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How to Update an Archive Using `--update'
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   You must use file name arguments with the `--update' (`-u')
operation.  If you don't specify any files, `tar' won't act on any
files and won't tell you that it didn't do anything (which may end up
confusing you).

   To see the `--update' option at work, create a new file,
`classical', in your practice directory, and some extra text to the
file `blues', using any text editor.  Then invoke `tar' with the
`update' operation and the `--verbose' (`-v') option specified, using
the names of all the files in the practice directory as file name
arguments:

     $ tar --update -v -f collection.tar blues folk rock classical
     blues
     classical
     $

Because we have specified verbose mode, `tar' prints out the names of
the files it is working on, which in this case are the names of the
files that needed to be updated.  If you run `tar --list' and look at
the archive, you will see `blues' and `classical' at its end.  There
will be a total of two versions of the member `blues'; the one at the
end will be newer and larger, since you added text before updating it.

   (The reason `tar' does not overwrite the older file when updating it
is because writing to the middle of a section of tape is a difficult
process.  Tapes are not designed to go backward.  Note: Media, for
more information about tapes.

   `--update' (`-u') is not suitable for performing backups for two
reasons: it does not change directory content entries, and it lengthens
the archive every time it is used.  The GNU `tar' options intended
specifically for backups are more efficient.  If you need to run
backups, please consult Note: Backups.