NAME

       bup-meta - create or extract a metadata archive

SYNOPSIS

       bup meta --create
              [-R][-v] [-q][\--no-symlinks] [--no-paths][-f *file*] <paths...>

       bup meta --list
              [-v][-q] [-f file]

       bup meta --extract
              [-v][-q] [--numeric-ids][\--no-symlinks] [-f file]

       bup meta --start-extract
              [-v][-q] [--numeric-ids][\--no-symlinks] [-f file]

       bup meta --finish-extract
              [-v][-q] [--numeric-ids][-f *file*]

       bup meta --edit
              [--set-uid  uid  |  --set-gid  gid  |  --set-user  user  | --set-group group | ...]
              <paths...>

DESCRIPTION

       bup meta creates, extracts,  or  otherwise  manipulates  metadata  archives.   A  metadata
       archive  contains  the  metadata  information  (timestamps, ownership, access permissions,
       etc.) for a set of filesystem paths.

       See bup-restore(1) for a description of the way ownership metadata is restored.

OPTIONS

       -c, --create
              Create a metadata archive for the specified paths.  Write the archive  to  standard
              output unless --file is specified.

       -t, --list
              Display  information  about  the  metadata  in  an  archive.  Read the archive from
              standard input unless --file is specified.

       -x, --extract
              Extract a metadata archive.   Conceptually,  perform  --start-extract  followed  by
              --finish-extract.  Read the archive from standard input unless --file is specified.

       --start-extract
              Build  a  filesystem  tree  matching  the  paths  stored in a metadata archive.  By
              itself, this command does not produce a full restoration of the  metadata.   For  a
              full  restoration,  this  command  must  be followed by a call to --finish-extract.
              Once this command has finished, all of the normal files described by  the  metadata
              will  exist  and  be  empty.   Restoring  the data in those files, and then calling
              --finish-extract should restore the original tree.  The archive will be  read  from
              standard input unless --file is specified.

       --finish-extract
              Finish  applying  the  metadata  stored in an archive to the filesystem.  Normally,
              this command should follow a call to --start-extract.  The  archive  will  be  read
              from standard input unless --file is specified.

       --edit Edit  metadata  archives.   The  result  will  be written to standard output unless
              --file is specified.

       -f, --file=filename
              Read the metadata archive from filename or write it to filename as appropriate.  If
              filename is "-", then read from standard input or write to standard output.

       -R, --recurse
              Recursively descend into subdirectories during --create.

       --numeric-ids
              Apply  numeric  IDs  (user,  group,  etc.)  rather  than  names during --extract or
              --finish-extract.

       --symlinks
              Record symbolic link targets when creating an archive, or  restore  symbolic  links
              when  extracting  an archive (during --extract or --start-extract).  This option is
              enabled by default.  Specify --no-symlinks to disable it.

       --paths
              Record pathnames when creating an archive.  This  option  is  enabled  by  default.
              Specify --no-paths to disable it.

       --set-uid=uid
              Set the metadata uid to the integer uid during --edit.

       --set-gid=gid
              Set the metadata gid to the integer gid during --edit.

       --set-user=user
              Set the metadata user to user during --edit.

       --unset-user
              Remove the metadata user during --edit.

       --set-group=group
              Set the metadata user to group during --edit.

       --unset-group
              Remove the metadata group during --edit.

       -v, --verbose
              Be more verbose (can be used more than once).

       -q, --quiet
              Be quiet.

EXAMPLES

              # Create a metadata archive for /etc.
              $ bup meta -cRf etc.meta /etc
              bup: removing leading "/" from "/etc"

              # Extract the etc.meta archive (files will be empty).
              $ mkdir tmp && cd tmp
              $ bup meta -xf ../etc.meta
              $ ls
              etc

              # Restore /etc completely.
              $ mkdir tmp && cd tmp
              $ bup meta --start-extract -f ../etc.meta
              ...fill in all regular file contents using some other tool...
              $ bup meta --finish-extract -f ../etc.meta

              # Change user/uid to root.
              $ bup meta --edit --set-uid 0 --set-user root \
                  src.meta > dest.meta

BUGS

       Hard links are not handled yet.

BUP

       Part of the bup(1) suite.

AUTHORS

       Rob Browning <rlb@defaultvalue.org>.