(diff.info.gz) Line Formats
Info Catalog
(diff.info.gz) Line Group Formats
(diff.info.gz) If-then-else
(diff.info.gz) Detailed If-then-else
Line Formats
------------
Line formats control how each line taken from an input file is
output as part of a line group in if-then-else format.
For example, the following command outputs text with a one-character
change indicator to the left of the text. The first character of output
is `-' for deleted lines, `|' for added lines, and a space for
unchanged lines. The formats contain newline characters where newlines
are desired on output.
diff \
--old-line-format='-%l
' \
--new-line-format='|%l
' \
--unchanged-line-format=' %l
' \
old new
To specify a line format, use one of the following options. You
should quote FORMAT, since it often contains shell metacharacters.
`--old-line-format=FORMAT'
formats lines just from the first file.
`--new-line-format=FORMAT'
formats lines just from the second file.
`--unchanged-line-format=FORMAT'
formats lines common to both files.
`--line-format=FORMAT'
formats all lines; in effect, it sets all three above options
simultaneously.
In a line format, ordinary characters represent themselves;
conversion specifications start with `%' and have one of the following
forms.
`%l'
stands for the contents of the line, not counting its trailing
newline (if any). This format ignores whether the line is
incomplete; Incomplete Lines.
`%L'
stands for the contents of the line, including its trailing newline
(if any). If a line is incomplete, this format preserves its
incompleteness.
`%%'
stands for `%'.
`%c'C''
where C is a single character, stands for C. C may not be a
backslash or an apostrophe. For example, `%c':'' stands for a
colon.
`%c'\O''
where O is a string of 1, 2, or 3 octal digits, stands for the
character with octal code O. For example, `%c'\0'' stands for a
null character.
`Fn'
where F is a `printf' conversion specification, stands for the
line number formatted with F. For example, `%.5dn' prints the
line number using the `printf' format `"%.5d"'. Line Group
Formats, for more about printf conversion specifications.
The default line format is `%l' followed by a newline character.
If the input contains tab characters and it is important that they
line up on output, you should ensure that `%l' or `%L' in a line format
is just after a tab stop (e.g. by preceding `%l' or `%L' with a tab
character), or you should use the `-t' or `--expand-tabs' option.
Taken together, the line and line group formats let you specify many
different formats. For example, the following command uses a format
similar to normal `diff' format. You can tailor this command to get
fine control over `diff' output.
diff \
--old-line-format='< %l
' \
--new-line-format='> %l
' \
--old-group-format='%df%(f=l?:,%dl)d%dE
%<' \
--new-group-format='%dea%dF%(F=L?:,%dL)
%>' \
--changed-group-format='%df%(f=l?:,%dl)c%dF%(F=L?:,%dL)
%<---
%>' \
--unchanged-group-format='' \
old new
Info Catalog
(diff.info.gz) Line Group Formats
(diff.info.gz) If-then-else
(diff.info.gz) Detailed If-then-else
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