2. Quick Start

2.1. Opening Files and Folders

Start WinMerge and select Open from File-menu, click yellow folder icon from toolbar or press Ctrl-O. File/folder selection dialog opens:

Two topmost fields in Open dialog are for selecting files/directories to compare. Comparison objects can be specified in one of four ways:

  1. Enter the path names directly into the edit fields

  2. Click the Browse button and use the file chooser to navigate to the desired object

  3. Expand the combo box and select a previously entered path (WinMerge remembers the last 20)

  4. Drag & drop something into the edit field from Explorer

Folder can be selected from Windows Open dialog (opens when Browse-button is selected) by browsing into folder and selecting Open-button. It does not require selecting a file. When Filename field in Windows Open dialog contains text "Directory Selection" selecting Open button selects currently visible folder. Open dialog always shows backslash "\" at end of folder name.

Note

There can be only file & file or folder & folder selected to open for compare. If there is file & folder or other one of files/folders cannot be found WinMerge disables OK-button in dialog.

Filter -field can be used to select files by extension to compare. Default value is "*.*" which includes all files. But listing one or more extensions restricts compare to only files with those extensions. Multiple extensions are separated with space or semicolon. For example: *.cpp;*.hpp;*.c;*.h

File filters are much more powerful way to select files and folders. Use Select button next to Filters field to see available filters and to choose the filter.

If Include Subfolders-checkbox is checked WinMerge compares all subfolders and shows all files and folders it founds in one view. Otherwise only current folder is compared and subfolders are listed so user can browse into them.

Unpacker selection is for plugins.

Tip

Status of currently selected files or directories is shown with text in bottom of the dialog. If one of the paths is invalid this text tells which one it is.

2.2. Comparing Folders

If two folders were selected in Open-dialog folder compare is opened. Folder compare shows list of files and subfolders it finds. Using Merge-menu items, toolbar items or context menu items files and folders can be managed in many ways.

If selected file exists in both sides (and it is not a binary file) it can be opened to file compare. File can be opened by:

  1. selecting Compare from Merge menu

  2. selecting Compare from context menu

  3. double-clicking with mouse

  4. pressing Enter key

After file compare is closed file's status is updated to folder compare.

2.3. Comparing Files

File compare shows two files side by side. Different lines are highlighted with background color. One or more consecutive different lines form one difference (or "diff"). WinMerge mostly works with these differences, not separate lines.

Important

Notice how WinMerge fills missing lines in other side. Similar lines are always side by side. This is different to most other compare/merge programs and can take a while to learn.

With merging commands (in Merge menu) lines in difference can be copied between sides. Missing lines can be copied also. When missing lines are copied from side to another matching existing lines are removed. In above screenshot copying three lines in third difference from right to left would remove matching three lines from left side.

WinMerge has an simple integrated editor. Typing, copying, cutting and pasting text works. If Automatic rescan is enabled then WinMerge updates file differences while files are edited. If Automatic rescan is disabled files can be updated selecting Refresh from Edit-menu, clicking toolbar button with two yellow arrows or pressing F5 key.