@synindex pg cp
@synindex ky cp
-@dircategory Emacs
-@direntry
-* Ediff: (ediff). A visual interface for comparing and merging programs.
-@end direntry
-
@iftex
@finalout
@end iftex
@c @smallbook
@comment %**end of header (This is for running Texinfo on a region.)
-@ifinfo
+@copying
This file documents Ediff, a comprehensive visual interface to Unix diff
and patch utilities.
-Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Free Software
+Foundation, Inc.
+@quotation
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
-@end ifinfo
+@end quotation
+@end copying
+
+@dircategory Emacs
+@direntry
+* Ediff: (ediff). A visual interface for comparing and merging programs.
+@end direntry
-@iftex
@titlepage
@title Ediff User's Manual
@sp 4
@page
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
-@noindent
-Copyright @copyright{} 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-
-Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
-under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
-any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
-Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU
-Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
-license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
-License'' in the Emacs manual.
-
-(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
-this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
-Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
-
-This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
-Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
-separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
-license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
+@insertcopying
@end titlepage
-@page
-@end iftex
+
@node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
dangerous, since you will always have the original contents of the file
saved in another file that has the extension @file{.orig}.
Furthermore, if the file is under version control, then you can always back
-out to one of the previous versions (see the section on Version Countrol in
-Emacs manual).
+out to one of the previous versions (see the section on Version Control in
+the Emacs manual).
@code{ediff-patch-file} is careful about versions control: if the file
to be patched is checked in, then Ediff will offer to check it out, because
@kindex h
Cycles between full highlighting, the mode where fine differences are not
highlighted (but computed), and the mode where highlighting is done with
-ASCII strings. The latter is not really recommended, unless on a dumb TTY.
+@acronym{ASCII} strings. The latter is not really recommended, unless on a dumb TTY.
@item r
@kindex r
text is contrary to human nature, Ediff has a special command to help
reduce the risk of developing a cataract.
-The above command compares regions within Ediff buffers. This creates a
-child Ediff session for comparing current Emacs regions in buffers A, B, or
-C as follows:
+In other situations, the currently highlighted region might be big and you
+might want to reconcile of them interactively.
+
+All of this can be done with the above command, @kbd{=}, which
+compares regions within Ediff buffers. Typing @kbd{=} creates a
+child Ediff session for comparing regions in buffers A, B, or
+C as follows.
+
+First, you will be asked whether you want to compare the fine differences
+between the currently highlighted buffers on a word-by-word basis. If you
+accept, a child Ediff session will start using the currently highlighted
+regions. Ediff will let you step over the differences word-wise.
+
+If you reject the offer, you will be asked to select regions of your choice.
@emph{If you are comparing 2 files or buffers:}
Ediff will ask you to select regions in buffers A and B.
@vindex ediff-autostore-merges
For group sessions created to merge files, Ediff can store all merges
automatically in a directory. The user is asked to specify such directory
-if the value of @code{ediff-autostore-merges} is non-nil. If the value is
+if the value of @code{ediff-autostore-merges} is non-@code{nil}. If the value is
@code{nil}, nothing is done to the merge buffers---it will be the user's
responsibility to save them. If the value is @code{t}, the user will be
asked where to save the merge buffers in all merge jobs, even those that do
via the command @kbd{##}.
@end table
-@strong{Note:} In order for this feature to work, auto-refining of
+@strong{Please note:} in order for this feature to work, auto-refining of
difference regions must be on, since otherwise Ediff won't know if there
are fine differences between regions. On devices where Emacs can display
faces, auto-refining is a default, but it is not turned on by default on
ediff-current-diff-face-B)))
@end smallexample
-@strong{Note:} To set Ediff's faces, use only @code{copy-face} or
-@code{set/make-face-@dots{}} as shown above. Emacs' low-level
+@strong{Please note:} to set Ediff's faces, use only @code{copy-face}
+or @code{set/make-face-@dots{}} as shown above. Emacs' low-level
face-manipulation functions should be avoided.
@node Narrowing, Refinement of Difference Regions, Highlighting Difference Regions, Customization
@item ediff-buffer-C
In three-way comparisons, this is the third buffer being compared.
In merging, this is the merge buffer.
-In two-way comparison, this variable is nil.
+In two-way comparison, this variable is @code{nil}.
@item ediff-window-A
The window displaying buffer A. If buffer A is not visible, this variable
-is nil or it may be a dead window.
+is @code{nil} or it may be a dead window.
@item ediff-window-B
The window displaying buffer B.
The window displaying buffer C, if any.
@item ediff-control-frame
-A dedicated frame displaying the control buffer, if it exists.
-It is non-nil only if Ediff uses the multiframe display, i.e., when the
-control buffer is in its own frame.
+A dedicated frame displaying the control buffer, if it exists. It is
+non-@code{nil} only if Ediff uses the multiframe display, i.e., when
+the control buffer is in its own frame.
@end table
@node Credits, Index, Customization, Top
toolbar support package for Ediff, and Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@@xemacs.org>
adapted it to the Emacs customization package.
-Many people provided help with bug reports, patches, and advice.
+Many people provided help with bug reports, feature suggestions, and advice.
Without them, Ediff would not be nearly as useful as it is today.
-Here is a full list of contributors (I hope I didn't miss anyone):
+Here is a hopefully full list of contributors:
@example
Adrian Aichner (aichner@@ecf.teradyne.com),
Allan Gottlieb (gottlieb@@allan.ultra.nyu.edu),
Aaron Gross (aaron@@bfr.co.il),
Thorbjoern Hansen (thorbjoern.hansen@@mchp.siemens.de),
+Marcus Harnisch (marcus_harnisch@@mint-tech.com),
Xiaoli Huang (hxl@@epic.com),
Andreas Jaeger (aj@@suse.de),
Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen (larsi@@ifi.uio.no),
David Prince (dave0d@@fegs.co.uk),
Paul Raines (raines@@slac.stanford.edu),
Stefan Reicher (xsteve@@riic.at),
+Charles Rich (rich@@merl.com),
Bill Richter (richter@@math.nwu.edu),
C.S.@: Roberson (roberson@@aur.alcatel.com),
Kevin Rodgers (kevin.rodgers@@ihs.com),
@setchapternewpage odd
@contents
@bye
+
+@ignore
+ arch-tag: 165ecb88-d03c-44b1-a921-b93f50b05b46
+@end ignore
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / blobdiff