[tex-live] Misplaced context files

[Akira Kakuto]

Hi Karl,

> The question is, why can tar.exe read the current pgf.tar
> (after xzdec), but not longname.tar?  They were both created in the same
> way, with --format=ustar.  That is, I assume tar.exe can read the
> current pgf.tar since no one has complained about it.

In TL '09, pgf.tar does not contain longer names than 100, because
the top directories are subdirectoies of $TEXMF.

> TL'08 used the GNU tar format.  That didn't work with BSD-derived tars,
> e.g., on a BSD or Solaris system.  That was the problem with pgf.tar.

You can demand to use gnu tar.

> I have no way of knowing what tar.exe understands.  I would have thought
> it should understand ustar  That's why we picked it!  Help?

I only know the relevant 8 bytes in header:
(1) oldgnu in TL'08      "ustar  " (7 characters and a null)
(2) new ustar in TL'09   "ustar" (5 characters and a null) + "00"
    (2 characters without null)

Longer names than 100 are supported in both cases, and
"tar.exe" can handle the case (1).
  
>     or search for a new tar.
> 
> We can probably find or compile a different tar for Windows easily
> enough, like the one Vladimir found (below), but I thought that the
> tar.exe you provided had certain features which you needed.  The details
> are lost in my mind, though.  Am I just misremembering?

No, I don't have any trouble if TeX Live uses a new tar.
I will use the new tar if someone ports win32 native one of
1.22. I think Vladimir doesn't yet find a candidate.

Best regards,
Akira Kakuto