tar: Styles

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

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