git-merge-file - Linux
Overview
git-merge-file is specifically designed to facilitate merging files during a git merge
operation, allowing you to merge changes from different branches or commits. It provides a user-friendly interface for resolving merge conflicts by presenting the conflicting versions of text files and guiding you through the merging process.
Syntax
git merge-file [options] <input-file> <local-file> <remote-file> [output-file]
| Argument | Description |
|—|—|
| input-file
| (Required) The path to a temporary file containing the original text before any merge attempts. |
| local-file
| (Required) The path to the locally modified file. |
| remote-file
| (Required) The path to the remotely modified file. |
| output-file
| (Optional) The path to the output file where the merged result will be saved. Defaults to stdout
if omitted. |
Options/Flags
| Option | Description | Default |
|—|—|—|
| -p
| Prompt for each conflict resolution. | No |
| -L<n>
| Ignore conflicts in the first <n>
lines. | 0 |
| -R<n>
| Ignore conflicts in the last <n>
lines. | 0 |
Examples
Simple Merge:
git merge-file input.txt local.txt remote.txt
Merge with Prompt:
git merge-file -p input.txt local.txt remote.txt output.txt
Ignoring Conflicts in First 10 Lines:
git merge-file -L10 input.txt local.txt remote.txt
Common Issues
- Conflict Markers: If merge conflicts occur, you may see markers in the output file. Manually resolve these conflicts before saving the merged result.
- Editor Integration:
git-merge-file
uses your default text editor to resolve conflicts. Ensure your editor is properly configured for merging (e.g., Atom with themerge-conflict
package).
Integration
- Bash Script: Create a script that automates conflict resolution based on specific criteria.
- Vim: Use plugins like
vim-fugitive
for enhanced merging functionality within Vim.
Related Commands
- git-merge: Perform a merge operation between branches or commits.
- git-resolve: Manually resolve merge conflicts within a specific file.
- git-mergetool: Launch a merge tool for selecting merges between different versions.