diffutils: patch Options
15.1 Options to 'patch'
=======================
Here is a summary of all of the options that GNU 'patch' accepts. ⇒
patch and Tradition, for which of these options are safe to use in
older versions of 'patch'.
Multiple single-letter options that do not take an argument can be
combined into a single command line argument with only one dash.
'-b'
'--backup'
Back up the original contents of each file, even if backups would
normally not be made. ⇒Backups.
'-B PREFIX'
'--prefix=PREFIX'
Prepend PREFIX to backup file names. ⇒Backup Names.
'--backup-if-mismatch'
Back up the original contents of each file if the patch does not
exactly match the file. This is the default behavior when not
conforming to POSIX. ⇒Backups.
'--binary'
Read and write all files in binary mode, except for standard output
and '/dev/tty'. This option has no effect on POSIX-conforming
systems like GNU/Linux. On systems where this option makes a
difference, the patch should be generated by 'diff -a --binary'.
⇒Binary.
'-c'
'--context'
Interpret the patch file as a context diff. ⇒patch Input.
'-d DIRECTORY'
'--directory=DIRECTORY'
Make directory DIRECTORY the current directory for interpreting
both file names in the patch file, and file names given as
arguments to other options. ⇒patch Directories.
'-D NAME'
'--ifdef=NAME'
Make merged if-then-else output using NAME. ⇒If-then-else.
'--dry-run'
Print the results of applying the patches without actually changing
any files. ⇒Dry Runs.
'-e'
'--ed'
Interpret the patch file as an 'ed' script. ⇒patch Input.
'-E'
'--remove-empty-files'
Remove output files that are empty after the patches have been
applied. ⇒Creating and Removing.
'-f'
'--force'
Assume that the user knows exactly what he or she is doing, and do
not ask any questions. ⇒patch Messages.
'-F LINES'
'--fuzz=LINES'
Set the maximum fuzz factor to LINES. ⇒Inexact.
'-g NUM'
'--get=NUM'
If NUM is positive, get input files from a revision control system
as necessary; if zero, do not get the files; if negative, ask the
user whether to get the files. ⇒Revision Control.
'--help'
Output a summary of usage and then exit.
'-i PATCHFILE'
'--input=PATCHFILE'
Read the patch from PATCHFILE rather than from standard input.
⇒patch Options.
'-l'
'--ignore-white-space'
Let any sequence of blanks (spaces or tabs) in the patch file match
any sequence of blanks in the input file. ⇒Changed White
Space.
'-n'
'--normal'
Interpret the patch file as a normal diff. ⇒patch Input.
'-N'
'--forward'
Ignore patches that 'patch' thinks are reversed or already applied.
See also '-R'. ⇒Reversed Patches.
'--no-backup-if-mismatch'
Do not back up the original contents of files. This is the default
behavior when conforming to POSIX. ⇒Backups.
'-o FILE'
'--output=FILE'
Use FILE as the output file name. ⇒patch Options.
'-pNUMBER'
'--strip=NUMBER'
Set the file name strip count to NUMBER. ⇒patch
Directories.
'--posix'
Conform to POSIX, as if the 'POSIXLY_CORRECT' environment variable
had been set. ⇒patch and POSIX.
'--quoting-style=WORD'
Use style WORD to quote names in diagnostics, as if the
'QUOTING_STYLE' environment variable had been set to WORD. ⇒
patch Quoting Style.
'-r REJECT-FILE'
'--reject-file=REJECT-FILE'
Use REJECT-FILE as the reject file name. ⇒Reject Names.
'-R'
'--reverse'
Assume that this patch was created with the old and new files
swapped. ⇒Reversed Patches.
'-s'
'--quiet'
'--silent'
Work silently unless an error occurs. ⇒patch Messages.
'-t'
'--batch'
Do not ask any questions. ⇒patch Messages.
'-T'
'--set-time'
Set the modification and access times of patched files from
timestamps given in context diff headers, assuming that the context
diff headers use local time. ⇒Patching Timestamps.
'-u'
'--unified'
Interpret the patch file as a unified diff. ⇒patch Input.
'-v'
'--version'
Output version information and then exit.
'-V BACKUP-STYLE'
'--version=control=BACKUP-STYLE'
Select the naming convention for backup file names. ⇒Backup
Names.
'--verbose'
Print more diagnostics than usual. ⇒patch Messages.
'-x NUMBER'
'--debug=NUMBER'
Set internal debugging flags. Of interest only to 'patch'
patchers.
'-Y PREFIX'
'--basename-prefix=PREFIX'
Prepend PREFIX to base names of backup files. ⇒Backup
Names.
'-z SUFFIX'
'--suffix=SUFFIX'
Use SUFFIX as the backup extension instead of '.orig' or '~'.
⇒Backup Names.
'-Z'
'--set-utc'
Set the modification and access times of patched files from
timestamps given in context diff headers, assuming that the context
diff headers use UTC. ⇒Patching Timestamps.
Info Catalog
diffutils: Invoking patch