Options to patch

Here is a summary of all of the options that patch accepts. Older versions of patch do not accept long-named options or the `-t', `-E', or `-V' options.

Multiple single-letter options that do not take an argument can be combined into a single command line argument (with only one dash). Brackets ([ and ]) indicate that an option takes an optional argument.

`-b backup-suffix'

Use backup-suffix as the backup extension instead of `.orig' or `~'. See section Backup File Names.

`-B backup-prefix'

Use backup-prefix as a prefix to the backup file name. If this option is specified, any `-b' option is ignored. See section Backup File Names.

`--batch'

Do not ask any questions. See section Messages and Questions from patch.

`-c'

`--context'

Interpret the patch file as a context diff. See section Selecting the patch Input Format.

`-d directory'

`--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 section Applying Patches in Other Directories.

`-D name'

Make merged if-then-else output using format. See section Merging Files with If-then-else.

`--debug=number'

Set internal debugging flags. Of interest only to patch patchers.

`-e'

`--ed'

Interpret the patch file as an ed script. See section Selecting the patch Input Format.

`-E'

Remove output files that are empty after the patches have been applied. See section Removing Empty Files.

`-f'

Assume that the user knows exactly what he or she is doing, and do not ask any questions. See section Messages and Questions from patch.

`-F lines'

Set the maximum fuzz factor to lines. See section Helping patch Find Inexact Matches.

`--force'

Assume that the user knows exactly what he or she is doing, and do not ask any questions. See section Messages and Questions from patch.

`--forward'

Ignore patches that patch thinks are reversed or already applied. See also `-R'. See section Applying Reversed Patches.

`--fuzz=lines'

Set the maximum fuzz factor to lines. See section Helping patch Find Inexact Matches.

`--help'

Print a summary of the options that patch recognizes, then exit.

`--ifdef=name'

Make merged if-then-else output using format. See section Merging Files with If-then-else.

`--ignore-white-space'

`-l'

Let any sequence of white space in the patch file match any sequence of white space in the input file. See section Applying Patches with Changed White Space.

`-n'

`--normal'

Interpret the patch file as a normal diff. See section Selecting the patch Input Format.

`-N'

Ignore patches that patch thinks are reversed or already applied. See also `-R'. See section Applying Reversed Patches.

`-o output-file'

`--output=output-file'

Use output-file as the output file name. See section Options to patch.

`-p[number]'

Set the file name strip count to number. See section Applying Patches in Other Directories.

`--prefix=backup-prefix'

Use backup-prefix as a prefix to the backup file name. If this option is specified, any `-b' option is ignored. See section Backup File Names.

`--quiet'

Work silently unless an error occurs. See section Messages and Questions from patch.

`-r reject-file'

Use reject-file as the reject file name. See section Reject File Names.

`-R'

Assume that this patch was created with the old and new files swapped. See section Applying Reversed Patches.

`--reject-file=reject-file'

Use reject-file as the reject file name. See section Reject File Names.

`--remove-empty-files'

Remove output files that are empty after the patches have been applied. See section Removing Empty Files.

`--reverse'

Assume that this patch was created with the old and new files swapped. See section Applying Reversed Patches.

`-s'

Work silently unless an error occurs. See section Messages and Questions from patch.

`-S'

Ignore this patch from the patch file, but continue looking for the next patch in the file. See section Multiple Patches in a File.

`--silent'

Work silently unless an error occurs. See section Messages and Questions from patch.

`--skip'

Ignore this patch from the patch file, but continue looking for the next patch in the file. See section Multiple Patches in a File.

`--strip[=number]'

Set the file name strip count to number. See section Applying Patches in Other Directories.

`--suffix=backup-suffix'

Use backup-suffix as the backup extension instead of `.orig' or `~'. See section Backup File Names.

`-t'

Do not ask any questions. See section Messages and Questions from patch.

`-u'

`--unified'

Interpret the patch file as a unified diff. See section Selecting the patch Input Format.

`-v'

Output the revision header and patch level of patch.

`-V backup-style'

Select the kind of backups to make. See section Backup File Names.

`--version'

Output the revision header and patch level of patch, then exit.

`--version=control=backup-style'

Select the kind of backups to make. See section Backup File Names.

`-x number'

Set internal debugging flags. Of interest only to patch patchers.