How to merge specific files from Git branches

When content is in file.py from branch2 that is no longer applies to branch1, it requires picking some changes and leaving others. For full control do an interactive merge using the --patch switch:

$ git checkout --patch branch2 file.py

The interactive mode section in the man page for git-add(1) explains the keys that are to be used:

y - stage this hunk
n - do not stage this hunk
q - quit; do not stage this hunk nor any of the remaining ones
a - stage this hunk and all later hunks in the file
d - do not stage this hunk nor any of the later hunks in the file
g - select a hunk to go to
/ - search for a hunk matching the given regex
j - leave this hunk undecided, see next undecided hunk
J - leave this hunk undecided, see next hunk
k - leave this hunk undecided, see previous undecided hunk
K - leave this hunk undecided, see previous hunk
s - split the current hunk into smaller hunks
e - manually edit the current hunk
? - print help

The split command is particularly useful.

Although not a merge per se, sometimes the entire contents of another file on another branch are needed. Jason Rudolph's blog post provides a simple way to copy files from one branch to another. Apply the technique as follows:

$ git checkout branch1 # ensure in branch1 is checked out and active
$ git checkout branch2 file.py

Now file.py is now in branch1.