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In addition to using `--compare' (`-d') to compare individual files in an archive with their counterparts in the file system, you can use `--compare' (`-d') to compare archived directories with their counterparts in the active file system. You could re-create the examples above using your home directory as the working directory, and using the archive file `music' (in which is stored the `practice' directory) instead of the archive file `records'.
First, change into the home directory (`cd ..'). Then, try the above example using `music' as the specified archive file, and the `practice' subdirectory as a file name argument.
% tar --compare --verbose --file=music practice practice practice/blues practice/blues: mod time differs practice/blues: size differs practice/folk practice/jazz practice/jazz: does not exist practice/records
In addition to using `--compare' (`-d') to compare text files, you can use `--compare' (`-d') to compare directories. To illustrate this, re-create the examples above using your home directory as the working directory, and using the archive file `~/music' instead of the archive file `~/practice/records'.
First, change into your home directory (`cd ~'). Then, try the above example using `music' as the specified archive file, and `practice' as a file name argument.
% tar --compare --verbose --file=music practice
If you have been following along with the tutorial, tar will respond:
practice practice/blues practice/blues: mod time differs practice/blues: size differs practice/folk practice/jazz practice/jazz: does not exist practice/records
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