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(diff.info.gz) Side by Side

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 Showing Differences Side by Side
 ================================
 
    `diff' can produce a side by side difference listing of two files.
 The files are listed in two columns with a gutter between them.  The
 gutter contains one of the following markers:
 
 white space
      The corresponding lines are in common.  That is, either the lines
      are identical, or the difference is ignored because of one of the
      `--ignore' options ( White Space).
 
 `|'
      The corresponding lines differ, and they are either both complete
      or both incomplete.
 
 `<'
      The files differ and only the first file contains the line.
 
 `>'
      The files differ and only the second file contains the line.
 
 `('
      Only the first file contains the line, but the difference is
      ignored.
 
 `)'
      Only the second file contains the line, but the difference is
      ignored.
 
 `\'
      The corresponding lines differ, and only the first line is
      incomplete.
 
 `/'
      The corresponding lines differ, and only the second line is
      incomplete.
 
    Normally, an output line is incomplete if and only if the lines that
 it contains are incomplete;  Incomplete Lines.  However, when an
 output line represents two differing lines, one might be incomplete
 while the other is not.  In this case, the output line is complete, but
 its the gutter is marked `\' if the first line is incomplete, `/' if
 the second line is.
 
    Side by side format is sometimes easiest to read, but it has
 limitations.  It generates much wider output than usual, and truncates
 lines that are too long to fit.  Also, it relies on lining up output
 more heavily than usual, so its output looks particularly bad if you
 use varying width fonts, nonstandard tab stops, or nonprinting
 characters.
 
    You can use the `sdiff' command to interactively merge side by side
 differences.   Interactive Merging, for more information on
 merging files.
 

Menu

 
* Side by Side Format  Controlling side by side output format.
* Example Side by Side Sample side by side output.
 
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