Thanks to Rich Kulawiec who gave the most detailed answer.  This allowed
me to compile GNU's tar, and give it a separate name to preserve the
original tar.  To see how to do this and other options user ./configure
--help after untarring the files.
Thanks again to all who responded.
----------------------------------------------------
FWD from:  rsk_at_itw.com
You do have the right file; you have to crack it apart with tar, though,
e.g.
        mkdir /usr/local/src
        mv -i tar-1.12.tar /usr/local/src
        cd /usr/local/src
        tar xf tar-1.12.tar	(or tar xvf tar-1.12.tar if you want to
watch)
        cd tar-1.12
        more README	(to read description)
        more INSTALL	(to read installation instructions)
        ./configure	(which is what INSTALL will tell you to do)
        make		(also what INSTALL will tell you to do)
You *could* then do a
        make install
but I'd advise doing a
        make -n install
first, to see if where it plans on installing things is where you
want them.  If not, re-read INSTALL and adjust the flags passed
to "configure" in order to change that.  For example, I do not wish
to have GNU tar installed as "tar" because I don't want users to
confuse it with the SunOS/Solaris/Irix tar that's shipped with the
systems; I therefore force it to be installed as /usr/local/bin/gtar.
Finally, you probably want to do some cleanup, e.g.
        make clean
        rm /usr/local/src/tar-1.12.tar
        chown -R root /usr/local/src/tar-1.12
        chgrp -R staff /usr/local/src/tar-1.12
---Rsk
Rich Kulawiec
rsk_at_itw.com
susrod_at_hbsi.com
- consistency is the defense of a small mind
> ----------
> From: 	Susan Rodriguez
> Sent: 	Tuesday, November 04, 1997 9:06 PM
> To: 	'OSF Managers'
> Subject: 	[Question] - trying to compile gnutar 
> 
> 
> Mangers,
> 
> 	I have downloaded gnu's version of tar.  I was expecting a
> makefile, some *.c file, and just possibly, some instructions.  The
> only thing that unzipped was a single file:  tar-1_12_tar.  It looks
> somewhat like a make file, but doesn't work with make, nor will it
> convert with xmkmf (so it's not an imake file).  I can read it with
> vi.  It looks like a script, but running it just produces a lot of
> errors.
> 
> 	I'm not very knowledgable about using make or compiling things.
> I did OK with gzip, but it had instructions tarred in with it, also
> man pages, etc.  I'm not even 100% sure I've got the right file.  I've
> used gtar and gnutar on HPUX systems.  Is that what I will end up with
> if I can figure this out?
> 
> 	Can someone tell me how to use this file to make gnutar -  or
> point me to another internet site with install-friendly (idiot-proof)
> gnutar files?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Susan
> 
> 
> 
Received on Fri Nov 07 1997 - 03:58:41 NZDT