Ubuntu – Extract a Folder from Duplicity Archive

1. Use duplicity to extract it:

   duplicity restore file:///path_to_folder_contains_backups/ path_where_to_extract_it/
   

2. Enter GnuPG passphrase, Press Enter

By default, Duplicity restores last backup (comparing time) in the source folder even its not the backup for the same folder. If you have multiple backups for different folders or you want specific time of same folder, use --time option example:

duplicity restore --time 20140106T111233Z file:///path_to_folder_contains_backups/ path_where_to_extract_it/

Unable to see the files you are looking for, try:

1. Create function that list all files contained in all full/inc backups available in the source folder:

   ldup () {
       for f in $(ls $1/duplicity-*.manifest.gpg); do
           echo "========================================================================"; 
           echo $f;
           n=$(basename $f .manifest.gpg);
           prefix=$(echo $n | awk 'BEGIN { FS = "." } ;{ print $1 }');
           if [[ "$prefix" == "duplicity-full" ]]; then
               t=$(echo $n | awk 'BEGIN { FS = "." } ;{ print $2 }');
           else
               t=$(echo $n | awk 'BEGIN { FS = "." } ;{ print $4 }');
           fi;
           echo -e "Creation time:\t" $t;
           echo "------------------------------------------------------------------------";
           duplicity list-current-files --time $t file://$1/ | grep "$2";
       done;
   }
   

2. To list all files (note without tail /):

   ldup /path_to_folder_contains_backups
   

3. search for a pattern in file names:

   ldup /path_to_folder_contains_backups pattern
   

Reference: man duplicity

It's likely that the UID (the number behind your user name) has changed.

You'll probably need to find out the old UID (maybe it can be retrieved out of the backup somehow) and change your current user name's ID to the old number. Further information on how to do that is available in this question: How can I change my own user ID?