Plugins are extra-features for WinMerge. They are not included in the basic version because they interest few users, or because they do not fit in WinMerge architecture.
Each plugin:
"Plugins" is a generic name for extra-feature dll or scriptlets. Plugins features are spread over three categories:
Operate custom operations on the currently selected text from the active editor pane.
Example plugin: editor addin.sct (Turn the selection to UPPER CASE or lower case.)
The plugin transform a file in a viewable format (for example, decompress a file). The original file is not changed. A temporary transformed file is created and loaded in WinMerge.
Sometimes the transformed file can be packed back. (See the plugin details to know if it supports packing back.) Then you may merge and save the transformed file. The packing is done automatically in this case. To avoid problems, you are proposed to change the filename when saving a changed file.
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When you compare folders, WinMerge doesn't need to display the files, but the diffing process can give a different result when you compare compressed and not compressed files (for example, uncompressed files may be identical, but the compressed files may differ if they include the date of creation). WinMerge applies the unpacker in all situations, and you are sure to have the same result when you compare folder, or when you merge two versions of a file. |
Example plugin: DisplayXMLFiles.dll (Display XML files nicely, by consistently inserting tabs and linebreaks.)
The plugin is not apply to the files displayed in the editor. It is applied only to temporary copies of the files, and this copies are then scanned to create the difference list.
Example plugin: IgnoreColumns.dll (Ignore the differences inside given columns, while displaying the characters in these columns.)
Each plugin specifies a list of file extensions (see plugins details for more info). When the file extension, either from the left or from the right file, matches the plugin list, the plugin is called "a suggested plugin".
When "Automatic mode" is on, WinMerge searches for a suggested plugin and applies it if it is avaialble. When two suggested plugins are available for a file, WinMerge applies the first one only (alphabetical order).
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" " and " " are two separate options. There is no option for editor complements. |
Check F5). Each file is loaded again with its suggested unpacker and compared.
-> in the main menu. You need to update the results (Open dialog: Select the two files first and then press the Unpacker". WinMerge displays the standard dialog for unpacker selection. Use the top combobox to select the plugin. Two generic choices "None" and "Automatic" are also available.
button right from the field "From the folder view when
-> is checked: Just double click to open the file. The suggested plugin used during the folder comparison is used to load the file in the editor.From the folder view, always: Select one file, then main menu
-> . WinMerge displays the dialog for unpacker selection. Select an unpacker and press , WinMerge opens the editor view and applies this unpacker to load the file. This plugin is forgotten when you close the editor view.When the files are selected, right-click to open the context menu. Follow F5) to update the results.
-> and select " " or " ". Refresh the view (![]() |
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" " is a per-file option. Some files in the same folder can be in mode " " and some in mode " ". When you change folder during a non-recursive compare, the mode is always reset to " ". |
From the folder view when "
" is checked for a file: Just double click to open the file. The plugin used during the folder comparison is used in the editor before the diff algorithm.During an editor session, access prediffer lists with menu
-> -> : The active prediffer is checked. Suggested plugins are indicated first above the not-suggested ones. The files are compared again after the selection, you don't need to rescan.Displays the text content of a Microsoft® Excel file, stripping away all formatting and embedded objects.
Displays the text content of a Microsoft® Word file, stripping away all formatting and embedded objects.
Use this plugin to display the differences between two binary files.
This is not a hex editor, but simply a way to display files which have reasonable lines (carriage returns), per WinMerge's textual display style. This can help for detecting changed strings in binaries.
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Replaces all 0 with 0x20 (spaces). This is a lossy operation, which means that the files can only be displayed; they cannot be saved, so there is no point in trying to merge. If you really want to save the files, you should look at the plugin EditBinaryFiles.dll. |
This plugin display XML files nicely, by consistently inserting tabs and linebreaks. This is to fix XML files which do not have line returns in convenient locations.
Allow editing of binary files (if line based), using escape scheme for bytes under 0x20.
Add two functions to the
-> menu:
The plugin ignore the characters at specified columns. It does not support files with tabulations (no crash, but all tabs will be treated as a normal character). The first column has number 1.
For the parameters, you just need to rename the dll with the following syntax:
Example 6. IgnoreColumns.dll syntax
The plugin ignores comments (//... and /* ... */) in C, C++, PHP and JavaScript files.
The plugin is for files with fields and comma as delimiters (CSV files for example). It ignore the characters in the specified fields. First field has number 1.
Modify the filename to specify the fields. See IgnoreColumns.dll for the syntax.
The plugin is for files with fields and tabulations as delimiters (Excel files saved in format *.txt for example). It ignore the characters in the specified fields. First field has number 1.
Modify the filename to specify the fields. See IgnoreColumns.dll for the syntax.
This plugin ignores the leading line numbers in text files (for example NC and BASIC files).
Add two functions to the
-> menu:
The plugin preprocesses RC files by stripping out localized strings, to enable comparing differnt language versions of the same RC file and ignoring the translations.
RCLocalizationHelperU.dll is the Unicode version.
This plugin allows WinMerge to compare and merge Delphi's binary DFM files. It is written in and for Borland® Delphi 4.
For long LOG files, the user is often interested only in the first lines or in the last lines.
Developers may find information and code of examples in the source package, under the folder "Plugins".
Some editor complements need this optional component from Microsoft®.
If the list of editor complements does not present all editor plugins, this component is probably missing. You can check easily. WinMerge informs you with a comment at the bottom of the list. You may install WSH on any version of Windows (need IE 4.0). Download it from MSDN Library.
Some plugins require Visual Basic runtime library to work.
You can download the required file msvbvm60.dll or use the Run-Time Redistribution Pack from Microsoft®. If you don't need the plugin, you can safely remove it.