ltf(1)ltf(1)Nameltf - labeled tape facility
Syntaxltf option[keys] file...
Description
The command reads and writes single-volume Versions 3 and 4 ANSI-com‐
patible tape volumes. For a description of the label conventions, see
The file argument specifies each file or directory name that is to be
processed. If a directory name is specified, the complete directory
tree is processed.
Options
The actions of are controlled by one of the following option characters
that must appear as the first command-line argument: -c, -H, -t, and
-x.
-c ®Creates a new volume assigning an interchange file name to the
files on the volume. That is, initializes the volume and writes
each named file onto the output file. Then assigns an “interchange”
file name to the files being created on the volume. This “inter‐
change” file name is a name that can be recognized by a non-ULTRIX
system. (Permissible ULTRIX file names are not allowed in all forms
of ANSI volumes). This file name is 17 characters in length and
includes only capital letters and the “a” characters, see It is
formed by converting all lower case letters to upper case, convert‐
ing non-“a” characters to upper case Z, and truncating the resultant
string to 17 characters. If ANSI Version 4 volumes are being used,
the original ULTRIX file name is preserved in HDR3 through HDR9 and
EOF3 through EOF9. For further information, see
-H Displays help messages for all options and keys.
-t Lists each named file on the specified volume. If no file argument
is given, information about all files on the volume is provided. If
-t is used without v or V (verbose keys), the interchange file names
are also included in the list.
-x Extracts each named file from the volume to the user's current
directory. If no file argument is given, the entire content of the
volume is extracted. If the p key is not specified when extracting
files from a volume written by an ULTRIX system, the files are
restored to the current user and group IDs and to the mode set by
the system call.
Keys
The following optional keys can be specified to enable or disable
actions as specified:
a Outputs an ANSI-compatible Version 3 format volume. This key can be
used with the -c option only. The default version is 4. For fur‐
ther information, see
h Write to a tape volume the file that a symbolic link points to
instead of creating the symbolic link on a volume. The file written
to the tape now has the same name as the symbolic link. This key
can be used with the -c option only. When extracting, if a symbolic
link exists in the current directory that has the same name as a
file on the tape volume, the link is followed and the file that the
symbolic link currently points to is overwritten with the extracted
file. To avoid overwriting files, use the w key.
o Omits directory blocks from the output volume. When creating a vol‐
ume, the directory files are omitted, and when listing or extract‐
ing, the V key is disabled.
O Omits usage of optional headers HDR3 through HDR9 and EOF3 through
EOF9. For further information, see If a file is created on an
ULTRIX system without the use of the O key, these file headers con‐
tain the complete ULTRIX disk file name. Some non-ULTRIX systems
are not able to process volumes containing these header labels.
Thus, it is helpful to use this qualifier to avoid unnecessary error
messages when planning to use non-ULTRIX systems.
p Restores files to original mode, user ID and group ID that is writ‐
ten on the tape volume. This key can be used with the -x option on
ULTRIX files and by the superuser only.
v Displays long form information about volume and files. Normally,
operates with little terminal output.
When used in conjunction with the -t option, v gives more informa‐
tion about the volume entries than when used in conjunction with the
-c and -x options. The following line is typical output from -tv
functions.
ltf: Volume ID is: ULTRIX Volume is: ANSI Version #4
ltf: Owner ID is: OwnerID
ltf: Implementation ID is: SystemID
ltf: Volume created on: System
t(1,1) rw-r--r-- 103/3 owner Feb 2 12:34 2530 bytes <cc >D file1
t(2,1) rw-r--r-- 103/3 owner Jun 29 09:34 999 bytes <com>D file2
t(3,1) rwxrwxrwx 293/10 name Jan 24 10:20 1234 bytes <bin>F name
t(4,1) --xrwx--- 199/04 theowner Jan 24 10:21 12345 bytes <asc>D
long file name
The first field contains the file sequence number and the file sec‐
tion number of the file. If an ULTRIX system created the labeled
volume, the second and third fields contain the mode, and
owner/group ID of the file. Otherwise, these two fields are filled
with dashes. The fourth field contains the file owner name. The
fifth field contains latest modification time. The year is included
if the modification time is older than Jan 1 of the current year.
The sixth field contains the number of bytes used on the volume for
the file. If the volume is non-ULTRIX, this field contains the num‐
ber of blocks with the block size in parenthesis. The seventh field
contains the ANSI file type (angle brackets) and the file record
format (one character suffix). The file record formats are: F
(fixed length), D (variable length), or S (spanned/segmented
records). The eighth (last) field contains the name of the file.
If the file name does not fit within the 12 spaces left in the line,
the name appears on the next line preceded by a carriage return. A
long file name will be continued over one or more lines thus it is
recommended to keep auto wrap on in the terminal setup. Also if a
file on a volume is either a symbolic or hard link, information
about the linked file is displayed on the next line, preceded by a
carriage return.
V Displays verbose information about directories.
w Warns the user if file name is in danger of being truncated when
using -c or if it could be overwritten using -x. Normally, operates
silently and does not let the user know what is happening. When -cw
is specified, displays two warning messages if the interchange name
and the ULTRIX file name are not the same. When -xw is specified,
displays a warning message if a file is about to be overwritten.
Another message is displayed asking for approval to overwrite the
file. If the user types no or presses return, then the option
exists to type in a new file name or press return to quit. If a new
file name is typed, this name is also checked. Thus, does not con‐
tinue until a unique file name is typed. When -x is specified, does
not warn the user if a directory name already exists.
0..31
Selects a unit number for a named tape device. These unit numbers
can be entered when using the default tape name, /dev/rmt0h.
The following optional keys require an additional argument to be speci‐
fied on the command line. If two or more of these keys are used, their
respective arguments are to appear in the exact order that the keys are
specified.
B size
Set the blocking factor to size. This specifies the maximum number
of bytes that can be written in a block on a volume. If no value is
specified, size defaults to 2048 bytes. The maximum size is 20480
bytes and the minimum size is 18 bytes. The B key need only be
specified with -c.
The size may be specified as n bytes, (where n is assumed to be dec‐
imal) or as nb, (a multiple of 512 bytes using n followed by 'b',
where 'b' signifies the multiple of 512) or as nk, (a multiple of
1024 bytes using n followed by 'k', where 'k' signifies the multiple
of 1024).
f device
Sets the device file name to device. The default is /dev/rmt0h.
The use of the f key overrides the 0..31 keys.
I file
Allows file name to be supplied either interactively or from a spec‐
ified file. Normally, expects the argument file names to be part of
the command line. The I key allows the user to enter argument file
names either interactively or from a specified file. If file is a
dash (-), reads standard input and prompts for all required informa‐
tion. All of the file names are requested first, followed by a sin‐
gle return before the arguments are processed. If file is a valid
file name, file is opened and read to obtain argument file names.
L label
Specifies a six-character volume identifier label. The default
label for ULTRIX systems is 'ULTRIX'.
P position
Specifies file sequence and section number at which volume will be
positioned, using #,#. The first #, represents the file sequence
number, while second #, the file section number. The file sequence
number begins at 1 and is incremented for each file in the current
file set. Since this implementation of only produces one file set,
the file sequence number for volumes written with this implementa‐
tion is the number of the file as it is written on the volume. The
file section number begins at 1 and is incremented for each file
section on any one volume. This number is necessary when files are
written in multi-volume format where the need may exist to split a
file across volumes; however since this implementation of writes
only single volumes, the file section number is always 1 for volumes
written with this implementation. If no file arguments are speci‐
fied, all files from the position number to the end of the tape are
listed or extracted. Otherwise, particular files that exist between
the position number and the end of the tape can be listed or
extracted. A warning message appears if a file is requested that
exists before the position number specified. The P key cannot be
used with the -c option.
Examplesltf-cfB /dev/rmt0h 100 file1 file2 file3
This example creates a new volume for file1, file2, and file3 using
device /dev/rmt0h (f key) and a blocking factor of 100 (B key).
Restrictions
The command does not support floppy diskettes or multi-volume tapes.
Diagnostics
Diagnostics are written to the standard error file. They come in four
forms: fatal errors, warnings, information, and prompts. The command
terminates when it detects that a fatal error has occurred.
The diagnostics are intended to be self-explanatory. Their general
format is:
ltf: FATAL > a fatal error message
ltf: Warning > a warning or advisory message
ltf: Info > an information message
ltf: a prompt asking for input
See Alsoltf(5)ltf(1)
