(tar.info.gz) Styles

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 3.3 The Three Option Styles
 ===========================
 
 There are three styles for writing operations and options to the command
 line invoking 'tar'.  The different styles were developed at different
 times during the history of 'tar'.  These styles will be presented
 below, from the most recent to the oldest.
 
    Some options must take an argument(1).  Where you _place_ the
 arguments generally depends on which style of options you choose.  We
 will detail specific information relevant to each option style in the
 sections on the different option styles, below.  The differences are
 subtle, yet can often be very important; incorrect option placement can
 cause you to overwrite a number of important files.  We urge you to note
 these differences, and only use the option style(s) which makes the most
 sense to you until you feel comfortable with the others.
 
    Some options _may_ take an argument.  Such options may have at most
 long and short forms, they do not have old style equivalent.  The rules
 for specifying an argument for such options are stricter than those for
 specifying mandatory arguments.  Please, pay special attention to them.
 

Menu

 
* Long Options                Long Option Style
* Short Options               Short Option Style
* Old Options                 Old Option Style
* Mixing                      Mixing Option Styles
 
    ---------- Footnotes ----------
 
    (1) For example, '--file' ('-f') takes the name of an archive file as
 an argument.  If you do not supply an archive file name, 'tar' will use
 a default, but this can be confusing; thus, we recommend that you always
 supply a specific archive file name.
 
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