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` either creates or extracts a metadata archive. A metadata
-archive contains the metadata information (timestamps, ownership,
-access permissions, etc.) for a set of filesystem paths.
+`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
-t, \--list
: Display information about the metadata in an archive. Read the
- archive from standard output unless `--file` is specified.
+ archive from standard input unless `--file` is specified.
-x, \--extract
: Extract a metadata archive. Conceptually, perform `--start-extract`
`--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
-R, \--recurse
: Recursively descend into subdirectories during `--create`.
+\--xdev, \--one-file-system
+: don't cross filesystem boundaries -- though as with tar and rsync,
+ the mount points themselves will still be handled.
+
\--numeric-ids
-: Apply numeric user and group IDs (rather than text IDs) during
+: Apply numeric IDs (user, group, etc.) rather than names during
`--extract` or `--finish-extract`.
\--symlinks
: 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).
...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.