3.22 Comparison

This section describes commands which compare files, windows and/or buffers against each other.

Compare Windows

Editor Command

Arguments: [ source1 ] [ source2 ]
Key sequence: None

Compares the text in the current window with that another window. The points are left where the text differs.

The first defaults to the current window. The second defaults to the next ordinary window.

Differences in whitespace are ignored by default, according to the value of Compare-Ignores-Whitespace.

Compare Buffers

Editor Command

Arguments: [ buffer1 ] [ buffer2 ]
Key sequence: None

Compares the text in the current buffer with that another buffer.

The first argument defaults to the current buffer. The second defaults to the next editor buffer.

Differences in whitespace are ignored by default, according to the value of Compare-Ignores-Whitespace.

Compare-Ignores-Whitespace

Editor Variable

Initial value: t

When true, the Compare Windows and Compare Buffers commands ignore mismatches due to differences in whitespace.

Diff

Editor Command

Arguments: [ file1 ] [ file2 ]
Key sequence: None

Compares the current buffer with another file.

A prefix argument makes it compare any two files, prompting you for both filenames.

Diff Ignoring Whitespace

Editor Command

Arguments: [ file1 ] [ file2 ]
Key sequence: None

Compares the current buffer with another file, like Diff but ignoring whitespace.

A prefix argument is interpreted in the same way as by Diff.