[NTLUG:Discuss] Tar Exclude file question

[Stephen Davidson]

Greetings.

I am trying to put together a custom backup script using tar.  Due to file size limitations, I need to break the tar file down into some smaller 
chunks.  So. what I am trying to do is tar this one directory, w/o several very large subdirectories in it.  Each subdirecty in question (about 6 
out of 20) will be its own tar ball.

So I figured I would run tar on the directory, and list the subdirectories in question as exclusions using the -X option.  Problem is, when I put 
more than one file in the excludefiles.txt file, tar won't add anything.  So what is the format for multiple files?  I have tried several variations;

first idea;
dir1
dir2
dir3

second idea
dir1 dir2 dir3

third idea
dir1, dir2, dir3

So what should it be?

Thanks,
Steve

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