(diffutils.info)patch Options

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15.1 Options to 'patch'
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Here is a summary of all of the options that GNU 'patch' accepts.  Note:
patch and Tradition, for which of these options are safe to use in
older versions of 'patch'.

   Multiple single-letter options that do not take an argument can be
combined into a single command line argument with only one dash.

'-b'
'--backup'
     Back up the original contents of each file, even if backups would
     normally not be made.  Note: Backups.

'-B PREFIX'
'--prefix=PREFIX'
     Prepend PREFIX to backup file names.  Note: Backup Names.

'--backup-if-mismatch'
     Back up the original contents of each file if the patch does not
     exactly match the file.  This is the default behavior when not
     conforming to POSIX. Note: Backups.

'--binary'
     Read and write all files in binary mode, except for standard output
     and '/dev/tty'.  This option has no effect on POSIX-conforming
     systems like GNU/Linux.  On systems where this option makes a
     difference, the patch should be generated by 'diff -a --binary'.
     Note: Binary.

'-c'
'--context'
     Interpret the patch file as a context diff.  Note: patch Input.

'-d DIRECTORY'
'--directory=DIRECTORY'
     Make directory DIRECTORY the current directory for interpreting
     both file names in the patch file, and file names given as
     arguments to other options.  Note: patch Directories.

'-D NAME'
'--ifdef=NAME'
     Make merged if-then-else output using NAME.  Note: If-then-else.

'--dry-run'
     Print the results of applying the patches without actually changing
     any files.  Note: Dry Runs.

'-e'
'--ed'
     Interpret the patch file as an 'ed' script.  Note: patch Input.

'-E'
'--remove-empty-files'
     Remove output files that are empty after the patches have been
     applied.  Note: Creating and Removing.

'-f'
'--force'
     Assume that the user knows exactly what he or she is doing, and do
     not ask any questions.  Note: patch Messages.

'-F LINES'
'--fuzz=LINES'
     Set the maximum fuzz factor to LINES.  Note: Inexact.

'-g NUM'
'--get=NUM'
     If NUM is positive, get input files from a revision control system
     as necessary; if zero, do not get the files; if negative, ask the
     user whether to get the files.  Note: Revision Control.

'--help'
     Output a summary of usage and then exit.

'-i PATCHFILE'
'--input=PATCHFILE'
     Read the patch from PATCHFILE rather than from standard input.
     Note: patch Options.

'-l'
'--ignore-white-space'
     Let any sequence of blanks (spaces or tabs) in the patch file match
     any sequence of blanks in the input file.  Note: Changed White
     Space.

'-n'
'--normal'
     Interpret the patch file as a normal diff.  Note: patch Input.

'-N'
'--forward'
     Ignore patches that 'patch' thinks are reversed or already applied.
     See also '-R'.  Note: Reversed Patches.

'--no-backup-if-mismatch'
     Do not back up the original contents of files.  This is the default
     behavior when conforming to POSIX. Note: Backups.

'-o FILE'
'--output=FILE'
     Use FILE as the output file name.  Note: patch Options.

'-pNUMBER'
'--strip=NUMBER'
     Set the file name strip count to NUMBER.  Note: patch
     Directories.

'--posix'
     Conform to POSIX, as if the 'POSIXLY_CORRECT' environment variable
     had been set.  Note: patch and POSIX.

'--quoting-style=WORD'
     Use style WORD to quote names in diagnostics, as if the
     'QUOTING_STYLE' environment variable had been set to WORD.  Note:
     patch Quoting Style.

'-r REJECT-FILE'
'--reject-file=REJECT-FILE'
     Use REJECT-FILE as the reject file name.  Note: Reject Names.

'-R'
'--reverse'
     Assume that this patch was created with the old and new files
     swapped.  Note: Reversed Patches.

'-s'
'--quiet'
'--silent'
     Work silently unless an error occurs.  Note: patch Messages.

'-t'
'--batch'
     Do not ask any questions.  Note: patch Messages.

'-T'
'--set-time'
     Set the modification and access times of patched files from
     timestamps given in context diff headers, assuming that the context
     diff headers use local time.  Note: Patching Timestamps.

'-u'
'--unified'
     Interpret the patch file as a unified diff.  Note: patch Input.

'-v'
'--version'
     Output version information and then exit.

'-V BACKUP-STYLE'
'--version=control=BACKUP-STYLE'
     Select the naming convention for backup file names.  Note: Backup
     Names.

'--verbose'
     Print more diagnostics than usual.  Note: patch Messages.

'-x NUMBER'
'--debug=NUMBER'
     Set internal debugging flags.  Of interest only to 'patch'
     patchers.

'-Y PREFIX'
'--basename-prefix=PREFIX'
     Prepend PREFIX to base names of backup files.  Note: Backup
     Names.

'-z SUFFIX'
'--suffix=SUFFIX'
     Use SUFFIX as the backup extension instead of '.orig' or '~'.
     Note: Backup Names.

'-Z'
'--set-utc'
     Set the modification and access times of patched files from
     timestamps given in context diff headers, assuming that the context
     diff headers use UTC. Note: Patching Timestamps.