changeset 70366:08f6a4d7af40

(Diff Mode): Node moved here. (Comparing Files): Delete what duplicates new node. (Files): Put Diff Mode in menu.

--- a/man/files.texi	Wed May 03 23:28:43 2006 +0000
+++ b/man/files.texi	Thu May 04 00:25:54 2006 +0000
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 * Version Control::     Version control systems (RCS, CVS and SCCS).
 * Directories::         Creating, deleting, and listing file directories.
 * Comparing Files::     Finding where two files differ.
+* Diff Mode::           Mode for editing file differences.
 * Misc File Ops::       Other things you can do on files.
 * Compressed Files::    Accessing compressed files.
 * File Archives::       Operating on tar, zip, jar etc. archive files.
@@ -2159,6 +2160,8 @@
 running the @code{diff} program, using options taken from the variable
 @code{diff-switches}.  The value of @code{diff-switches} should be a
 string; the default is @code{"-c"} to specify a context diff.
+@xref{Top,, Diff, diff, Comparing and Merging Files}, for more
+information about @command{diff} output formats.
 
 @findex diff-backup
   The command @kbd{M-x diff-backup} compares a specified file with its most
@@ -2166,20 +2169,6 @@
 @code{diff-backup} compares it with the source file that it is a backup
 of.
 
-@findex diff-goto-source
-@findex diff-mode
-@cindex Diff mode
-  The @samp{*diff*} buffer uses Diff mode, which enables you to use
-@kbd{C-x `} to visit successive changed locations in the two source
-files, as in Compilation mode (@pxref{Compilation Mode}.)  You can
-also move to a particular hunk of changes and type @kbd{C-c C-c}
-(@code{diff-goto-source}) to visit the corresponding source location.
-
-@cindex patches
-  Differences between versions of files are often distributed as
-patches, which are the output from the @command{diff} program.  You
-can use Diff mode to operate on a patch by typing @kbd{M-x diff-mode}.
-
 @findex compare-windows
   The command @kbd{M-x compare-windows} compares the text in the
 current window with that in the next window.  (For more information
@@ -2219,6 +2208,86 @@
   @inforef{Emerge,, emacs-xtra} for the Emerge facility, which
 provides a powerful interface for merging files.
 
+@node Diff Mode
+@section Diff Mode
+@cindex Diff mode
+@findex diff-mode
+@cindex patches, editing
+
+  The @samp{*diff*} buffer uses Diff mode (@pxref{Diff Mode}).  Diff
+mode is also useful for editing patches and comparisons produced by
+the @command{diff} program.  To select Diff mode manually, type
+@kbd{M-x diff-mode}.
+
+  One general feature of Diff mode is that manual edits to the patch
+automatically correct line numbers, including those in the hunk
+header, so that you can actually apply the edited patch.  Diff mode
+also provides the following commands to navigate, manipulate and apply
+parts of patches:
+
+@table @kbd
+@item M-n
+Move to the next hunk-start (@code{diff-hunk-next}).
+
+@item M-p
+Move to the previous hunk-start (@code{diff-hunk-prev}).
+
+@item M-@}
+Move to the next file-start, in a multi-file patch
+(@code{diff-file-next}).
+
+@item M-@{
+Move to the previous file-start, in a multi-file patch
+(@code{diff-file-prev}).
+
+@item M-k
+Kill the hunk at point (@code{diff-hunk-kill}).
+
+@item M-K
+In a multi-file patch, kill the current file part.
+(@code{diff-file-kill}).
+
+@item C-c C-a
+Apply this hunk to its target file (@code{diff-apply-hunk}).  With a
+prefix argument of @kbd{C-u}, revert this hunk.
+
+@item C-c C-c
+Go to the source corresponding to this hunk (@code{diff-goto-source}).
+
+@item C-c C-e
+Start an Ediff session with the patch (@code{diff-ediff-patch}).
+@xref{Top, Ediff, Ediff, ediff, The Ediff Manual}.
+
+@item C-c C-n
+Restrict the view to the current hunk (@code{diff-restrict-view}).
+@xref{Narrowing}.  With a prefix argument of @kbd{C-u}, restrict the
+view to the current patch of a multiple file patch.  To widen again,
+use @kbd{C-x n w}.
+
+@item C-c C-r
+Reverse the direction of comparison for the entire buffer
+(@code{diff-reverse-direction}).
+
+@item C-c C-s
+Split the hunk at point (@code{diff-split-hunk}).  This is for
+manually editing patches, and only works with the unified diff format.
+
+@item C-c C-u
+Convert the entire buffer to unified format
+(@code{diff-context->unified}).  With a prefix argument, convert
+unified format to context format.  In Transient Mark mode, when the
+mark is active, this command operates only on the region.
+
+@item C-c C-w
+Refine the current hunk so that it disregards changes in whitespace
+(@code{diff-refine-hunk}).
+@end table
+
+  @kbd{C-x 4 a} in Diff mode operates on behalf of the target file,
+but gets the function name from the patch itself.  @xref{Change Log}.
+This is useful for making log entries for functions that are deleted
+by the patch.
+
 @node Misc File Ops
 @section Miscellaneous File Operations