6.0;cmf (compare_file), revision 6.0, 86/07/15
CMF (COMPARE_FILE) -- Identify differences among files.
usage:  CMF file_a [...file_e] [-R report_file] [-TB] [-BR] [-L] [-M n]


FORMAT

  CMF file_a [...file_e] [options]


  CMF  compares  the  contents  of  two  to  five  ASCII  files  and reports the
  differences on standard output.  This command works only on files: to  compare
  directory trees, use CMT (COMPARE_TREE).


ARGUMENTS

  file_a
  (required)          Specify  pathname  of  original  file; all differences are
                     reported in relation to this file.    Wildcarding  of  this
                     pathname is permitted to achieve multiple comparisons.

  file_b ... file_e
  (optional)          Specify descendants of 'file_a'.  If more than one file is
                     specified, you may use a hyphen (-) to cause standard input
                     to  be  read  in  place  of  a  pathname.  Pathnames may be
                     derived from 'file_a'.

                     Default if omitted:  read standard input


OPTIONS

  -R pathname        Report all differences to the  specified  report  file,  in
                     addition  to  reporting  to standard output.  This pathname
                     may be derived from 'file_a' (if 'file_a' is wildcarded) to
                     produce  one  report  for  each comparison.  If 'file_a' is
                     wildcarded and this report file name is NOT  derived,  then
                     all reports are concatenated into the single report file.

  -TB                 Include  trailing  blanks  in  the comparison. By default,
                     ignore trailing blanks. -TB also causes CMF to  regard  the
                     NEWLINE  character  at the end of the last line in the file
                     as significant (if it exists).

  -BR                  Display   only   line   numbers   of   lines   containing
                     discrepancies.    By default, display both line numbers and
                     line contents.

  -L                  Display  names  of  files  being  compared   before   each
                     comparison  is  performed.   This is useful when wildcarded
                     pathnames are specified.

  -M n               Set the minimum number of lines for a rematch to 'n.'  This
                     is  the  minimum  number  of  lines,  following  a reported
                     difference, which must match for CMF to consider the  files
                     synchronized.  The default value is 3.


EXAMPLES

  Assume that file "file1" contains

        Fourscore
        and seven
        years ago,
        our fathers brought
        forth

  and "file2" contains

        Eighty-seven
        years ago,
        our fathers brought

  CMF produces the following output when "file1" is compared to "file2."

        $ cmf file1 file2

        A1        Fourscore
        A2        and seven
        changed to
        B1        Eighty-seven


        A5        forth
        deleted before
        end of file B


        2 discrepancies found.


RELATED TOPICS

  More information is available.  Type:

  - HELP CMSRF
   for details about comparing sorted files.

  - HELP CMT
   for details about comparing directory trees.