'r' - REPLACE FILES IN ARCHIVE(S) The replace command replaces one or more files in one or more archives, although typically it is used to replace files in only one archive. The replacing process replaces files which already exist in the archive with those specified at the command line. As with the add command, only the file name component of the file is stored by default. The -x or -r options should be used to preserve path names. The replace command is similar to the freshen command.