6.0;cmf (compare_file), revision 6.0, 83/03/14
CMF (COMPARE_FILE) -- Identify differences among files.
usage:  CMF file_a [...file_e] [-R report_file] [-TB] [-BR] [-L] [-M n]


FORMAT

  CMF file_a [...file_e] [options]


  CMF compares the contents of two to five ASCII files and reports the
  differences on standard output.  This command  works only on files: to
  compare directory trees, use CMT (COMPARE_TREE).

ARGUMENTS

  file_a
  (required)       Specify pathname of original file; all differences are
                   reported in relation to this file.  Wildcarding of this
                   pathname is permitted to achieve multiple comparisons.

  file_b ... file_e
  (optional)       Specify descendants of file_a.  If more than one file is
                   specified, you may use a hyphen (-) to cause standard
                   input to be read in place of a pathname.  Pathnames may
                   be derived from 'file_a .'
                   Default if omitted: read standard input

OPTIONS

  -R pathname      Report all differences to the specified report_file,
                   instead of writing them to standard output.  This
                   pathname may be derived from 'file_a.'

  -TB              Include trailing blanks in the comparison. By default,
                   ignore trailing blanks.

  -BR              Display only line numbers of lines containing discrepancies.
                   By default, display both line numbers and line contents.

  -L               Display names of files being compared before each
                   comparison is performed.  This is useful when wildcarded
                   pathnames are specified.

  -M n             Set the minimum number of lines for a rematch to 'n.'  This
                   is the minimum number of lines, following a reported
                   difference, which must match for CMF to consider the
                   files synchronized.  The default value is 3.

EXAMPLE

  Assume that file "file1" contains

      Four score
      and seven
      years ago,
      our forefathers brought
      forth

  And "file2" contains

      Eighty seven
      years ago,
      our forefathers brought


  CMF produces the following output when "file1"
  is compared to "file2."

      $ cmf file1 file2

      A1        Four score
      A2        and seven
      changed to
      B1        Eighty seven


      A5        forth
      deleted before
      end of file B


      2 discrepancies found.

RELATED TOPICS

  More information is available.  Type:

    - HELP CMSRF
      for details about comparing sorted files.

    - HELP CMT
      for details about comparing directory trees.