rsync - Jul 2024 - A question about rsync filters, not sure if I understand the man page

Hi.

On Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:00:47 +0100 Chris Green via rsync wrote:
> I run a daily backup using 'rsync -a -F ....'
> I want to exclude everything in ~/.local/share **except** the file:-
>    /home/chris/.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
> I have the following in my rsync-filter file to exclude ~/.local/share
>   - .local/share
> Can I simply add the following before the exclude line:-
>   + /home/chris/.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
No. Assuming you are doing this backup from your homedir, you should
add to your .rsync-filter file:

  + /.local/
  + /.local/share/
  + /.local/share/evolution/
  + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/
  + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/
  + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
  - /.local/share/**

The leading / does not means the / of the machine, but the root of the
transfer (assuming this is your homedir).

-- 
francis

On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 05:56:28PM GMT, Francis.Montagnac--- via rsync wrote:
> > I want to exclude everything in ~/.local/share **except** the file:-
> >    /home/chris/.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
> > I have the following in my rsync-filter file to exclude ~/.local/share
> >   - .local/share
> > Can I simply add the following before the exclude line:-
> >   + /home/chris/.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
> No. Assuming you are doing this backup from your homedir, you should
> add to your .rsync-filter file:
>   + /.local/
>   + /.local/share/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
>   - /.local/share/**
But but but, will this not also include everything else in

.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/ ?

As far as I understand that is not what the OP wants.

-- 
Ian

On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 05:56:28PM +0200, Francis.Montagnac at inria.fr
wrote:
> Hi.
> 
> On Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:00:47 +0100 Chris Green via rsync wrote:
> 
> > I run a daily backup using 'rsync -a -F ....'
> 
> > I want to exclude everything in ~/.local/share **except** the file:-
> 
> >    /home/chris/.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
> 
> > I have the following in my rsync-filter file to exclude ~/.local/share
> 
> >   - .local/share
> 
> > Can I simply add the following before the exclude line:-
> 
> >   + /home/chris/.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
> 
> No. Assuming you are doing this backup from your homedir, you should
> add to your .rsync-filter file:
> 
>   + /.local/
>   + /.local/share/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/
>   + /.local/share/evolution/calendar/system/calendar.ics
>   - /.local/share/**
> 
> The leading / does not means the / of the machine, but the root of the
> transfer (assuming this is your homedir).
> 
Brilliant, thank you, that clarifies the explanation in the man page
which did *seem* to be saying what you have laid out above but I
wasn't quite sure.  You have made it very clear! :-)

-- 
Chris Green