WinMerge - not sure what I'm looking at

**Stormshade** · 18 Jul 2007, 06:50 PM

Wanted to add this to the Using WinMerge thread in case anyone else might benefit from my ignorance but I realized that thread is locked so I decided to open up a new topic...........................

Using WinMerge for the first time to compare the orig files to my shop files (in order to do my first upgrade), I followed the Sticky instructions on using WinMerge. But now I can't figure out what I'm looking at.

I have the listing of files and folders compared that are found to be different but I can only see one side. I don't have a double side by side comparison window (I know this might have to do with the file being only existent on one version and not the other).
I also don't see anything that looks highlighted. I merely see the entire file or folder and it's contents.
When I double click on a file I'm getting "selected folder exists only in other side & therefore cannot be opened".
So I click "open right side with registered application". This is what opens the folder's contents in a separate window but again, no highlighted differences.

I just can't seem to get this. I looked over the contents in the WinMerge program, looked at a Winmerge tutorial (short though it was), and read through the numerous posts on this forum listing WinMerge.
I can only seem to find info to get me as far as opening the files to be compared. After that I'm lost.

Just when I was starting to feel pretty confident. *sigh*

**TShooters** · 18 Jul 2007, 07:18 PM

What Winmerge version do you have?

If you're using the File/Open and choose a file for the left side and a file for the
right side to compare, you're seeing only one window?

Maybe put your mouse pointer on each side of the file screen. If your mouse pointer becomes a <-||-> symbol, one of the panes has been pushed all the
way over. Drag it to the center.

Hoping it's as simple as that! Fingers crossed for you!

**DrByte** · 18 Jul 2007, 08:50 PM

In the menu at the top of the application, there's "File, Edit, View, etc".
What checkmarks do you have under View ?

You're comparing left and right.... so, you probably want to select "Different Files", and optionally the left-only or right-only stuff in case there are "extra" files in one side vs the other.

I think you're looking at only one-side, and need to select the additional views.

**ronlee67** · 18 Jul 2007, 09:22 PM

for Stormshade:

My version is 2.4.6.0 and the following startup works for me:

Select the file menu (top of screen)
Click on 'Open'
popup box has boxes for left, right, and filter.
Type in the file path or use the browse buttons and select the files to be compared (left and right)
For 'filter', best to leave it *.* until you get more advanced.
Click OK
Both panes should open with file contents. Lines that are different should be highlighted.
Select a highlighted line and press F4. Should see actual word differences highlighted within the line.

Try to stick to using the left pane for displaying the original (unmodified) files and use the right pane for any file you want to compare to the original file. Otherwise it's easy to forget which file is which.

Ron

**Stormshade** · 19 Jul 2007, 05:32 AM

Thanks for the replies. My version by the way is the latest 2.6.8.0
I still haven't figured my way out and it just seems to get more confusing that I'm not seeing what everyone else is. It must be "user error" but where?

When I select just single files to compare then I see the two panes with the text. But aren't I able to compare entire folder contents (making sure I've clicked on Include Subfolders)?

I did check the window sizing and it's not minimized; only one side showing for sure. The thing is I'm seeing both correct folder paths in the header (one left header and one right). And I did have the original in left and current store in right; made the most sense to me too. I also have *.*

I'm not able to select folders by clicking on them, just the drag and drop method. I am opening the file selection window by pressing Ctrl O but also tried clicking the folder icon and File/Open seeing if any of those would make a difference (hey, I'm desperate).

When I do have the comparison opened - View it is set to
Show Different Items
Show Left Unique Items
Show Right Unique Items
Show Skipped Items
Show Binary Files

Show Identical Items is not marked - and if I click it, I don't see a change
(Show Hidden Files is not highlighted)

Where have I gone wrong?

**TShooters** · 19 Jul 2007, 11:00 PM

How are you getting along with this, Stormshade?

I uninstalled my 2.6.0.0 Winmerge version, and tried 2.6.8.0, and it is difficult to
use, and just as you said when you click on files/folders.

If it were me, I'd uninstall it and get 2.6.0.0 or 2.4.6.0 (which works like we're
used to and maybe we can help you better

) here:

http://winmerge.org/downloads/index.php

Scroll down to Other Versions/Stable versions.

**Stormshade** · 20 Jul 2007, 01:29 AM

Thank you so much for checking it out for me and letting me know! It's a big reassurance that I'm not actually going nutso. lol

I did download a trial version of Beyond Compare upon a recommendation in another thread and it has the window as everyone has been describing. I might pick around with this for a bit and see if it makes sense to me. If not then I will go back to the older version of WinMerge.

This should be the least of my problems!!!
One way or another I'll get through this. It's especially comforting to know there are so many of you willing to help a person in need.
Thanks again.

and thanks Tshooters for going through that extra effort for me!