SYNOPSIS
--------
[verse]
-'git-format-patch' [-n | -k] [-o <dir> | --stdout] [--attach]
+'git-format-patch' [-n | -k] [-o <dir> | --stdout] [--attach] [--thread]
[-s | --signoff] [--diff-options] [--start-number <n>]
+ [--in-reply-to=Message-Id] [--suffix=.<sfx>]
+ [--ignore-if-in-upstream]
<since>[..<until>]
DESCRIPTION
Prepare each commit between <since> and <until> with its patch in
one file per commit, formatted to resemble UNIX mailbox format.
If ..<until> is not specified, the head of the current working
-tree is implied.
+tree is implied. For a more complete list of ways to spell
+<since> and <until>, see "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in
+gitlink:git-rev-parse[1].
The output of this command is convenient for e-mail submission or
for use with gitlink:git-am[1].
If -n is specified, instead of "[PATCH] Subject", the first line
is formatted as "[PATCH n/m] Subject".
+If given --thread, git-format-patch will generate In-Reply-To and
+References headers to make the second and subsequent patch mails appear
+as replies to the first mail; this also generates a Message-Id header to
+reference.
OPTIONS
-------
-o|--output-directory <dir>::
Use <dir> to store the resulting files, instead of the
- current working directory. This option is ignored if
- --stdout is specified.
+ current working directory.
-n|--numbered::
Name output in '[PATCH n/m]' format.
--attach::
Create attachments instead of inlining patches.
+--thread::
+ Add In-Reply-To and References headers to make the second and
+ subsequent mails appear as replies to the first. Also generates
+ the Message-Id header to reference.
+
+--in-reply-to=Message-Id::
+ Make the first mail (or all the mails with --no-thread) appear as a
+ reply to the given Message-Id, which avoids breaking threads to
+ provide a new patch series.
+
+--ignore-if-in-upstream::
+ Do not include a patch that matches a commit in
+ <until>..<since>. This will examine all patches reachable
+ from <since> but not from <until> and compare them with the
+ patches being generated, and any patch that matches is
+ ignored.
+
+--suffix=.<sfx>::
+ Instead of using `.patch` as the suffix for generated
+ filenames, use specifed suffix. A common alternative is
+ `--suffix=.txt`.
++
+Note that you would need to include the leading dot `.` if you
+want a filename like `0001-description-of-my-change.patch`, and
+the first letter does not have to be a dot. Leaving it empty would
+not add any suffix.
CONFIGURATION
-------------
You can specify extra mail header lines to be added to each
-message in the repository configuration as follows:
+message in the repository configuration. Also you can specify
+the default suffix different from the built-in one:
+------------
[format]
headers = "Organization: git-foo\n"
+ suffix = .txt
+------------
EXAMPLES
understand renaming patches, so use it only when you know
the recipient uses git to apply your patch.
+git-format-patch -3::
+ Extract three topmost commits from the current branch
+ and format them as e-mailable patches.
See Also
--------