Copyright: Copyright© 1992-1997, StarBase Corporation
Citation: Copyright© 1992-1997, StarBase Corporation. All rights reserved.


 Use the Visual Diff window

Visual Diff compares two text files or text versions and color-codes the differences between them. It cannot compare files that contain more than 32,768 lines each.

•	Vertical and horizontal scrolling is synchronized between the two files.

•	If you resize the Visual Diff window, Visual Diff automatically readjusts the displayed files proportionately.

Click each part of the Visual Diff window to see a brief description in another help window:

 Related Topics


Quick start (for Visual Diff)
 Visual Diff quick start

Visual Diff allows you to compare any two similar files quickly. For example, you can compare a text file with a backup copy of it to see the differences. However, Visual Diff cannot compare files that contain more than 32,768 lines each.

To compare two files from the Visual Diff window:

1.	Select File · Open... from the menu bar or click Open [image].
The Select First File dialog opens.

2.	Select the first file to compare.
The Select Second File dialog opens automatically.

3.	Select the second file to compare.
Visual Diff begins comparing files.

How to interpret what you see:

Differences in font style and color indicate which lines of the text are the same or different.

Viewing the files:

•	Select an item from the Window menu to view the files side-by-side, top-and-bottom, or "shown together." If you resize the Visual Diff window, Visual Diff automatically readjusts the displayed files proportionately.

•	Use items from the Search menu to find sets of matching or differing lines. If you prefer, you can browse for differences. Vertical and horizontal scrolling is synchronized between the two files.

•	Click a pane to select the file displayed in it.

−	Use items from the Search menu to locate specific text in the selected file.

−	Use Copy (on the Edit menu) to copy selected lines or text located during a search to the clipboard.


Read a merged file (in Visual Diff)
 Read a merged file

The file formed by merging two files or two versions of a file contains all the text found in either or both of the originals. Rows of symbols separate changed, deleted, and inserted lines. Use any editor to view and edit the merged file.

Key to Reading Merged File

#######	Separates changed lines from the rest of the text. Both versions of the changed lines are shown, separated by ~~~~~~~.

-------	Separates deleted lines from the rest of the text

+++++++	Separates inserted lines from the rest of the text

The following merged file was created from the files shown in the Use the Visual Diff Window topic.

C:\NAV\NAV C:\

######################### 1 Line(s) Changed ##########

c:\windows\net start

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /X

###################################################

------------------------- 1 Line(s) Deleted ----------------------------------

C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /X

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@ECHO OFF

PROMPT $p$g

PATH c:\windows;C:\DOS;C:\MACH32

PATH C:\NAV;%PATH%;C:\MACH32

######################### 1 Line(s) Changed ##########

SET TEMP=C:\DOS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SET TEMP=C:\DOS

###################################################

+++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 Line(s) Inserted +++++++++

REM This autoexec was used until March, 1994

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Change the Visual Diff window's appearance
 Change the Visual Diff window’s appearance

You can:

•	Display, hide, or move the toolbar.

•	Display or hide the status bar.

To display or hide the toolbar:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options menu opens.

2.	Select the Display Toolbar check box to display the toolbar or clear it to hide the toolbar.

To move the toolbar:

•	Drag the toolbar to any location on or off the Visual Diff window.
If that location is an edge of the Visual Diff window, the toolbar docks there. Otherwise it becomes a floating toolbar.

To display or hide the status bar.

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options menu opens.

2.	Select the Display Status Bar check box to display the status bar or clear it to hide the status bar.

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Use the menus (in Visual Diff)
 Use the Visual Diff menus

As you click each menu item, a description of it appears in the task help window. Make sure you can see both windows, then investigate, in succession, any menu items of interest.

File Menu

Open

Close

Merge Files...

Print...

Print Preview

Print Setup...

Chart

Exit

Edit Menu

Copy

Search Menu

Find...

Find Next

Previous Difference

Next Difference

Previous Match

Next Match

Options Menu

Workstation...

Window Menu

Split Vertically

Split Horizontally

Show Together

Help Menu

Help Topics

How to Use Help

Tip of the Day...

About Visual Diff...


 Save File

Use this standard browse dialog to create a file.

 Dialog Box Options

Drives
Select the drive on which to store the file.

Directories
Select the directory in which to store the file.

Save Files of Type
Limit the display of existing files by selecting a type. The appropriate extension appears in the File Name text box.

File Name
Type a filename.

Network...
Click to connect to another network drive.


 Open File

Use this standard browse dialog to open a file.

 Dialog Box Options

Drives
Select the drive on which the file is stored.

Directories
Select the directory where the file is stored.

List Files of Type
Limit the display of existing files by selecting a type.

File Name
Select a name from the list box, or type the name of a file into the text box.

Network...
Click to connect another network drive.


 Save Merged Comparison As

To save the compared files as one file:

•	Select File · Merge Files....

Or,

•	Click Merge [image] on the toolbar.

This merges the data in the two files, clearly labeling the differences. The merged file is similar to the Show Together view of the compared files. However, it uses symbols instead of color to indicate changed lines, etc.

 Dialog Box Options

Drives
Select the drive on which to store the file.

Directories
Select the directory in which to store the file.

Save files of type
Limit the display of existing files by selecting a type. The appropriate extension appears in the File Name text box.

File name
Type a filename.


 Select Files for Comparison

To select the two files you want to compare:

•	Select File · Open....

Or,

•	Click Open [image] on the toolbar.

The Select First File dialog and then the Select Second File dialog open. Both dialogs have the same options.

 Dialog Box Options

Drives
Select the drive on which the file is stored.

Directories
Select the directory where the file is stored.

List files of type
Limit the display of existing files by selecting a type.

File name
Select a name from the list box, or type the name of a file into the text box. Be aware that Visual Diff cannot compare files that contain more than 32,768 lines each.


 About Visual Diff

To display release, copyright, and licensing information about Visual Diff:

•	Select Help · About Visual Diff....

 Dialog Box Options

Release number
Displays the Visual Diff release number.

Build number
Displays the build number for the release.

Copyright information
Displays the years for which StarBase has copyrighted this product.

This product is licensed to:
Displays name and corporation of licensee.

Serial number
Displays the license number for licensing purposes.

Team
Displays of photograph of the team that created Versions.

System Info
For NT systems, displays the Windows Diagnostic dialog. Select topics from this dialog to display information about your system.


 Display Font

Select a font and point size for displayed text.

 Dialog Box Options

Font
Select one of the available fonts.

Size
Select a point size.

Sample
Displays sample text in the selected font and size.


 Display Options

Control how Visual Diff displays text in the Visual Diff window and control the display of the splash screen.

 Dialog Box Options

Tabs
Set the interval for tab stops. Type a number from 1 to 8.

Show line numbers
Select to display line numbers for the compared files. Clear to omit line numbers from the display.

Display differences only
Select to display the differences and no matching text lines from the two files. Clear to display both the differences and the matching text lines.

Display splash screen
Select to display the Visual Diff splash screen at start up. Clear to skip the splash screen.

Font
Click to open the Display Font dialog, which allows you to select a font and size for the text of displayed files.
The name of the currently selected font is displayed next to the button.

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 Compare Options

Control how Visual Diff compares the two files or versions.

 Dialog Box Options

Ignore case
Select to ignore differences in capitalization when comparing files. Clear when finding a difference in capitalization is important.

Ignore whitespace
Select to ignore all whitespace (tabs and spaces) when comparing files. Clear when finding a difference in whitespace is important.

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 Merge Options

Set options that control the viewing and editing of merged files.

 Dialog Box Options

Edit merged file
Select to view the merged file in the editor you specify. Clear if you do not want to view the merged file immediately.

Editor
Type (or browse for) the path to an editor. The default is notepad.exe.

Browse...
Click to open a directory list so you can locate the path to an editor. Your selection appears in the Editor text box.

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 Color Options

Set colors for the text in compared files or versions.

 Dialog Box Options

Set color for
Select a type of text for which to set the color: matching, changed, inserted, or deleted.

Select Color...
Click to select a basic or default color using the Color dialog.

Default Colors
Click to reset the text types to their default colors.

 Related Topics


Color dialog (in Visual Diff)
Color

Select a basic or custom color for text.

 Dialog Box Options

Basic Colors
Click a color box to assign that color to the selected text type.

Custom Colors
Click a color box to assign a currently defined custom color to the selected text type.

Define Custom Colors...
Click to expand the Color dialog to its full size and define a new custom color.

color refiner box
Displays all the available colors.
Click a color to view it in the Color|Solid box and a range of similar colors in the luminosity bar.
Notice that black and white are in the luminosity bar for all selected colors. Therefore, if the previous color was black or white, the color in the Color|Solid box does not change until you move the slider in the luminosity bar.

luminosity bar with slider
Displays all the colors in the luminosity range for the color selected from the color refiner box.
Move the slider to select a luminosity. Your choice appears in the Color|Solid box.

Color|Solid box
Displays the color selected from the available colors at the brightness selected from the luminosity bar.
The solid version of the color is what Visual Diff uses.

Hue
Indicates the hue of the color in the Color|Solid box.
Hue is the position of the color in the color spectrum.

Sat
Indicates the saturation of the color in the Color|Solid box.
Saturation is the purity of a color’s hue, from gray (0) to pure color.

Lum
Indicates the luminosity, or brightness, of the color in the Color|Solid box.
Black is 0, and white is 240.

Red
Indicates the amount of red in the color in the Color|Solid box.

Green
Indicates the amount of green in the color in the Color|Solid box.

Blue
Indicates the amount of blue in the color in the Color|Solid box.

Add to Custom Colors
Click to add the color in the Color|Solid box to a Custom Color box.


User Options (in Visual Diff)
 Workstation Options

To set display, comparison, merge, and color options for files you compare with Visual Diff:

•	Select Options · Workstation....
The Options dialog opens.

To set workstation options:

•	Select one of the tabs across the top of the dialog.

−	Select Display to change the display of text in the compared files or versions. You can change the tab settings and the font, display only the differences, and turn line numbers on or off.
You also use this option to turn off the Visual Diff splash screen which appears at start up.

−	Select Compare to set case and whitespace options during a search.

−	Select Merge to determine when to view a merged file and with what editor.

−	Select Color to change the default colors for deleted, changed, inserted, and matching text.

 Related Topics


Compare two different files (in Visual Diff)
 Compare two different files

You can compare any two files from the Visual Diff window.

Depending on your editor and environment, you can edit the files (for example, in notepad.exe) then click the Visual Diff window for an immediate update of their differences.

For vastly different (or totally different) files, Visual Diff displays a message stating that the files are too different to compare and does not display them. For identical files, Visual Diff also displays a message instead of the files.

To compare two files from the Visual Diff window:

1.	Select File · Open... from the menu bar or click Open [image] on the toolbar.
The Select First File dialog opens.

2.	Select the first file to compare.
The Select Second File dialog opens.

3.	Select the second file to compare.
Visual Diff begins comparing the files.

To update and recompare the files:

1.	Edit (and save) one or both of the files in an editor while they are still open in Visual Diff.

2.	When you return to Visual Diff, it automatically recompares the files.

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Compare two versions of the same file (in Visual Diff)
 Compare two versions

You can compare any two versions of a file from Versions.

To compare two versions of a file:

1.	Start or return to Versions.

2.	Select the two versions from the history list.

3.	Click Compare [image] on the toolbar.
Or,
Select History · Compare....

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 Show two files together

This example shows the files or versions compared in the Use the Visual Diff Window topic as one "shown together" file:

Colors:  The differences appear in the default (or your selected) colors.

Line Numbers:  If you selected the Display option for line numbers, Visual Diff displays the line numbers for each file in a separate column.

Matching Lines: Visual Diff displays both the matching lines of text and the differences (unless you selected the Display option to display only differences).

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Ignore case (when comparing files in Visual Diff)
 Ignore case

To ignore capitalization differences when comparing files or versions:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Compare tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Select the Ignore Case check box to ignore capitalization. Clear it when capitalization is important during a comparison.


Ignore whitespace (when comparing files in Visual Diff)
 Ignore whitespace

To ignore the tabs  and spaces when comparing files or versions:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Compare tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Select the Ignore Whitespace check box. Clear it when tabs and spaces are important.


View files (in Visual Diff)
 View files

You can view the compared files or versions:

•	Vertically

•	Horizontally

•	Shown together in one window

Visual Diff remembers your last choice and displays files that way the next time you use Visual Diff.

To view the files side-by-side:

•	Select Window · Split Vertically.

Or,

•	Click Split Vertically [image] on the toolbar.

Or,

•	Double-click the vertical splitter bar.

Or,

•	Drag the vertical splitter bar to a location within the window.
The vertical splitter bar is to the left of the horizontal scroll bar.

To view the files top-and-bottom:

•	Select Window · Split Horizontally.

Or,

•	Click Split Horizontally [image] on the toolbar.

Or,

•	Double-click the horizontal splitter bar.

Or,

•	Drag the horizontal splitter bar to a location within the window.
The horizontal splitter bar is just above the vertical scroll bar.

To combine the files:

•	Select Window · Show Together.

Or,

•	Click Show Together [image] on the toolbar.

Or,

•	Drag the splitter bar to the edge of the window.

To adjust how much window space is allocated for each file (when both are displayed):

•	Drag the splitter bar that separates the two files.
Visual Diff remembers the bar’s last vertical and last horizontal locations and uses the appropriate location when you split the screen.

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 Display or hide line numbers

To display or hide the line numbers both in the text and printed output:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Display tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Select the Show Line Numbers check box to show line numbers. Clear it to hide them.


Display or hide matching lines (in Visual Diff)
 Display or hide matching lines

To display the differences with or without the matching lines of text:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Display tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Select the Display Differences Only check box to hide the matching lines of text. Clear it to show them.


Change the tab settings (in Visual Diff)
 Change the tab settings

To change the tab settings within the compared files or versions:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Display tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Type the interval for tab stops (an integer from 1 to 8) in the Tab Size text box.


Change the font of displayed text (in Visual Diff)
 Change the font

To change the font of displayed text:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Display tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Click the Font button.
The Display Font dialog opens.

4.	Select a font from the Font list box.

5.	Select a size from the Size list box.

The sample text in the Display Font dialog shows your current selections. When you return to the Options dialog, the name of the selected font appears beside the Font button.


Change the colors of displayed text (in Visual Diff)
 Change the colors

You can change the colors for changed, deleted, inserted, and matching lines of text or return to the default colors. You can even create a custom color.

To change the colors:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Color tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Select a type of text from the Set Color For list box.
The sample box shows text in the current color for that type of text.

4.	Click Select Color….
The Color dialog opens.

5.	Select a color from the Basic Colors or Custom Colors list; then click OK to return to the Set Color For list box.
The sample box shows text in the selected color.

6.	Repeat steps 3 to 5 for any other colors you want to change.

To return to the default colors:

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click Default Colors.

To design a custom color:

1.	Click Select Color… as in step 4 above.
The Color dialog opens.

2.	Click Define Custom Color.
The Color dialog expands to display all the available colors.

3.	Select a color from the color refiner box of available colors.
Variations in brightness for the selected color appear in the luminosity bar. Moving the slider changes the color in the Color|Solid box.
(Because white and black appear in the luminosity bar for all colors, to change from white or black to another color, you must move the slider.)
Information about the selected color appears in the text boxes beneath the color refiner box. (Clicking a color from Basic Colors or Custom Colors also displays information in these boxes.)

4.	Click OK to change the text to the solid version of the color in the Color|Solid box.

Or to compare a few hues side-by-side:

a.	Click Add to Custom Colors.

b.	Repeat steps 3 and 4a until you have a number of colors in the boxes under Custom Colors.

c.	Click one of the colors from Custom Colors, and click OK.

 Related Topics


Search for differences and matches (in Visual Diff)
 Search for differences and matches

Colors indicate the differences between the two files or versions.

To find differences and matches, use any combination of the following:

•	Scroll through the file looking for changes in color. Use the scroll bar to move forward and backward in both files simultaneously.

•	Select Search · Next Difference or click Next Difference [image] on the toolbar to move forward to the next difference.

•	Select Search · Previous Difference or click Previous Difference [image] on the toolbar to move back to the previous difference.

•	Select Search · Next Match or click Next Match [image] on the toolbar to move forward to the next match.

•	Select Search · Previous Match or click Previous Match [image] on the toolbar to move back to the previous match.

 Related Topics


Search for specific text (in Visual Diff)
 Search for specific text

You can search for specific text in any Visual Diff window.

To perform a search:

1.	Click the pane of the window that contains the file.

2.	Select Search · Find... from the menu bar or click Find [image] on the toolbar.
The Find dialog opens.

3.	Type the text you want to locate in the Find What text box.

4.	(Optional) Select Match Case for a case-sensitive search.

5.	Select Up or Down as the direction for the search.

6.	Click Find Next.


Merge two files (in Visual Diff)
 Merge two files

You can merge two files or versions visually or create a new text file with the data from both files. Visually, colors indicate the differences between the two files. In the new text file, special symbols indicate the differences between the two files.

To merge two files visually:

•	Select Window · Show Together.

Or,

•	Click Show Together [image] on the toolbar.

Or,

•	Drag the splitter bar to the edge of the window.

To create a new merged text file:

1.	Select File · Merge or click Merge [image] on the toolbar.
The Save Merged Comparison As dialog opens.

2.	Type a name for the new file.

3.	Select a directory location for the file.

 Related Topics


Preview text output before printing (in Visual Diff)
 Preview text output

Regardless of your view of the files or versions in the Visual Diff window, Visual Diff sends the "shown together" view to the print previewer.

To preview the files in the Visual Diff window:

•	Select File · Preview from the menu bar.

From the previewer, you can:

•	View one or two pages and a time.

•	Move from page to page.

•	Zoom in (twice) for a closer view of a page.

•	Print the "shown together" view of the file.

If you have a color printer, the differences appear in colors. Otherwise, you see only the font style changes in the previewer.

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Print the files or a chart (from Visual Diff)
 Print the files or a chart from Visual Diff

You can print the files or versions you are comparing or a chart.

For files, Visual Diff sends the "shown together" view to the printer. Line numbers, when displayed, appear in separate columns for each file.

To print a file:

1.	Select File · Print... from the menu bar or click Print [image] on the toolbar.
The Print dialog opens.

2.	Make the selections that determine what pages are printed, where, and how.

To print a chart:

1.	Select File · Chart from the Visual Diff menu bar or click Chart [image] on the Visual Diff toolbar.
The chart window appears.

2.	Make changes to the chart as necessary.

3.	Select File · Print... from the Chart menu bar or click Print [image] on the chart toolbar.
The Print dialog opens.

4.	Click OK.

 Related Topics


Set up the printer (in Visual Diff)
 Set up the printer

You can change the printer, the paper size and orientation of the output, etc.

To change the printer’s setup:

1.	Select File · Print Setup... from the menu bar.
The Print Setup dialog opens.

2.	Make any or all of the following changes:

•	Select a printer from the Printer drop-down list box.
If your printer is not in the list, click Network... and select a printer using the Connect to Printer dialog.

•	Select a paper size from the Form drop-down list box.

•	Select a paper orientation by clicking the Portrait or Landscape option button.

•	Select the appropriate option button for two-sided printing.

3.	Click More... to see additional options.
Set resolution, scaling, etc. using the Advanced Document Properties dialog.


Copy text to the clipboard (in Visual Diff)
 Copy text to the clipboard

You can copy selected lines from a file or specific text located during a search to the clipboard.

To copy selected lines:

1.	Select any number of complete lines of text from the file by dragging the mouse cursor from the first to the last line.

2.	Select Edit · Copy or click Copy [image] to copy the selected text to the clipboard.


Display or hide the splash screen (in Visual Diff)
 Display or hide the splash screen

To display or hide the Visual Diff splash screen (which appears at startup):

1.	Select Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.
The Options dialog opens.

2.	Click the Display tab at the top of the Options dialog.

3.	Select the Display Splash Screen check box to display the screen. Clear it to bypass the screen.


Display a chart (in Visual Diff)
 Display a chart from Visual Diff

A chart compares the types of lines displayed in the files by quantity. By default, Visual Diff displays a pie chart.

To display a chart for the compared files or versions:

•	Select File · Chart from the menu bar or click [image] on the toolbar.

 Related Topics


 Find

To locate specific text in either version or file or in the shown-together file:

•	Select Search · Find....

Or,

•	Click Find [image] on the toolbar. The Find dialog opens.

 Dialog Box Options

Find What
Type the text for the search.

Match Case
Select for a case-sensitive search. Clear so that a matches either a or A.

Direction
Select the appropriate option button.

Up	Search from the current match toward the beginning of the file.

Down	Search from the beginning of the file or from the current match toward the end of the file.


Print

To print the "shown together" view of the two files or versions or to save that data in a new file:

•	Select File · Print... or click Print [image] on the toolbar.
The Print dialog opens.

 Dialog Box Options

Printer
Displays the name of the current printer.

Print Range
Select an option button indicating what to print.

All	Prints all the pages.

Selection	Prints all the selected text.

Pages	Prints specified pages.

From	Starting page.

To	Ending page.

Print Quality
Select the print resolution for the print job.

Copies
Type the number of copies.

Print to File
Select to print to a file instead of a printer.
If you select this box, the Print to File dialog opens when you click OK. The dialog allows you to specify a name and location for the file.

Collate Copies
Select to print the copies in page-ordered sets.

Setup...
Click to change the printer, orientation, and other print options.
The Print Setup dialog opens.


 Print Setup

To specify the printer, the size and orientation of the paper, etc.:

•	Select File · Print Setup.... The Print Setup dialog opens.

 Dialog Box Options

Printer
Select one of the connected printers. (Use the Network... button to connect to additional printers.)

Form
Select another form or paper size. For example, you may want to change from letter to legal size.

Orientation
Select the appropriate option button.

Portrait	Vertical orientation; printing each line across the width of the page.

Landscape	Horizontal orientation; printing each line across the length of the page.

2-Sided Printing
Select the appropriate option button.

None	One-sided printing only.

Long Side	Prints on two sides, assuming that you want to bind the pages along the side, like a book.

Short Side	Prints on two sides, assuming that you want to bind the pages along the top, like a notepad.

More...
Click to select even more options from the Advanced Document Properties dialog.

Network...
Click to connect to another printer on the network using the Connect to Printer dialog.
The printer’s name will then appear in the Printer drop-down list box.


 Print Preview

Regardless of your view of the files or versions in the Visual Diff window, Visual Diff sends the "shown together" view to the print previewer.

To preview the text to be printed:

•	Select File · Print Preview.

You see:

Colors and font styles for differences:  If you have a color printer or a color printer driver, the differences appear in color. Otherwise, only the font style changes are visible in the previewer.

Line numbers:  Line numbers for both files appear if the Display option for line numbers is selected.

Buttons:  The previewer buttons allow you to move from page to page, enlarge the view of a page, and print the "shown together" view of the file.

Print...	Ends the previewer session and displays the Print dialog.

Next Page	Displays the next page.

Prev Page	Displays the previous page.

Two Page	Shows two pages at a time. This button then toggles to One Page.

Zoom In	Enlarges the preview of the current page (or the leftmost page of two). There are two Zoom In and Zoom Out levels, so you can click the button twice.

Zoom Out	Returns the page to the size it was before the previous Zoom In.

Click the Close box in the upper-left corner to return to the Visual Diff window.

 Related Topics


Font styles and default colors for displayed text (in Visual Diff)
Font styles and default colors for displayed text

Font styles and colors make it easy to find the differences between files or versions. The defaults are:

•	Blue (italicized) is the default for changed lines. When the text for two files is "shown together," the text for the first file is blue (strikethrough and italicized). (The first file is the leftmost or top file when both are displayed.)

•	Red (with strikethrough) is the default for deleted lines. Deleted lines appear in the file on the left only.

•	Green is the default for inserted lines. Inserted lines appear in the file on the right only.

•	Black is the default for matching text.

You can change the default colors by selecting Options · Workstation... from the menu bar.


Open button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Open

In the Visual Diff window, click Open [image] to open files for comparison. The Select First File dialog opens. After you select the first file, the Select Second File dialog opens. Both dialogs have the same options.


Merge button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Merge

In the Visual Diff window, click Merge [image] to save the compared files as one file. The merged file is similar to the Show Together view of the compared files. However, it uses symbols instead of color to indicate changed lines, etc.


Print button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Print

In the Visual Diff window, click Print [image] to print the compared files.


Chart button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Chart

In the Visual Diff window, click Chart [image] to display a chart of the differences between the two files or versions.


Copy button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Copy Selection to the Clipboard

In the Visual Diff window, click Copy [image] to copy the selected text to the clipboard.


Find button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Find

In the Visual Diff window, click Find [image] to search for specific text in the selected file.


Previous Difference button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Previous Difference

In the Visual Diff window, click Previous Difference [image] to move to the previous difference.


Next Difference button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Next Difference

In the Visual Diff window, click Next Difference [image] to move to the next difference.


Previous Match button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Previous Match

In the Visual Diff window, click Previous Match [image] to move to the previous match.


Next Match button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Next Match

In the Visual Diff window, click Next Match [image] to move to the next match.


Split Vertically button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Split Vertically

In the Visual Diff window, click Split Vertically [image] to view the compared files side by side.


Split Horizontally button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Split Horizontally

In the Visual Diff window, click Split Horizontally [image] to view the compared files one above the other.


Show Together button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Show Together

In the Visual Diff window, click Show Together [image] to view the compared files as one file in a single window.


Help button (on Visual Diff toolbar)
Help

In the Visual Diff window, click Help [image] to display Visual Diff online help.


Toolbar

Displays buttons for the most often used menu items. A workstation option allows you to display or hide the toolbar. You can drag the toolbar to a new location. If that location is an edge of the Visual Diff window, the toolbar docks there. Otherwise it becomes a floating toolbar, which you can move and resize as a window. As you drag the toolbar, its dotted outline changes to show where the toolbar would be positioned if you dropped it.


Status bar

Displays information about menu items, etc. A workstation option allows you to display or hide the status bar.


Selected text

Dragging the mouse selects lines of text that can be copied to the clipboard.


Selected pane

The name of the file (or version) appears in the title bar of the pane. When a pane is selected, you can search it or copy text from it.


Unselected pane

The name of the file (or version) appears in the title bar of the pane. When a pane is not selected, you cannot search it or copy text from it.


Splitter bar between the files

The splitter bar separates the compared files into two vertical or horizontal panes. Drag the splitter bar to adjust how much window space is allocated for each pane. Visual Diff remembers the bar’s last vertical and last horizontal locations and uses the appropriate location the next time you split the screen. If you move the bar to the edge of the window, Visual Diff shows the two files as one file in a single pane.


Menu bar

The menu bar displays the names of Visual Diff’s pull-down menus. Click a menu to open it.


Title bar

The title bar stretches across the top of the window and contains the name of the file.


Scroll bar

Whether the scroll bar is vertical or horizontal, it controls the display of both of the compared files.

A vertical scroll bar controls the location of the displayed text within the files. For example, when the scroll box is at the beginning (top) of the scroll bar, the displayed text is from the beginning of the file.

A horizontal scroll bars controls the location of the displayed text within the line. For example, when the scroll box is at the beginning (left) of the scroll bar, the displayed text is from the beginning of the line.


Scroll box

Drag the box to move the contents of the window controlled by the scroll bar. For example, dragging a scroll box to the center of a vertical scroll bar displays the text in the middle of the file. Dragging a scroll box to the center of a horizontal scroll bar displays the text in the middle of the lines.


Scroll arrow

Click to move the contents of the window controlled by the scroll bar in the direction of the arrow. To scroll continuously, hold the left mouse button down.


Close box

Double-click to exit Visual Diff. Click to see the Control menu that lets you change the windows size, exit the application, or switch applications.


Minimize button

Click to minimize Visual Diff.


Maximize button

Click to view Visual Diff in a full-screen window. When full-screen, click the button to return to the previous size and screen location.


File menu (Visual Diff)
File menu

Use the File menu to open files for comparison, merge files, close files, perform printing and charting functions, and exit Visual Diff.


Open (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Open

To start the comparison process:

•	Select File · Open....

The Select First File dialog opens. After you select the first file, the Select Second File dialog opens. Both dialogs have the same options.


Close (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Close

To close the window that displays the compared files:

•	Select File · Close.


Merge Files... (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Merge Files...

To save the compared files as one file:

•	Select File · Merge Files....

Visual Diff merges the data from the first and second files into a third file, clearly labeling the differences. The merged file is similar to the Show Together view of the compared files. However, it uses symbols instead of color to indicate changed lines, etc.


Print... (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Print...

To print the compared files as a single file:

•	Select File · Print....


Print Preview (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Print Preview

To see what the files will look like on the printed page:

•	Select File · Print Preview.


Print Setup... (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Print Setup...

To select or set up a printer:

•	Select File · Print Setup....


Chart (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Chart

To display a chart of the differences between the compared files:

•	Select File · Chart.

Or,

•	Click Chart [image] on the toolbar.


Exit (item on Visual Diff File menu)
 Exit

To end this session of Visual Diff:

•	Select File · Exit.


Edit menu (Visual Diff)
Edit menu

Use the Edit menu to copy the selected text to the clipboard.


Copy (item on Visual Diff Edit menu)
 Copy

To copy the selected text to the clipboard:

•	Select Edit · Copy.

Or,

•	Click Copy [image] on the toolbar.


Search menu (Visual Diff)
Search menu

Use the Search menu to locate specific, matching, or non-matching text in the compared files.


Find (item on Visual Diff Search menu)
 Find...

To find the first occurrence of the search text:

•	Select Search · Find...
The Find dialog offers a number of options.


Find Next (item on Visual Diff Search menu)
 Find Next

To find the next occurrence of the search text:

•	Select Search · Find Next.


Previous Difference (item on Visual Diff Search menu)
 Previous Difference

To move back to the previous difference:

•	Select Search · Previous Difference.

Or,

•	Click Previous Difference [image] on the toolbar.


Next Difference (item on Visual Diff Search menu)
 Next Difference

To move forward to the next difference:

•	Select Search · Next Difference.

Or,

•	Click Next Difference [image] on the toolbar.


Previous Match (item on Visual Diff Search menu)
 Previous Match

To move back to the previous matching line of text:

•	Select Search · Previous Match.

Or,

•	Click Previous Match [image] on the toolbar.


Next Match (item on Visual Diff Search menu)
 Next Match

To move forward to the next matching line of text:

•	Select Search · Next Match.

Or,

•	Click Next Match [image] on the toolbar.


Options menu (Visual Diff)
Options menu

Use the Options menu to set display, merge, comparison, and color options.


Workstation... (item on Visual Diff Options menu)
 Workstation...

To change display, comparison, merge, and color options:

•	Select Options · Workstation....


Window menu (Visual Diff)
Window menu

Use the Window menu to view the compared files top-and-bottom, side-by-side, or as one file in a single pane.


Split Vertically (item on Visual Diff Window menu)
 Split Vertically

To view the compared files side-by-side:

•	Select Window · Split Vertically.

Or,

•	Click Split Vertically [image] on the toolbar.


Split Horizontally (item on Visual Diff Window menu)
 Split Horizontally

To view the compared files top-and-bottom:

•	Select Window · Split Horizontally.

Or,

•	Click Split Horizontally [image] on the toolbar.


Show Together (item on Visual Diff Window menu)
 Show Together

To view the compared files as one file with the differences clearly labeled:

•	Select Window · Show Together.

Or,

•	Click Show Together [image] on the toolbar.


Help menu (Visual Diff)
Help menu

Use the Help menu to access online help, learn how to use online help, and find out information about your Visual Diff release and license.


Help Topics (item on Visual Diff Help menu)
 Help Topics

To display the contents and index for the Visual Diff help file:

•	Select Help · Help Topics.

Or,

•	Click Help [image] on the toolbar.


How to Use Help... (item on Visual Diff Help menu)
 How to Use Help

To learn how to use online help:

•	Select Help · How to Use Help.


Tip of the Day... (item on Visual Diff Help menu)
 Tip of the Day...

To see a tip about Visual Diff:

•	Select Help · Tip of the Day....

Use the Tip of the Day dialog to learn about Visual Diff, one tip at a time.

 Dialog Box Options

Tip text

Next Tip
Click to see the next tip.

Previous Tip
Click to see the previous tip.

Show Tips at Startup
Select to show a tip every time you start Visual Diff. Clear to see tips only when you select Help · Tip of the Day....


About Visual Diff... (item on Visual Diff Help menu)
 About Visual Diff

To display release, copyright, and licensing information about Visual Diff:

•	Select Help · About Visual Diff....


Bypass the splash screen

You can set a workstation option (Display Splash Screen) to bypass the splash screen.


 diff

Finding the differences between two files or versions.