WinMerge 2.4 Manual
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7. Opening Files and Folders

WinMerge allows selecting/opening paths in several ways. Using Open-dialog is just one of them.

7.1. Open-Dialog

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.

7.1.1. Environment variables

Environment variables can be used as (part of) paths. An environment variable is expanded when its name is put between two %:s.

Example 2. Using environment variables

If an environment variable named WORKDIR contains the path c:\workfiles then %WORKDIR%\project1 is expanded to path c:\workfiles\project1 .

7.1.2. Opening archive files

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 commandline. Then WinMerge can compare contents of those two subfolders.

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.

7.1.3. Filter selection

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.

Example 3. Extension list

*.h;*.cpp *.txt,*.ini

*. (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 opended with "Select..." button next to field. That dialog allows also creating, editing and deleting of filter files.

If filter cannot be found by name or extension list is not valid WinMerge selects all files (i.e. uses *.* as extension list).

7.2. Shell Extension

Shell extension is convenient way to select paths using Windows Explorer. Shell Extension must be first enabled from Options/System before use. When Shell Extension is enabled item WinMerge is added to 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 Extension 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.

7.2.1. Advanced Shell Extension

Selecting "Enable advanced menu" for shell extension from options adds more choices for path selection. Now WinMerge adds two menuitems to Explorer context menu: "Compare To" and "Compare...". Compare To selects path as first ("Left") path. When one path is already selected (memorized) WinMerge adds items "Compare" and 'Re-select First" to context menu. Now Compare selects path as "Right" path and compares it with previously selected path. Re-select First allows re-selecting first path. Handy when wrong item got accidentally selected as first path.

Sounds complicated, but luckily it is not - in practice:

Select first item you want to compare, open context menu and select first "Compare To" item. Path is now in memory.
Browse to location of second item you want to compare and select it. Open context menu and move menuselection over first "Compare" item. Now Explorer's statusbar shows memorized path to which you are comparing newly selected path.

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.

Take benefit of Open dialog's MRU lists! Compare... 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.

7.3. Drag and Drop

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.

7.4. Project file

Simple project files can be used to select commonly used paths with filter. Project file can be given to commandline like normal file or opened from File->Open Project... WinMerge reads paths project file contains and if two paths are given opens them. If only one path is given or one of paths is invalid Open-dialog is shown for user to select second path or valid paths.

Project files are simple XML files with .WinMerge extension.

7.4.1. Format

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<project>
        <paths>
                <left>c:\work\project1</left>
                <right>c:\work\project2</right>
                <filter>Visual C++ loose</filter>
                <subfolders>0</subfolders>
        </paths>
</project>

The project file has four fields:

<left>...</left> : Left side path to open
<right>...</right> : Right side path to open
<filter>...</filter> : file filter name or list of extensions
<subfolders>...</subfolders> : 0 if subfolders are not included and 1 if they are included

None of fields are required and they can be empty (<left></left>).

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