[verse]
'git reset' [-q] [<tree-ish>] [--] <paths>...
'git reset' (--patch | -p) [<tree-ish>] [--] [<paths>...]
-'git reset' [--soft | --mixed | --hard | --merge | --keep] [-q] [<commit>]
+'git reset' [--soft | --mixed [-N] | --hard | --merge | --keep] [-q] [<commit>]
DESCRIPTION
-----------
Resets the index but not the working tree (i.e., the changed files
are preserved but not marked for commit) and reports what has not
been updated. This is the default action.
++
+If `-N` is specified, removed paths are marked as intent-to-add (see
+linkgit:git-add[1]).
--hard::
Resets the index and working tree. Any changes to tracked files in the
<3> But you can use "reset --keep" to remove the unwanted commit after
you switched to "branch2".
+Split a commit apart into a sequence of commits::
++
+Suppose that you have created lots of logically separate changes and commited
+them together. Then, later you decide that it might be better to have each
+logical chunk associated with its own commit. You can use git reset to rewind
+history without changing the contents of your local files, and then successively
+use `git add -p` to interactively select which hunks to include into each commit,
+using `git commit -c` to pre-populate the commit message.
++
+------------
+$ git reset -N HEAD^ <1>
+$ git add -p <2>
+$ git diff --cached <3>
+$ git commit -c HEAD@{1} <4>
+... <5>
+$ git add ... <6>
+$ git diff --cached <7>
+$ git commit ... <8>
+------------
++
+<1> First, reset the history back one commit so that we remove the original
+ commit, but leave the working tree with all the changes. The -N ensures
+ that any new files added with HEAD are still marked so that git add -p
+ will find them.
+<2> Next, we interactively select diff hunks to add using the git add -p
+ facility. This will ask you about each diff hunk in sequence and you can
+ use simple commands such as "yes, include this", "No don't include this"
+ or even the very powerful "edit" facility.
+<3> Once satisfied with the hunks you want to include, you should verify what
+ has been prepared for the first commit by using git diff --cached. This
+ shows all the changes that have been moved into the index and are about
+ to be committed.
+<4> Next, commit the changes stored in the index. The -c option specifies to
+ pre-populate the commit message from the original message that you started
+ with in the first commit. This is helpful to avoid retyping it. The HEAD@{1}
+ is a special notation for the commit that HEAD used to be at prior to the
+ original reset commit (1 change ago). See linkgit:git-reflog[1] for more
+ details. You may also use any other valid commit reference.
+<5> You can repeat steps 2-4 multiple times to break the original code into
+ any number of commits.
+<6> Now you've split out many of the changes into their own commits, and might
+ no longer use the patch mode of git add, in order to select all remaining
+ uncommitted changes.
+<7> Once again, check to verify that you've included what you want to. You may
+ also wish to verify that git diff doesn't show any remaining changes to be
+ committed later.
+<8> And finally create the final commit.
+
DISCUSSION
----------