diff-lines(3)

NAME

diff-lines - Highlight the differences between two lines

SYNOPSIS

n diff-lines

DESCRIPTION

diff-lines opens a window showing the differences found between two lines. If there is an active region the two lines compare are the lines containing the mark with the line containing the cursor. If the is no active region the current line is compared with the next.

The numeric argument n is used to modify the default behavior of the command, where the bits are defined as follows:

0x01


When set the command copies the two lines into a new *diff-lines* buffer and displays it in popup window. When clear the command operates in the current buffer directory, in which case it is the caller's responsibility to ensure the buffer's highlighting has been setup correctly, see notes below.

0x02


If set the mark position is always used to locate 2nd line, regardless of whether the region is active.

0x04


If set the comparison is made from the current column of the cursor (and mark if region is used) to the end of the line, this can be useful when the start of the lines have an ignorable difference such a +/- diff line markers.

0x08


If set then the two lines are not wrapped, if clear the lines are wrapped at the width of the display window.

NOTES

diff-lines inserts the following hilight(2) tags into the two lines:

\CCM


Start of a region of common change.

\CCN


Start of a region of added text.

\CCO


Start of a region of removed text.

\CCA


End of the current region.

diff-lines is a macro defined in diffline.emf.

SEE ALSO

compare-windows(2), diff(3).

Ref: diff-lines(3) File: m3mac104.3 Date: 2026/03/26

(c) Copyright JASSPA 2026