12.5 GUI Backup Tools
12.5.2 Using CDE to archive, compress, and restore
The Files subpanel on the Front panel in conjunction with File Manager can be used to Archive and compress files creating the same results as using the tar, compress, and uncompress commands.

Archiving a File
Click on the File subpanel from the CDE Front Panel and then select the Archive menu option. An Archive window will open, as shown in Figure , to allow you to enter the following information:

  • Folder for archive - This is the folder where the archive (tar) file will be placed. The default is your home folder (e.g.: /home/user2).
  • Name for Archive - The name you wish to give the archive file. 
  • File or folder to Archive - The name of a folder, file or group of files to be combined into an archive. You can use wildcard metacharacters such as ? and *.

Restoring an Archive
Open File Manager and navigate to the folder where the archive file was placed (default is your home directory). Select the archive (it should have a .tar extension) and either use the Selected menu or right click the mouse to get to the Archive Unpack option. If the original file exists in the directory where the Archive is unpacked, it will be overwritten by the unpacked version.

Compressing a File
Click on the File subpanel from the CDE Front Panel and then select the Compress File menu option. A Compress window will open, as shown in Figure , to allow you to enter the name of the File to compress. The compressed file will be renamed with a .Z extension, and it will reside in whatever directory it was in prior to the compress (default is home directory).

Uncompressing a File
Open File Manager and navigate to the folder where the compressed file was placed (default is your home directory). Select the compressed file (it should have a .Z extension) and either use the Selected menu or right click the mouse to get to the Uncompress File option. The file will be renamed back to its original name with the .Z extension removed.

Lab Activity (Adobe Acrobat Reader, 38 kB)
  CDE Archive Tools

In this lab, you will work with the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) Utilities to backup, compress, and restore files and folders. The Files subpanel on the Front panel in conjunction with File Manager can be used to Archive, compress and restore files creating the same results as using the tar, compress, and uncompress commands.