Re: question about file mask options that claim to not allow pathnames

On 24/04/2021 19:00, imschmeg wrote:
> The doc says that certaion dar options take a file mask, which the doc
> claims is not a path.  However, some examples in the doc of file
> masks are like --exclude-delta-sig "home/joe/*", which suggests that the
> mask is not just for the filename, but can apply to the path as well.
> What is the usage distinction between an option that applies a mask on
> a path vs. one that applies it only to a file?  Is the distinction
> about whether or not the --fs-root is included?
> 

Can you precise which doc specifies a mask is not a path?

In short, a mask is a string expression that may contain wild card
characters. Wild cards can either following the glob syntax (the one you
have in shells) or regular expression. See -ar and -ag options to change
that.

Many options use masks. Some options, like --include and --exclude, only
apply it to the filename part of the file that is under consideration.
Some other options, like --exclude-delta-sig, --prune, ... apply the
mask to the whole path+filename.

Depending on the result (the filename or path+filename matches the mask)
libdar takes the appropriate action in regard of role of the option.