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RCS Scripts
The RCS output format is designed specifically for use by the Revision
Control System, which is a set of free programs used for organizing
different versions and systems of files. Use the -n
or
--rcs
option to select this output format. It is like the
forward ed
format (see Forward ed), but it can represent
arbitrary changes to the contents of a file because it avoids the
forward ed
format's problems with lines consisting of a single
period and with incomplete lines. Instead of ending text sections with
a line consisting of a single period, each command specifies the number
of lines it affects; a combination of the a
and d
commands are used instead of c
. Also, if the second file ends
in a changed incomplete line, then the output also ends in an
incomplete line.
Here is the output of diff -n lao tzu
(see Sample diff Input, for the complete contents of the two files):
d1 2
d4 1
a4 2
The named is the mother of all things.
a11 3
They both may be called deep and profound.
Deeper and more profound,
The door of all subtleties!