.tar archive files EACH to its own directory?

Question

I have an archive that contains files from various directories (created with -T option, so I used file with list of files to archive). Files preserve owners and rights.

Content is like:

var/lib/prog1/backups/file1.db
var/lib/prog2/file.file
etc/prog3/my.conf

Is it possible to extract each of them to their source directory?

Answer 1

Without the preceding /, it's a relative path, which means they will extract to the current directory where you run the tar -xf command.

Either run the tar -xf extract command from / or use the -C / option to change to / before extracting. As-always, checkout man tar for details.

Answer 2

OK, found solution myself.

--absolute-names option must be used BOTH when you create archive, as well as when you extract it. Works perfect. THANKS anyway!