---
name: "mdiff"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "wdiff"
version: "1.1.2-1"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mdiff"
---

# mdiff(1)

manual page for mdiff 1.1.2

## NAME

mdiff - manual page for mdiff 1.1.2

## SYNOPSIS

**mdiff** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*FILE*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

mdiff - Studies multiple files and searches for similar sequences, it then produces possibly detailed lists of differences and similarities.

### Operation modes:

- **-h**

  (ignored)

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  report a few statistics on stderr

- **--help**

  display this help then exit

- **--version**

  display program version then exit

### Formatting output:

- **-T**, **--initial-tab**

  produce TAB instead of initial space

- **-l**, **--paginate**

  paginate output through \`pr'

- **-S**, **--string**\[=*STRING*\]

  take note of another user STRING

- **-V**, **--show-links**

  give file and line references in annotations

- **-t**, **--expand-tabs**

  expand tabs to spaces in the output

### Debugging:

- **-0**, **--debugging**

  output many details about what is going on

### Word mode options:

- **-1**, **--no-deleted**

  inhibit output of deleted words

- **-2**, **--no-inserted**

  inhibit output of inserted words

- **-3**, **--no-common**

  inhibit output of common words

- **-A**, **--auto-pager**

  automatically calls a pager

- **-k**, **--less-mode**

  variation of printer mode for "less"

- **-m**, **--avoid-wraps**

  do not extend fields through newlines

- **-o**, **--printer**

  overstrike as for printers

- **-z**, **--terminal**

  use termcap as for terminal displays

- **-O**, **--item-regexp**=*REGEXP*

  compare items as defined by REGEXP

- **-W**, **--word-mode**

  compare words instead of lines

With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

## AUTHOR

Written by Franc,ois Pinard \<pinard@iro.umontreal.ca\>.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<wdiff-bugs@gnu.org\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.\
 This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **mdiff** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **mdiff** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info mdiff**

should give you access to the complete manual.