---
name: "cif_diff"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cod-tools"
version: "3.11.0+dfsg-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cif_diff"
---

# cif\_diff(1)

parse two CIF files and compare their content

## NAME

cif\_diff - parse two CIF files and compare their content

## SYNOPSIS

cif\_diff --options input1.cif input2.cif

## DESCRIPTION

Parse two CIF files and compare their content

## OPTIONS

\-t, --tags\
                   Whitespace- or comma-separated list of tags to compare.\
                   When present, only tags enumerated with this option are\
                   compared.

\-a, --add-tag\
                   Add a tag to the list of compared tags.

\-c, --clear-tags\
                   Clear the list of compared tags.

\-f, --file-with-tags\
                   Specify a file with tags to be compared.

\--compare-all-tags\
                   Compare all tags present in the compared files (default).

\--no-compare, --exclude\
                   Whitespace- or comma-separated list of tags not to compare.\
                   When present, enumerated tags will be excluded from the\
                   comparison.

\--compare-datablock-names

\--dont-compare-datablock-names\
                   Also compare the names of CIF data blocks. Default: on.

\--compare-numeric \_cell\_length\_a\
                   Force numeric comparison for given tag.

\--compare-string \_cell\_length\_a\
                   Force string comparison for given tag.

\--ignore-empty-values\
                   Ignore tags with empty values.

\--no-ignore-empty-values

\--dont-ignore-empty-values\
                   Take tags with empty values into comparison (default).

\--no-left\
                   Do not print tags present in the left file only.\
                   Similar to 'comm -1'.

\--no-right\
                   Do not print tags present in the right file only.\
                   Similar to 'comm -2'.

\--no-common\
                   Do not print tags with the same values in both files.

\--folding-width 72\
                   Specify the length of the longest unfolded line.

\--fold-long-fields

\--dont-fold-long-fields\
                   Fold fields, longer than folding width. Default: on.

\-L, -u\
                   Ignored options. Used to make this script usable\
                   as --diff-cmd for 'svn diff'.

\--use-perl-parser\
                   Use Perl parser to parse CIF files.

\--use-c-parser\
                   Use C parser to parse CIF files (default).

\--help, --usage\
                   Output a short usage message (this message) and exit.

\--version\
                   Output version information and exit.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report cif\_diff bugs using e-mail: cod-bugs@ibt.lt