Linux in a Nutshell, Fifth Edition

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Chapter 3: Linux Commands

This is the Title of the Book, eMatter Edition

Copyright © 2006 O’Reilly & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

Examples

Create a three-column file from files x, y, and z:

paste x y z > file

List users in two columns:

who | paste - -

Merge each pair of lines into one line:

paste -s -d"\t\n" list

patch

patch [options] [original [patchfile]]

Apply the patches specified in patchfile to original. Replace the

original with the new, patched version; move the original to orig-

inal.orig or original~. The patch file is a difference listing produced

by the diff command.

Options

-b, --backup

Back up the original file.

--backup-if-mismatch, --no-backup-if-mismatch

When not backing up all original files, these options control

whether a backup should be made when a patch does not

match the original file. The default is to make backups unless

--posix is specified.

-c, --context

Interpret patchfile as a context diff.

-d dir, --directory=dir

cd to directory before beginning patch operations.

--dry-run

Print results of applying a patch, but don’t change any files.

-e, --ed

Treat the contents of patchfile as ed commands.

-f, --force

Force all changes, even those that look incorrect. Skip patches

if the original file does not exist; force patches for files with

the wrong version specified; assume patches are never

reversed.

-g num, --get num

Specify whether to check the original file out of source control ...