I have two files, both are outputs from a code that I have put through cut to only look at the first 26 characters of each line. Both files are lists of parameters that the code measured, such as "total cross section," or "neutron lifetime," as well as the options that code used like "MPI_TASKS," or "COMPILE_DATE" so file1 looks like:
param1 param2 ... param2000 File2 looks basically the same, but many of the parameters are deleted or changed, and some different ones are added.
Instead of reporting where those changes/additions/deletions occur, diff tells me that lines 12 through 1750 of file1 were deleted, and then finds about 300 lines of differences for the rest of the files. Even in those differences, it only reports a change in maybe 50 of those, the rest are reported as additions/deletions.
I am really just utterly confused and have no idea why diff is acting this way. I've tried using some options like -aBCHw.
Is there a better utility I can use with this? Is the cut utility causing problems?
--minimal? Also provide a true example with sample of files that provokes the problem, if you want others to try and give you the most relevant answers.