Options to patch
Multiple single-letter options that do not take an argument can be combined
into a single command line argument (with only one dash). Brackets (
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Use backup-suffix as the backup extension instead of '.orig' or '˜'. See Backup File Names .
Use backup-prefix as a prefix to the backup file name. If this option is specified, any '-b'
option is ignored. See Backup File Names.
Do not ask any questions. See Messages and Questions from patch.
'--context'
Interpret the patch file as a context diff. See Selecting the patch Input Format.
'--directory= directory'
Makes directory directory the current directory for interpreting both file names in the patch file, and
file names given as arguments to other options. See Applying Patches in Other Directories.
Make merged if-then-else output using format. See Merging Files with If-then-else.
Set internal debugging flags. Of interest only to patch patchers.
'--ed'
Interpret the patch file as an ed script. See Selecting the patch Input Format.
Remove output files that are empty after the patches have been applied. See Removing Empty Files.
Assume that the user knows exactly what he or she is doing, and ask no
questions. See Messages and Questions from patch.
Set the maximum fuzz factor to lines. See Helping patch Find Inexact Matches.
Assume that the user knows exactly what he or she is doing, and ask no
questions. See Messages and Questions from patch.
Ignore patches that patch thinks are reversed or already applied. See also '-R'. See Applying Reversed Patches.
Set the maximum fuzz factor to lines. See Helping patch Find Inexact Matches.
Print a summary of the options that patch recognizes, then exit.
Make merged if-then-else output using format. See Merging Files with If-then-else.
'-l'
Let any sequence of white space in the patch file match any sequence of white
space in the input file. See Applying Patches with Changed White Space.
'--normal'
Interpret the patch file as a normal diff. See Selecting patch Input Format.
Ignore patches that patch thinks are reversed or alrea
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dy applied. See also '-R'. See Applying Reversed Patches.
'--output=output-file'
Use output-file as the output file name. See Invoking patch.
Set the file name strip count to number. See Applying Patches in Other Directories.
Use backup-prefix as a prefix to the backup file name. If this option is specified, any '-b' option is ignored. See Backup File Names.
Work silently unless an error occurs. See Messages and Questions from patch.
Use reject-file as the reject file name. See Reject File Names.
Assume that this patch was created with the old and new files swapped. See Applying Reversed Patches.
Use reject-file as the reject file name. See Reject File Names.
Remove output files that are empty after the patches have been applied. See Removing Empty Files.
Assume that this patch was created with the old and new files swapped. See Applying Reversed Patches.
Work silently unless an error occurs. See Messages and Questions from patch.
Ignore this patch from the patch file, but continue looking for the next patch
in the file. See Multiple Patches in a File.
Work silently unless an error occurs. See Messages and Questions from patch.
Ignore this patch from the patch file, but continue looking for the next patch in the file. See Multiple Patches in a File.
Set the file name strip count to number. See Applying Patches in Other Directories.
Use backup-suffix as the backup extension instead of '.orig' or '˜'. See Backup File Names.
Do not ask any questions. See Messages and Questions from patch.
'--unified'
Interpret the patch file as a unified diff. See Selecting the patch Input Format.
Output the revision header and patch level of patch.
Select the kind of backups to make. See Backup File Names.
Output the revision header and patch level of patch, then exit.
Select the kind of backups to make. See Backup File Names.
Set internal debugging flags. Of interest only to patch patchers.