## SYNOPSIS

           gendiff <directory> <diff-extension>

## DESCRIPTION

           gendiff is a rather simple script which aids in generating
           a diff file from a single directory.  It takes a directory
           name and a "diff-extension" as its  only  arguments.   The
           diff  extension  should be a unique sequence of characters
           added to the end of all original, unmodified  files.   The
           output  of the program is a diff file which may be applied
           with the patch program to recreate the changes.

           The usual sequence of events for creating  a  diff  is  to
           create  two  identical  directories,  make  changes in one
           directory, and then use the diff utility to create a  list
           of  differences between the two.  Using gendiff eliminates
           the need for the extra, original and unmodified  directory
           copy.   Instead,  only the individual files that are modi
           fied need to be saved.

           Before editing a file, copy the file, appending the exten
           sion  you  have  chosen to the filename.  I.e. if you were
           going to edit somefile.cpp, copy it  to  somefile.cpp.save
           before  editing  it.   Then  edit  the  first  copy (some
           file.cpp).

           After editing all the files you need to edit in this fash
           ion, enter the directory one level above where your source
           code resides, and then type
               $ gendiff somedirectory .orig > mydiff-orig.patch

           You should redirect the output to a file (as  illustrated)
           unless you want to see the results on stdout.

## SEE ALSO

           diff(1), patch(1)

## AUTHOR

           Marc Ewing <marc@redhat.com>

                             Mon Jan 10 2000               GENDIFF(1)