file compare

Syntax

file compare (files filename filename) < context | unified> < ignore-white-space >

Description

Compare local files and describe the differences between them in default, context, or unified output styles:

• Default—In the first line of output, c means lines were changed between the two files, d means lines were deleted between the two files, and a means lines were added between the two files. The numbers preceding this alphabetical marker represent the first file, and the lines after the alphabetical marker represent the second file. A left angle bracket (<) in front of output lines refers to the first file. A right angle bracket (>) in front of output lines refers to the second file.
• Context—Display is divided into two parts. The first part is the first file; the second part is the second file. Output lines preceded by an exclamation point (!) have changed. Additions are marked with a plus sign (+), and deletions are marked with a minus sign (-).
• Unified—Display is preceded by the line number from the first and the second file (xx,x xx,x). Before the line number, additions to the file are marked with a plus sign (+), and deletions to the file are marked with a minus sign (-). The body of the output contains the affected lines. Changes are viewed as additions plus deletions.

Options

context—(Optional) Context output format.

filename—Name of a local file to compare.

files—Precedes the first and second filenames.

ignore-white-space—(Optional) Ignore changes in amount of white space.

unified—(Optional) Unified style output format.

Required Privilege Level

none

Sample Output:
File compare files

user@host> file compare files /tmp/one /tmp/two

100c100

<             full-name "File 1";

---

>             full-name "File 2";

102c102

<             class foo; # 'foo' is not defined

---

>             class super-user;

Sample Output: File compare files context

user@host> file compare files /tmp/one /tmp/two context

*** /tmp/one    Wed Dec  3 17:12:50 2003

--- /tmp/two    Wed Dec  3 09:13:14 2003

***************

*** 97,104 ****

              }

          }

          user phil {

!             full-name "Phil    Shafer";

!             class foo; # 'foo' is not defined

              authentication {

                  encrypted-password SECRET;

              }

--- 97,105 ----

              }

          }

          user phil {

!             full-name "Phil Shafer";

!             uid 1089;

!             class super-user;

              authentication {

                  encrypted-password SECRET;

              }     

Sample Output: File compare files unified

user@host> file compare files /tmp/one /tmp/two unified

--- /tmp/one    Wed Dec  3 17:12:50 2003

+++ /tmp/two    Wed Dec  3 09:13:14 2003

@@ -97,8 +97,9 @@

             }

         }

         user phil {

-            full-name "Phil    Shafer";

-            class foo; # 'foo' is not defined

+            full-name "Phil Shafer";

+            uid 1089;

+            class super-user;

             authentication {

                 encrypted-passwordSECRET;

             }

Sample Output:
File compare files unified ignore-white-space

user@host> file compare files /tmp/one /tmp/two unified ignore-white-space

--- /tmp/one    Wed Dec  3 09:13:10 2003

+++ /tmp/two    Wed Dec  3 09:13:14 2003

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@

         user phil {

             full-name "Phil    Shafer";

             uid 1089;

-            class foo; # 'foo' is not defined

+            class super-user;

             authentication {

                  encrypted-password <SECRET>; # SECRET-DATA

             }