---
name: "merge-info"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xstow"
version: "1.1.1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/merge-info"
---

# merge-info(1)

## NAME

merge-info, merge and unmerge GNU Info index files

## SYNOPSIS

merge-info        \[OPTION ...\] FILE FILE

## DESCRIPTION

merge-info can merge and unmerge the GNU Info index files named 'dir'. These files are usally created by **install-info** at install time of an application, or automatically generated by a **mkinfodir** script.

If you are installing 2 packages at two different locations, two different 'dir' files are created. Eg.: One in

```
          /stow/foo/usr/local/info/dir
```

and one in

```
          /stow/bar/usr/local/info/dir
```

This is the common case if you are using a tool like [**xstow**(1)](/xstow/1.md). **merge-info** can handle this and can merge both 'dir' files and creates a new 'dir' file.

## USAGE

merge-info \[OPTION ...\] FILE FILE

Merge two files:

```
      merge-info /stow/foo/info/dir /stow/bar/info/dir
```

Remove the content of a 'dir' file from another 'dir' file

```
       merge-info -u /stow/foo/info/dir /stow/bar/info/dir
```

## OPTIONS

- **-dl -debug-level** INT

  Set's the debug level. An unsigned integer is accepted. The default value is 0.

- **-h -help**

  Shows a help screen.

- **-V -Version**

  Displays the verion number of the XStow package. **merge-info** is shipped with [**xstow**(1)](/xstow/1.md).

- **-u -unmerge**

  Unmerge instead of merge. Note: It is not possible splitting up one 'dir' file into two. But removing the content of one 'dir' file from the other one is possible.

- **-o -outfile**

  Write the resulting 'dir' file not to stdout. Write it to a given file. Since **merge-info** does not open this outfile until all the merging or unmerging stuff is done it is allowed that the outfile is one the source files. eg.:

  ```
      merge-info -u foo/info/dir bar/info/dir -o foo/info/dir
  ```

- **-d -duplicate**

  Remove duplicate entries. When merging 2 files an entry can appear in more than one section. If you do not wan't this, use this option.

## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

- **XSTOW\_DEBUG\_LEVEL**

  Same as the **-debug-level** option.

## AUTHORS

merge-info was written by Martin Oberzalek \<kingleo@gmx.at\>.

## COPYING

merge-info, a tool for merging GNU Info index files.

Copyright (C) 2004-2021 by Martin Oberzalek \<kingleo@gmx.at\>

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

## SEE ALSO

[**info**(1)](/info/1.md) [**install-info**(1)](/install-info/1.md) [**xstow**(1)](/xstow/1.md)