(diff.info) diff Options
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Options to `diff'
=================
Below is a summary of all of the options that GNU `diff' accepts.
Most options have two equivalent names, one of which is a single letter
preceded by `-', and the other of which is a long name preceded by
`--'. Multiple single letter options (unless they take an argument)
can be combined into a single command line word: `-ac' is equivalent to
`-a -c'. Long named options can be abbreviated to any unique prefix of
their name. Brackets ([ and ]) indicate that an option takes an
optional argument.
`-a'
`--text'
Treat all files as text and compare them line-by-line, even if they
do not seem to be text. Binary.
`-b'
`--ignore-space-change'
Ignore changes in amount of white space. White Space.
`-B'
`--ignore-blank-lines'
Ignore changes that just insert or delete blank lines.
Blank Lines.
`--binary'
Read and write data in binary mode. Binary.
`-c'
Use the context output format, showing three lines of context.
Context Format.
`-C LINES'
`--context[=LINES]'
Use the context output format, showing LINES (an integer) lines of
context, or three if LINES is not given. Context Format.
For proper operation, `patch' typically needs at least two lines of
context.
On older systems, `diff' supports an obsolete option `-LINES' that
has effect when combined with `-c' or `-p'. POSIX 1003.1-2001
( Standards conformance) does not allow this; use `-C LINES'
instead.
`--changed-group-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output a line group containing differing lines from
both files in if-then-else format. Line Group Formats.
`-d'
`--minimal'
Change the algorithm perhaps find a smaller set of changes. This
makes `diff' slower (sometimes much slower). diff
Performance.
`-D NAME'
`--ifdef=NAME'
Make merged `#ifdef' format output, conditional on the preprocessor
macro NAME. If-then-else.
`-e'
`--ed'
Make output that is a valid `ed' script. ed Scripts.
`-E'
`--ignore-tab-expansion'
Ignore changes due to tab expansion. White Space.
`-f'
`--forward-ed'
Make output that looks vaguely like an `ed' script but has changes
in the order they appear in the file. Forward ed.
`-F REGEXP'
`--show-function-line=REGEXP'
In context and unified format, for each hunk of differences, show
some of the last preceding line that matches REGEXP.
Specified Headings.
`--from-file=FILE'
Compare FILE to each operand; FILE may be a directory.
`--help'
Output a summary of usage and then exit.
`--horizon-lines=LINES'
Do not discard the last LINES lines of the common prefix and the
first LINES lines of the common suffix. diff Performance.
`-i'
`--ignore-case'
Ignore changes in case; consider upper- and lower-case letters
equivalent. Case Folding.
`-I REGEXP'
`--ignore-matching-lines=REGEXP'
Ignore changes that just insert or delete lines that match REGEXP.
Specified Folding.
`--ignore-file-name-case'
Ignore case when comparing file names during recursive comparison.
Comparing Directories.
`-l'
`--paginate'
Pass the output through `pr' to paginate it. Pagination.
`--label=LABEL'
Context Format::) and unified format ( Unified Format)
headers. RCS.
`--left-column'
Print only the left column of two common lines in side by side
format. Side by Side Format.
`--line-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output all input lines in if-then-else format.
Line Formats.
`-n'
`--rcs'
Output RCS-format diffs; like `-f' except that each command
specifies the number of lines affected. RCS.
`-N'
`--new-file'
In directory comparison, if a file is found in only one directory,
treat it as present but empty in the other directory.
Comparing Directories.
`--new-group-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output a group of lines taken from just the second
file in if-then-else format. Line Group Formats.
`--new-line-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output a line taken from just the second file in
if-then-else format. Line Formats.
`--old-group-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output a group of lines taken from just the first
file in if-then-else format. Line Group Formats.
`--old-line-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output a line taken from just the first file in
if-then-else format. Line Formats.
`-p'
`--show-c-function'
Show which C function each change is in. C Function
Headings.
`-q'
`--brief'
Report only whether the files differ, not the details of the
differences. Brief.
`-r'
`--recursive'
When comparing directories, recursively compare any subdirectories
found. Comparing Directories.
`-s'
`--report-identical-files'
Report when two files are the same. Comparing Directories.
`-S FILE'
`--starting-file=FILE'
When comparing directories, start with the file FILE. This is
used for resuming an aborted comparison. Comparing
Directories.
`--speed-large-files'
Use heuristics to speed handling of large files that have numerous
scattered small changes. diff Performance.
`--strip-trailing-cr'
Strip any trailing carriage return at the end of an input line.
Binary.
`--suppress-common-lines'
Do not print common lines in side by side format. Side by
Side Format.
`-t'
`--expand-tabs'
Expand tabs to spaces in the output, to preserve the alignment of
tabs in the input files. Tabs.
`-T'
`--initial-tab'
Output a tab rather than a space before the text of a line in
normal or context format. This causes the alignment of tabs in
the line to look normal. Tabs.
`--to-file=FILE'
Compare each operand to FILE; FILE may be a directory.
`-u'
Use the unified output format, showing three lines of context.
Unified Format.
`--unchanged-group-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output a group of common lines taken from both files
in if-then-else format. Line Group Formats.
`--unchanged-line-format=FORMAT'
Use FORMAT to output a line common to both files in if-then-else
format. Line Formats.
`--unidirectional-new-file'
When comparing directories, if a file appears only in the second
directory of the two, treat it as present but empty in the other.
Comparing Directories.
`-U LINES'
`--unified[=LINES]'
Use the unified output format, showing LINES (an integer) lines of
context, or three if LINES is not given. Unified Format.
For proper operation, `patch' typically needs at least two lines of
context.
On older systems, `diff' supports an obsolete option `-LINES' that
Standards conformance::) does not allow this; use `-U LINES'
instead.
`-v'
`--version'
Output version information and then exit.
`-w'
`--ignore-all-space'
Ignore white space when comparing lines. White Space.
`-W COLUMNS'
`--width=COLUMNS'
Output at most COLUMNS (default 130) print columns per line in
side by side format. Side by Side Format.
`-x PATTERN'
`--exclude=PATTERN'
When comparing directories, ignore files and subdirectories whose
basenames match PATTERN. Comparing Directories.
`-X FILE'
`--exclude-from=FILE'
When comparing directories, ignore files and subdirectories whose
basenames match any pattern contained in FILE. Comparing
Directories.
`-y'
`--side-by-side'
Use the side by side output format. Side by Side Format.
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