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(indent.info)Backup files

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Backup Files
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   As of version 1.3, GNU `indent' makes GNU-style backup files, the
same way GNU Emacs does.  This means that either "simple" or "numbered"
backup filenames may be made.

   Simple backup file names are generated by appending a suffix to the
original file name.  The default for this suffix is the one-character
string `~' (tilde).  Thus, the backup file for `python.c' would be
`python.c~'.

   Instead of the default, you may specify any string as a suffix by
setting the environment variable `SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX' to your
preferred suffix.

   Numbered backup versions of a file `momeraths.c' look like
`momeraths.c.~23~', where 23 is the version of this particular backup.
When making a numbered backup of the file `src/momeraths.c', the backup
file will be named `src/momeraths.c.~V~', where V is one greater than
the highest version currently existing in the directory `src'.  The
environment variable `VERSION_WIDTH' controls the number of digits,
using left zero padding when necessary.  For instance, setting this
variable to "2" will lead to the backup file being named
`momeraths.c.~04~'.

   The type of backup file made is controlled by the value of the
environment variable `VERSION_CONTROL'.  If it is the string `simple',
then only simple backups will be made.  If its value is the string
`numbered', then numbered backups will be made.  If its value is
`numbered-existing', then numbered backups will be made if there
_already exist_ numbered backups for the file being indented;
otherwise, a simple backup is made.  If `VERSION_CONTROL' is not set,
then `indent' assumes the behaviour of `numbered-existing'.

   Other versions of `indent' use the suffix `.BAK' in naming backup
files.  This behaviour can be emulated by setting
`SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX' to `.BAK'.

   Note also that other versions of `indent' make backups in the
current directory, rather than in the directory of the source file as
GNU `indent' now does.