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| Chapter 18 The RCS Utility |

## merge

    merge [options] file1 file2 file3

Perform a three-way merge of files (via diff3) and place changes in `file1`. `file2` is the original file. `file1` is the "good" modification of `file2`. `file3` is another, conflicting modification of `file2`. merge finds the differences between `file2` and `file3`, and then incorporates those changes into `file1`. If both `file1` and `file3` have changes to common lines, merge warns about overlapping lines and inserts both choices in `file1`. The insertion appears as follows:

>     <<<<<<< file1>
>     lines from file1
>     ========
>     lines from file3
>     >>>>>>> file3

You'll need to edit `file1` by deleting one of the choices. merge exits with a status of 0 (no overlaps), 1 (some overlaps), or 2 (unknown problem). See also rcsmerge.

### Options

-L `text1`

  In overlapping lines, replace the label "<<<<<<< `file1`" with the label "<<<<<<< `text1`".

-L `text3`

  In overlapping lines, replace the label "<<<<<<< `file3`" with the label "<<<<<<< `text3`". Valid only with -L `text1`.

-p

  Send merged version to standard output instead of to `file1`.

-q

  Produce overlap insertions but don't warn about them.

Reference: ident |  | Reference: rcs