[PATCH 7/9] git-sparse-checkout.txt: flesh out non-cone mode pattern discussion a bit
From: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
---
Documentation/git-sparse-checkout.txt | 23 +++++++++++++++++------
1 file changed, 17 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/git-sparse-checkout.txt b/Documentation/git-sparse-checkout.txt
index 2cfb1d8f599..35e4e2d809e 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-sparse-checkout.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-sparse-checkout.txt
@@ -273,12 +273,23 @@ manually to ensure Git can behave optimally.
INTERNALS -- FULL PATTERN SET
-----------------------------
-By default, the sparse-checkout file uses the same syntax as `.gitignore`
-files.
-
-While `$GIT_DIR/info/sparse-checkout` is usually used to specify what
-files are included, you can also specify what files are _not_ included,
-using negative patterns. For example, to remove the file `unwanted`:
+As noted above, the sparse-checkout file uses the same syntax as
+`.gitignore` files; see linkgit:gitignore[5] for details. Here,
+though, the patterns are usually being used to select which files to
+include rather than which files to exclude. (However, it can get a
+bit confusing since gitignore-style patterns have negations defined by
+patterns which begin with a '!', so you can also select files to _not_
+include.)
+
+For example, to select everything, and then to remove the file
+`unwanted` (so that every file will appear in your working tree except
+the file named `unwanted`):
+
+ git sparse-checkout set --no-cone '/*' '!unwanted'
+
+These patterns are just placed into the
+`$GIT_DIR/info/sparse-checkout` as-is, so the contents of that file
+at this point would be
----------------
/*
--
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Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget <gitgitgadget@gmail.com>