TARDIST(1)                                                          TARDIST(1)

NAME
     tardist - install a tar-encoded software distribution

SYNOPSIS
     tardist tar_file

DESCRIPTION
     Tardist unpacks a distribution, encoded as a tar file, runs Software
     Manager to allow installation of the distribution, then gives the user
     the option of deleting the distribution or saving it for future use.

     Tardist tries to use the directory /usr/dist (normally expected to be a
     world-writable directory for unpacking and storing distributions) as its
     working directory: it will unpack the tar file in a subdirectory of
     /usr/dist, and if the user elects to save, the files comprising the
     distribution will be merged with whatever is already present in
     /usr/dist.

     If /usr/dist is not present or is not writable, tardist will instead
     unpack the tar file in a subdirectory created in the same directory where
     the original tar file lives, i.e.  if tardist was invoked as tardist
     /tmp/dist.tar, then it will create a subdirectory in /tmp.

     If neither /usr/dist nor the directory of the tar file are writable by
     the user, tardist will ask the user where to create the working directory
     for unpacking the distribution.

     After SoftwareManager has completed, tardist will give the option of
     saving the distribution.  If /usr/dist is present and writable, then the
     files in the distribution will be merged into that directory.  Otherwise,
     tardist will give the option of moving the distribution directory to a
     new name chosen by the user.

FILES
     /usr/dist   A directory writable by the user, in which the initial
                 distribution will be unpacked and, optionally, saved.

NOTES
     Tardist is intended to be called from a web browser, such as netscape,
     and passed a filename with the extension .tardist, probably located in
     the netscape tmp directory.

     If there is not enough room in tardist's working directory (either
     /usr/dist or the directory where the original tar file lives) to hold the
     software distribution being downloaded, tardist may not be able to
     install the distribution.

SEE ALSO
     SoftwareManager(1M), tar(1), netscape(1).