DIFF3(1) UNIX Reference Manual DIFF3(1) NNAAMMEE ddiiffff33 - 3-way differential file comparison SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS ddiiffff33 [--eexxEEXX33] _f_i_l_e_1 _f_i_l_e_2 _f_i_l_e_3 DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN The ddiiffff33 utility compares the contents of three different versions of a file, _f_i_l_e_1, _f_i_l_e_2 and _f_i_l_e_3, writing the result to the standard output. The options describe different methods of merging and purging the separate versions into a new file. DDiiffff33 is used by RCS(1) to merge specific versions or create new versions. Options are: --ee Produces output in a form suitable as an input script for the ed(1) utility. The script may then be used to merge differ- ences common between all three files and differences specific to file1 and file3. In other words, the --ee option ignores differences specific to file1 and file2, and those specific to file2 and file3. It is useful for backing out changes specific to file2 only. --xx Produces an output script suitable for ed(1) with changes specific only to all three versions. --33 Produces an output script suitable for ed(1) with changes specific only to file3. --EE, --XX Similar to --ee and --xx, respectively, but treat overlapping changes (i.e., changes that would be noted with ==== in the normal listing) differently. The overlapping lines from both files will be inserted by the edit script, bracketed by "<<<<<<" and ">>>>>>" lines. The --EE option is used by RCS merge(1) to insure that overlapping changes in the merged files are preserved and brought to someone's attention. For example, suppose lines 7-8 are changed in both file1 and file2. Ap- plying the edit script generated by the command diff3 -E file1 file2 file3 to file1 results in the file: lines 1-6 of file1 <<<<<<< file1 lines 7-8 of file1 ======= lines 7-8 of file3 >>>>>>> file3 rest of file1 The default output of ddiiffff33 makes notation of the differences between all files, and those differences specific to each pair of files. The changes are described by the commands neccessary for ed(1) to create the desired target from the different versions. See diff(1) for a description of the commands. ==== The lines beneath this notation are ranges of lines which are different between all files. ====_n The lines beneath this notation are ranges of lines which are exclusively different in file _n. FFIILLEESS /_t_m_p/_d_3????? temporary files. /_u_s_r/_b_i_n/_d_i_f_f_3 the executable. SSEEEE AALLSSOO diff(1) ed(1) rcs(1) HHIISSTTOORRYY DDiiffff33 appeared in Version 7 AT&T Unix. BBUUGGSS The --ee option cannot catch and change lines which have `.' as the first ans only character on the line. The resulting script will fail on that line as the `.' is an ed(1) editing command.