sdiff(C)                        19 June 1992                        sdiff(C)


 Name

    sdiff - compare files side-by-side

 Syntax

    sdiff [ options ... ] file1 file2

 Description

    The sdiff command uses the output of diff(C) to produce a side-by-side
    listing of two files indicating those lines that are different.  Each
    line of the two files is printed with a blank gutter between them if the
    lines are identical, a ``<'' in the gutter if the line only exists in
    file1, a ``>'' in the gutter if the line only exists in file2, and a
    ``|'' for lines that are different.

    For example:

               x       |       y
               a               a
               b       <
               c       <
               d               d
                       >       c


    The following options exist:

    -w n        Uses the next argument, n, as the width of the output line.
                The default line length is 130 characters.

    -l          Only prints the left side of any lines that are identical.

    -s          Does not print identical lines.

    -o output   Uses the next argument, output, as the name of a third file
                that is created as a user-controlled merging of file1 and
                file2.  Identical lines of file1 and file2 are copied to out-
                put.  Sets of differences, as produced by diff(C), are
                printed where a set of differences share a common gutter
                character.  After printing each set of differences, sdiff
                prompts the user with a % and waits for one of the following
                user-entered commands:

                l    Appends the left column to the output file

                r    Appends the right column to the output file

                s    Turns on silent mode; does not print identical lines

                v    Turns off silent mode

                e  l Calls the editor with the left column

                e  r Calls the editor with the right column

                e  b Calls the editor with the concatenation of left and
                     right

                e    Calls the editor with a zero length file

                q    Exits from the program

    On exit from the editor, the resulting file is concatenated on the end of
    the output file.

 See also

    diff(C), ed(C)