WinMerge allows selecting/opening paths in several ways. Using Open-dialog is just one of them.
Basic use of Open-dialog is described in Quick start. Here is some more detailed information and tips about how to use Open-dialog more efficiently.
Environment variables can be used as (part of) paths. An environment variable is expanded when its name is put between two %:s.
Archive file support requires 7-Zip plugin to be installed. See Installing instructions.
Opening two archive files is similar to normal files: select two archive files to Open-dialog's "Left" and "Right" fields. If WinMerge recognizes the archive format, it opens the contents of the archive files to folder compare.
Folder Compare chapter describes how to work with archive files. If the archive file contains subfolders Original/ and Altered/ it must be opened by selecting same filename to both sides in Open-dialog or command line. Then WinMerge can compare contents of those two subfolders.
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Tip |
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When dragging an archive file to WinMerge window, press Shift when dropping the file and WinMerge will automatically copy the same filename to both sides and open the archive file. |
Third edit field in Open dialog is for filter. This field can contain list of file extensions to include or file filter name.
Extensions must always be in format *.extension. So file extension list cannot be used for more advanced selecting, file filters are there for it. Different extensions can be separated by spaces, commas, colons or semicolons.
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*. (star, dot and no extension) selects files without any extension, for example "README". |
Field can also contain file filter name. Easiest way to select file filter is using Filters-dialog which can be opened with " " button next to field. That dialog allows also creating, editing and deleting of filter files.
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If filter cannot be found by name or extension list is not valid WinMerge selects all files (i.e. uses *.* as extension list). |
The Shell Integration is a convenient way to select the paths using Windows Explorer. Installer enables Shell Integration if chosen so. Shell Integration can be enabled or disabled from Options/System. When the Shell Integration is enabled item is added to the Explorer context menu (click right mouse button over file or folder in Explorer).
WinMerge accepts one or two paths. When one path is selected through Shell Integration WinMerge places it as "Left" path and open Open-dialog for user to select "Right" path. Also if two paths are selected but another path couldn't be opened for reason or another WinMerge shows Open-dialog for selecting valid paths.
Selecting "Enable advanced menu" for Shell Integration from options adds more choices for path selection. Now WinMerge adds two menu items to Explorer context menu: " " and " ". selects path as first ("Left") path. When one path is already selected (memorized) WinMerge adds items " " and ' " to context menu. Now selects path as "Right" path and compares it with previously selected path. allows re-selecting first path. Handy when wrong item got accidentally selected as first path.
Sounds complicated, but luckily it is not - in practice:
After memorized path is used for compare it is forgotten. So user cannot select one item to memorize and then compare it against several paths.
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Tip |
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Take benefit of Open dialog's MRU lists! Item selects path as"Left" path and opens Open-dialog. Now you can select "Right" path from MRU list. This is very handy when you need to compare one file/folder against several files/folders. |
Shell Integration by default does not include subfolders into comparison. This default behavior can be changed using Include Subfolders by Default option in System options. Default behavior can be also changed by holding down Control -key while selecting Compare-item from the Explorer context menu.
One or two paths can be drag and dropped to WinMerge window from Windows Explorer, Desktop or whatever source Windows allows dragging paths from. WinMerge does not include subfolders in compare. Subfolders can be included by pressing Control-key while dropping paths.
Another useful key when dropping paths is Shift. When there is only one path dropped and Shift is pressed that same path is opened to both sides.
Project files allow fast and easy opening of commonly used paths (and filter). The user can easily save currently open paths as project file for later use.
Project file can be given to command line like normal file or opened from Open-dialog is shown for user to select the second path or valid paths.
-> WinMerge reads paths from project file and if two paths are given opens them. If only one path is given or one of paths is invalid, theProject file can be selected also in Open dialog. There are couple of things to remember:
Project files can be edited and saved using Project File -dialog that can be opened from -> When opened, the dialog is initialized with values from the current compare. Values can be edited and saved to the project file with Save... button. One can also load existing project file with Open... button.
Project files are simple XML files with .WinMerge extension.
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?> <project> <paths> <left>c:\work\project1</left> <left-readonly>1</left-readonly> <right>c:\work\project2</right> <right-readonly>0</right-readonly> <filter>Visual C++ loose</filter> <subfolders>0</subfolders> </paths> </project>
The project file has six fields:
None of the fields are required and they can be empty (<left></left>).