SDIFF(1,C)                  AIX Commands Reference                   SDIFF(1,C)



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sdiff



PURPOSE

Compares two files and displays the differences in a side-by-side format.

SYNTAX


         +--------+   +- -w130 --+   +--------------+
sdiff ---| one of |---|          |---|              |-- file1 -- file2 --|
         | +----+ |   +- -w num -+   +- -o outfile -+
         +-| -l |-+
           | -s |
           +----+


Note:  This command does not have MBCS support.

DESCRIPTION

The sdiff command reads file1 and file2, uses diff to compare them, and writes
the results to standard output in a side-by-side format.  sdiff displays each
line of the two files with a series of blanks between them if the lines are
identical, a < (less than sign) in the field of blanks if the line only exists
in file1, a > (greater than sign) if the line only exists in file2, and a |
(vertical bar) for lines that are different.

When you specify the -o flag, sdiff produces a third file by merging file1 and
file2 according to your instructions.

FLAGS

-l             Displays only the left side when lines are identical.

-o  outfile    Creates a third file, outfile, by a controlled line-by-line
               merging of file1 and file2.  The following subcommands govern
               the creation of this file:

               l       Adds the left side to outfile.

               r       Adds the right side to outfile.

               s       Stops displaying identical lines.

               v       Begins displaying identical lines.

               e l




Processed November 8, 1990        SDIFF(1,C)                                  1

SDIFF(1,C)                  AIX Commands Reference                   SDIFF(1,C)



               e r

               e b     Starts ed with the left side, the right side, both
                       sides, or an empty file, respectively.

               e       Each time you exit from ed, sdiff writes the resulting
                       edited file to the end of outfile.  If you fail to save
                       the changes before exiting, sdiff writes the initial
                       input to outfile.

               q       Exits the program.

-s             Does not display identical lines.

-w  num        Sets the width of the output line to num, 130 characters, by
               default.

EXAMPLES

  1. To print a comparison of two files:

      sdiff  chap1.bak  chap1  |  print

    This prints a side-by-side listing that compares each line of "chap1.bak"
    and "chap1".  The "| print" sends the listing to the print command.  sdiff
    assumes that your printer has wide paper (130 columns).

  2. To display only the lines that differ:

      sdiff  -s  -w 80  chap1.bak  chap1

    This displays the differences at the work station.  The -w" 80" sets page
    width to 80 columns.  The -s flag tells sdiff not to display lines that are
    identical in both files.

  3. To selectively combine parts of two files:

      sdiff -s  -w 80  -o chap1.combo  chap1.bak  chap1

    This combines "chap1.bak" and "chap1" into a new file called "chap1.combo".
    For each group of differing lines, sdiff asks you which group to keep or
    whether you want to edit them using ed.

RELATED INFORMATION

See the following commands:  "diff" and "ed, red."









Processed November 8, 1990        SDIFF(1,C)                                  2