merge(1)                                                           merge(1)




 NAME    [Toc]    [Back]
      merge - three-way file merge

 SYNOPSIS    [Toc]    [Back]
      merge [-p] file1 file2 file3

 DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]
      merge combines two files that are revisions of a single original file.
      The original file is file2, and the revised files are file1 and file3.
      merge identifies all changes that lead from file2 to file3 and from
      file2 to file1, then deposits the merged text into file1.  If the -p
      option is used, the result goes to standard output instead of file1.

      An overlap occurs if both file1 and file3 have changes in the same
      place.  merge prints how many overlaps occurred, and includes both
      alternatives in the result.  The alternatives are delimited as
      follows:

           <<<<<<< file1
           lines in file1
           =======
           lines in file3
           >>>>>>> file3

      If there are overlaps, edit the result in file1 and delete one of the
      alternatives.

      This command is particularly useful for revision control, especially
      if file1 and file3 are the ends of two branches that have file2 as a
      common ancestor.

 EXAMPLES    [Toc]    [Back]
      A typical use for merge is as follows:

           1.   To merge an RCS branch into the trunk, first check out the
                three different versions from RCS (see co(1)) and rename
                them for their revision numbers: 5.2, 5.11, and 5.2.3.3.
                File 5.2.3.3 is the end of an RCS branch that split off the
                trunk at file 5.2.

           2.   For this example, assume file 5.11 is the latest version on
                the trunk, and is also a revision of the "original" file,
                5.2.  Merge the branch into the trunk with the command:

                     merge 5.11 5.2 5.2.3.3

           3.   File 5.11 now contains all changes made on the branch and
                the trunk, and has markings in the file to show all
                overlapping changes.





 Hewlett-Packard Company            - 1 -   HP-UX 11i Version 2: August 2003






 merge(1)                                                           merge(1)




           4.   Edit file 5.11 to correct the overlaps, then use the ci
                command to check the file back in (see ci(1)).

 WARNINGS    [Toc]    [Back]
      merge uses the ed(1) system editor.  Therefore, the file size limits
      of ed(1) apply to merge.

 AUTHOR    [Toc]    [Back]
      merge was developed by Walter F. Tichy.

 SEE ALSO    [Toc]    [Back]
      diff3(1), diff(1), rcsmerge(1), co(1).


 Hewlett-Packard Company            - 2 -   HP-UX 11i Version 2: August 2003