8. Comparing directories

Directory compare shows all files and subdirectries found from compared directories as list. Directory compare allows synchronising directories by copying and deleting files and subdirectories. Directory compare view can be versatile customised.

Directory compare has two different modes. Mode is selected in Open-dialog with "Include Subfolders"-checkbox.

8.1. Directory compare statepane

During directory compare proceeds, following statepane is shown:

Directory compare can be stopped by selecting "Stop"-button and results for files and directories compared so far are shown. After directory compare finishes, "Stop" button text is changed to "Press any key". Now statepane can be closed by selecting that button or pressing any key from keyboard.

Statepane can be opened from View-menu again if needed. Statuspane always shows current status of compare so it can be used to verify there are no different files left to handle.

Tip

Enable option "Close Compare statepane automatically" and statepane closes automatically after compare is ready.

8.2. Compare results

Files and directories are compared and divided into several categories:

Identical text files
Differing text files
Identical binary files
Differing binary files
Left-only folders
Right-only folders
Left-only files
Right-only files
Skipped directories (filtered out)
Skipped files (filtered out)
Directories & files that couldn't be compared. This usually happens when other program has locked the file.

8.3. Selecting files to show

In "View" menu there are several choises for selecting which categories listed above to show/hide.

8.4. Columns in directory compare

By default these columns are visible:

Following columns are available through "Customize Columns"-dialog:

8.5. Browsing folders

Browsing folders is only possible when subfolders are not included to compare. Then parent folders (".."-item) and subfolders existing in both sides can be compared by opening them.

Parent folder can be opened if it is not same directory. These two icons indicate if parent folder can be opened:

Parent folder can be opened.
Parent folder cannot be opened. It propably is same directory for both sides.

8.6. Navigation in directory compare

In addition moving selection using mouse or keyboard, also Merge-menu navigation commands, toolbar buttons and shortcut keys can be used. For example "Next diff" finds next different file and selects it.

Note

Unique files and directories are considered as different ones.

Multiple files/directories can be selected. However not all operations are possible with multi-selection.

8.7. File operations in directory compare

8.7.1. Copying, moving and deleting

Directory compare allows user to copy and delete files and directories. File operations are available through context menu (right-click with mouse). Also files can be opened to associated program or into external editor.

In file operation menu, there are one or two numbers shown, depending on files/folders selected. If there is one number shown, for example "Copy/Left to... (5)" that means there is 5 items selected, and all items can be copied. But if there is two numbers shown, for example "Copy/Left to... (3 of 5)", that means there are 5 items selected but only 3 items can be copied.

Most common operation is copying files from side to side. File can be copied from side to side using Merge-menu items, toolbar buttons and context menu. If multiple files are selected, or file to overwrite is read-only, confirmation dialog is shown.

Sometimes it is useful to copy certain files and/or directories to another directory instead of another compared directory. This can be done selecting "Copy/Left to..." or "Copy/Right to..." items.

Another file/directory operation is deleting. Items in another or both sides can be deleted. There is "Send deleted files into Recycle Bin" option in system options. Its higly recommended to keep that option enabled so deletion can be undone if accidents happen. Note however recycle bin does not help if its disabled from Windows settings.

Moving is just shortcut for copy + delete.

Warning

File/directory deletion cannot be undone if recycle bin is not used!

8.7.2. Opening files

There are three items in Open-menus:

  • With Registered Application : Opens file with application registered handling filetype for Windows, if there is one.

  • With External Editor : Open with external editor. Default editor can be selected from options, Notepad is used by default.

  • With ... : Opens "Open With..." dialog asking from user with which application files should be opened.

8.7.3. Archiving

Selected items or different items from selection can be added to archive file.

Note

Archive support requires that compatible version of 7-zip is installed to system.

After selecting archive item dialog pops up asking filename and archive type from user.

8.8. Copying path- or filenames

In context menu there are items for copyging selected items' paths or filenames to clipboard. This feature makes it easy so get list of changed files, for changelogs etc.

8.9. Customising directory compare

There are many ways to customize directory compare:

8.10. Protecting directories / read-only directories

If user wants to protect one or both sides from changes, user can set them to read-only from File-menu.

Important

Setting read-only protects files and directories in current compare view only.

Protected status is inherited to opened files from directory compare. If user compares two directories, sets another to protected and opens two files for comparing, file opened from protected side has protection set too.

Protection status is shown in statusbar, there are panes for left and right side.