NAME

comb − combine SCCS deltas

SYNTAX

comb ­[−o] ­[−s] ­[−p sid] ­[−c list] files

DESCRIPTION

The comb command generates a shell procedure which, when run, will reconstruct the given SCCS files.  For further information see sh(1).  The reconstructed files will, hopefully, be smaller than the original files.  The arguments may be specified in any order, but all keyletter arguments apply to all named SCCS files.  If a directory is named, comb behaves as though each file in the directory were specified as a named file.  Non-SCCS files, last component of the path name does not begin with “s.”, and unreadable files are silently ignored.  If a name of − is given, the standard input is read.  Each line of the standard input is taken to be the name of an SCCS file to be processed.  Non-SCCS files and unreadable files are silently ignored. 

The generated shell procedure is written on the standard output. 

The keyletter arguments are as follows.  Each is explained as though only one named file is to be processed, but the effects of any keyletter argument apply independently to each named file. The SCCS IDentification string (SID) of the oldest delta to be preserved.  All older deltas are discarded in the reconstructed file. 

−clist A list for the syntax of a list of deltas to be preserved.  All other deltas are discarded.  For further information see get(1). 
 .    RE

−o For each get −e generated, this argument causes the reconstructed file to be accessed at the release of the delta to be created.  Otherwise, the reconstructed file would be accessed at the most recent ancestor.  Use of the −o keyletter may decrease the size of the reconstructed SCCS file.  It may also alter the shape of the delta tree of the original file. 
 .    RE

−p Indicates oldest delta number (-pn) to preserve. 
 .    RE

−s This argument causes comb to generate a shell procedure which, when run, will produce a report giving, for each file: the file name, size (in blocks) after combining, original size (also in blocks), and percentage change computed by:

­100~∗~(original~−~combined)~/~original

It is  recommended that before any SCCS files are actually combined, one should use this option to determine exactly how much space is saved by the combining process. 

If no keyletter arguments are specified, comb will preserve only leaf deltas and the minimal number of ancestors needed to preserve the tree. 

RESTRICTIONS

The comb command may rearrange the shape of the tree of deltas.  It may not save any space.  It is possible for the reconstructed file to actually be larger than the original. 

DIAGNOSTICS

Use sccshelp(1) for explanations. 

FILES

s.COMB The name of the reconstructed SCCS file. 

comb?????  Temporary. 

SEE ALSO

admin(1), delta(1), get(1), help(1), prs(1), sccsfile(5). 
“An Introduction to the Source Code Control System”