stdin, and the SHA-1, type, and size of each object is printed on stdout. The
output format can be overridden using the optional `<format>` argument. If
either `--textconv` or `--filters` was specified, the input is expected to
-list the object names followed by the path name, separated by a single white
-space, so that the appropriate drivers can be determined.
+list the object names followed by the path name, separated by a single
+whitespace, so that the appropriate drivers can be determined.
OPTIONS
-------
Print object information and contents for each object provided
on stdin. May not be combined with any other options or arguments
except `--textconv` or `--filters`, in which case the input lines
- also need to specify the path, separated by white space. See the
+ also need to specify the path, separated by whitespace. See the
section `BATCH OUTPUT` below for details.
--batch-check::
Print object information for each object provided on stdin. May
not be combined with any other options or arguments except
`--textconv` or `--filters`, in which case the input lines also
- need to specify the path, separated by white space. See the
+ need to specify the path, separated by whitespace. See the
section `BATCH OUTPUT` below for details.
--batch-all-objects::
<object> SP missing LF
------------
+If a name is specified that might refer to more than one object (an ambiguous short sha), then `cat-file` will ignore any custom format and print:
+
+------------
+<object> SP ambiguous LF
+------------
+
If --follow-symlinks is used, and a symlink in the repository points
outside the repository, then `cat-file` will ignore any custom format
and print: