


ReadMe(FHist)                                       ReadMe(FHist)


NNAAMMEE
       fhist - file history and comparison tools
       Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997,
       1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Peter Miller; All rights reserved.

       Portions of this program are
       Copyright (C) 1990 David I. Bell.

       The _f_h_i_s_t package is distributed under the terms of the
       GNU General Public License, see the _L_I_C_E_N_S_E section,
       below, for more information.

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       The FHist package contains 3 utilities, a file history
       tool ``_f_h_i_s_t'', a file comparison tool ``_f_c_o_m_p'', and a
       file merging tool ``_f_m_e_r_g_e'.  All three are bundled
       together, because they all use the same minimal-difference
       algorithm.

       fhist
               Keeps track of versions of a file.  It works
               correctly when given binary files as input.  See
               _f_h_i_s_t(1) for more information.

       fcomp
               Compares two versions of a file, usually line-for-
               line textual comparison.  It is capable of
               comparing two binary files byte-for-byte.  See
               _f_c_o_m_p(1) for more information.

       fmerge
               Merges together edits from two descendants of a
               file.  See _f_m_e_r_g_e(1) for more information.

       The history tool presented here, fhist, is a _m_i_n_i_m_a_l
       history tool.  It provides no locking or branching.  This
       can be useful in contexts where the configuration
       management or change control be being provided by some
       other tool.

RREEFFEERREENNCCEESS
       This program is based on the algorithm in
              _A_n _O_(_N_D_) _D_i_f_f_e_r_e_n_c_e _A_l_g_o_r_i_t_h_m _a_n_d _I_t_s _V_a_r_i_a_t_i_o_n_s,
              Eugene W. Myers, TR 85-6, 10-April-1985, Department
              of Computer Science, The University of Arizona,
              Tuscon, Arizona 85721.
       See also:
              _A _F_i_l_e _C_o_m_p_a_r_i_s_o_n _P_r_o_g_r_a_m, Webb Miller and Eugene
              W. Myers, Software Practice and Experience, Volume
              15, No. 11, November 1985.











BBUUIILLDDIINNGG
       For complete instructions for host to build these
       programs, see the _B_U_I_L_D_I_N_G file included in this
       distribution.

AARRCCHHIIVVEE SSIITTEE
       The latest version of _f_h_i_s_t is available on the Web from:
          URL:    http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~millerp/
          File:   fhist.html         # The FHist page.
          File:   fhist-1.8.README   # Description, from the tar file
          File:   fhist-1.8.lsm      # Description, in LSM format
          File:   fhist-1.8.spec     # RedHat package spec
          File:   fhist-1.8.tar.Z    # The complete source.
       FHist is also carried by sunsite.unc.edu in its Linux
       archives.  You will be able to find FHist on any of its
       mirrors.
          URL:    ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/devel/vc/
          File:   fhist-1.8.README   # Description, from the tar file
          File:   fhist-1.8.lsm      # Description, in LSM format
          File:   fhist-1.8.spec     # RedHat package spec
          File:   fhist-1.8.tar.Z    # The complete source.
       This site is extensively mirrored around the world, so
       look for a copy near you (you will get much better
       response).

CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT
       fhist version 1.8.D001
       Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997,
       1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Peter Miller; All rights reserved.

       This program is derived from a work
       Copyright (C) 1990 David I. Bell.

       This program is free software; you can redistribute it
       and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public
       License as published by the Free Software Foundation;
       either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any
       later version.

       This program is distributed in the hope that it will be
       useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied
       warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
       PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more
       details.

       You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public
       License along with this program; if not, write to the Free
       Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330,
       Boston, MA 02111, USA.

AAUUTTHHOORRSS
       Peter Miller       Web:   http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~millerp
       /\/\*           E-Mail:   millerp@canb.auug.org.au

       David I. Bell      Web:   http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~dbell
                       E-Mail:   dbell@canb.auug.org.au










RREELLEEAASSEE NNOOTTEESS
       For excruciating detail, and also acknowledgements of
       those who generously sent me feedback, please see the
       _e_t_c_/_C_H_A_N_G_E_S_._1_._8 file included in this distribution.

       A number of features and bug fixes have been added to
       _f_h_i_s_t with this release.  A few of them are detailed here:

   VVeerrssiioonn 11..88
       * There is a new --BBIINNaarryy option for the _f_c_o_m_p(1) program,
       which compares binary files a byte at time, printing the
       results in hexadecimal.

       * The _f_c_o_m_p(1) program now silently copes with CRLF line
       terminations.

   VVeerrssiioonn 11..77
       * The _f_h_i_s_t_(_1_) _c_o_m_m_a_n_d _n_o_w _h_a_s _a ----bbiinnaarryy _o_p_t_i_o_n_, _w_h_i_c_h
       _m_a_y _b_e _u_s_e_d _t_o _s_t_o_r_e _t_h_e _h_i_s_t_o_r_y _o_f _b_i_n_a_r_y _f_i_l_e_s_.

       * The _f_h_i_s_t(1) command has a new ----mmaakkee--ppaatthh option, which
       requests that the history directory be created if
       necessary.

       * A bug in _f_h_i_s_t(1) wich caused a SEGFAULT when you used
       the --tt option (extract to terminal) has been fixed.

   VVeerrssiioonn 11..66
       * An RPM spec file has been added to the distribution.

       * The code is now more robust about what various UNIX
       systems return from pathconf().

       * A bug with the ``_f_c_o_m_p _-_b_l_a_n_k'' option has been fixed.

   VVeerrssiioonn 11..55
       * Binary files are now detected on input, and the
       utilities file gracefully with a warning or error message,
       as appropriate.

       * Some buffer over-run bugs have been fixed.

       * Several improvements have been made to the portability.

   VVeerrssiioonn 11..44
       * The install and build procedures have been made more
       robust, and they take note of more of the information
       provided by GNU Autoconf.

       * The error messages have been internationalized, so it is
       now possible to obtain error messages in your native
       language.  (If you would like to contribute with error
       message translations, please contact the author.)

       * An LSM description has been added, along with a HTML
       page to present it all nicely at the archive site.

       * A RedHat Package Manager spec file has been added, so
       that a RedHat package can be created.  The spec file is in
       the standard distribution.

   VVeerrssiioonn 11..33
       This version was not distributed  at all.



   VVeerrssiioonn 11..22
       This version was not distributed very widely.

       * The non-standard isblank function is no longer used, it
       cause too many portability problems.

       * The use of pathconf is not more robust for more
       operating systems.

   VVeerrssiioonn 11..11
       * The _f_h_i_s_t package now uses a shell script called
       _c_o_n_f_i_g_u_r_e to configure itself.  This script is generated
       using the _G_N_U _A_u_t_o_c_o_n_f utility.  This should make _f_h_i_s_t
       significantly easier to configure, and significantly more
       portable.

       * A bug has been fixed in the conflict reporting of the
       _f_m_e_r_g_e program.  It now correctly opens the conflicts
       file.

       * The _f_h_i_s_t program now uses _p_a_t_h_c_o_n_f(2) to determine file
       name length limits.



Reference Manual              FHist                             1







































