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index e22a62f06592c7d233fc06da022962cae59d105a..54aaaeb41b969be4c79a2a8072bc6daca469ca8d 100644 (file)
edit it. After the editor was closed, adjust the hunk headers
and apply the patch to the index.
+
-*NOTE*: Obviously, if you change anything else than the first character
-on lines beginning with a space or a minus, the patch will no longer
-apply.
+The intent of this option is to pick and choose lines of the patch to
+apply, or even to modify the contents of lines to be staged. This can be
+quicker and more flexible than using the interactive hunk selector.
+However, it is easy to confuse oneself and create a patch that does not
+apply to the index. See EDITING PATCHES below.
-u::
--update::
EXAMPLES
--------
-* Adds content from all `\*.txt` files under `Documentation` directory
+* Adds content from all `*.txt` files under `Documentation` directory
and its subdirectories:
+
------------
$ git add Documentation/\*.txt
------------
+
-Note that the asterisk `\*` is quoted from the shell in this
+Note that the asterisk `*` is quoted from the shell in this
example; this lets the command include the files from
subdirectories of `Documentation/` directory.
difference between indexed copy and the working tree
version (if the working tree version were also different,
'binary' would have been shown in place of 'nothing'). The
-other file, git-add--interactive.perl, has 403 lines added
+other file, git-add{litdd}interactive.perl, has 403 lines added
and 35 lines deleted if you commit what is in the index, but
working tree file has further modifications (one addition and
one deletion).
This lets you review what will be committed (i.e. between
HEAD and index).
+
+EDITING PATCHES
+---------------
+
+Invoking `git add -e` or selecting `e` from the interactive hunk
+selector will open a patch in your editor; after the editor exits, the
+result is applied to the index. You are free to make arbitrary changes
+to the patch, but note that some changes may have confusing results, or
+even result in a patch that cannot be applied. If you want to abort the
+operation entirely (i.e., stage nothing new in the index), simply delete
+all lines of the patch. The list below describes some common things you
+may see in a patch, and which editing operations make sense on them.
+
+--
+added content::
+
+Added content is represented by lines beginning with "{plus}". You can
+prevent staging any addition lines by deleting them.
+
+removed content::
+
+Removed content is represented by lines beginning with "-". You can
+prevent staging their removal by converting the "-" to a " " (space).
+
+modified content::
+
+Modified content is represented by "-" lines (removing the old content)
+followed by "{plus}" lines (adding the replacement content). You can
+prevent staging the modification by converting "-" lines to " ", and
+removing "{plus}" lines. Beware that modifying only half of the pair is
+likely to introduce confusing changes to the index.
+--
+
+There are also more complex operations that can be performed. But beware
+that because the patch is applied only to the index and not the working
+tree, the working tree will appear to "undo" the change in the index.
+For example, introducing a a new line into the index that is in neither
+the HEAD nor the working tree will stage the new line for commit, but
+the line will appear to be reverted in the working tree.
+
+Avoid using these constructs, or do so with extreme caution.
+
+--
+removing untouched content::
+
+Content which does not differ between the index and working tree may be
+shown on context lines, beginning with a " " (space). You can stage
+context lines for removal by converting the space to a "-". The
+resulting working tree file will appear to re-add the content.
+
+modifying existing content::
+
+One can also modify context lines by staging them for removal (by
+converting " " to "-") and adding a "{plus}" line with the new content.
+Similarly, one can modify "{plus}" lines for existing additions or
+modifications. In all cases, the new modification will appear reverted
+in the working tree.
+
+new content::
+
+You may also add new content that does not exist in the patch; simply
+add new lines, each starting with "{plus}". The addition will appear
+reverted in the working tree.
+--
+
+There are also several operations which should be avoided entirely, as
+they will make the patch impossible to apply:
+
+* adding context (" ") or removal ("-") lines
+* deleting context or removal lines
+* modifying the contents of context or removal lines
+
SEE ALSO
--------
linkgit:git-status[1]