NAME

       zdiff - decompress and compare two files line by line

SYNOPSIS

       zdiff [options] file1 [file2]

DESCRIPTION

       Zdiff  compares  two  files ('-' means standard input), and if they differ, shows the differences line by
       line. If any given file is compressed, its decompressed content is used. Zdiff is a front end to the diff
       program and has the limitation that messages from diff refer to  temporary  filenames  instead  of  those
       specified.

       The formats supported are bzip2, gzip, lzip and xz.

       Zdiff compares file1 to file2. If file2 is omitted zdiff tries the following:

              1.  If file1 is compressed, compares its decompressed contents with the corresponding uncompressed
              file (the name of file1 with the extension removed).

              2. If file1 is uncompressed, compares it with the decompressed  contents  of  file1.[lz|bz2|gz|xz]
              (the first one that is found).

              3. If no suitable file is found, compares file1 with data read from standard input.

       Exit status is 0 if inputs are identical, 1 if different, 2 if trouble.

OPTIONS

       -h, --help
              display this help and exit

       -V, --version
              output version information and exit

       -a, --text
              treat all files as text

       -b, --ignore-space-change
              ignore changes in the amount of white space

       -B, --ignore-blank-lines
              ignore changes whose lines are all blank

       -c     use the context output format

       -C, --context=<n>
              same as -c but use <n> lines of context

       -d, --minimal
              try hard to find a smaller set of changes

       -E, --ignore-tab-expansion
              ignore changes due to tab expansion

       -i, --ignore-case
              ignore case differences in file contents

       -M, --format=<list>
              process only the formats in <list>

       -N, --no-rcfile
              don't read runtime configuration file

       -O, --force-format=[<f1>][,<f2>]
              force given formats (bz2, gz, lz, xz)

       -p, --show-c-function
              show which C function each change is in

       -q, --brief
              output only whether files differ

       -s, --report-identical-files
              report when two files are identical

       -t, --expand-tabs
              expand tabs to spaces in output

       -T, --initial-tab
              make tabs line up by prepending a tab

       -u     use the unified output format

       -U, --unified=<n>
              same as -u but use <n> lines of context

       -w, --ignore-all-space
              ignore all white space

       --bz2=<command>
              set compressor and options for bzip2 format

       --gz=<command>
              set compressor and options for gzip format

       --lz=<command>
              set compressor and options for lzip format

       --xz=<command>
              set compressor and options for xz format

REPORTING BUGS

       Report bugs to zutils-bug@nongnu.org
       Zutils home page: http://www.nongnu.org/zutils/zutils.html

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright   ©   2019   Antonio   Diaz   Diaz.    License   GPLv2+:   GNU   GPL   version   2   or   later
       <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
       This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY, to  the  extent
       permitted by law.

zdiff (zutils) 1.8                                January 2019                                          ZDIFF(1)