ... ]

DESCRIPTION

       Tp saves and restores files on DECtape or magtape.  Its actions are controlled by the key argument.  The key is a string of characters con-
       taining 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.

       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/dmr/abc' even if `/usr/dmr' 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 magtapes.

       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.

       m	 Specifies magtape as opposed to DECtape.

       0,...,7	 This modifier selects the drive on which the tape is mounted.	For DECtape, x is default; for magtape `0' is the default.

       v	 Normally tp does its work silently.  The v (verbose) 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 option is
		 assumed with magtape since it is impossible to selectively overwrite magtape.

       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 option currently acts like m; i.e.  r implies c, and  neither
		 d nor u are permitted.

       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.

FILES

       /dev/tap?
       /dev/rmt?

SEE ALSO

       ar(1), tar(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.

7th Edition							  April 29, 1985							     TP(1)