How about ViceVersa integration?

[KyferEz]

Don:

I though of a possible solution where you don't have to do dual pane, and I can still do folder comparisons somewhat easily, and I don't think it will involve much coding on your part. So we can both hopefully get what we want/need, and I for one will drop the DP issue.

Integrate with ViceVersa Free or Pro. I'm not asking for full integration, but just the following:
In XY, I rt-clk one folder and click compare.
A stayontop non modal dialog box asks for the next folder, which I click.
Then some project settings become available, such as:

• default sync method
  ignore up to 2 sec diff
  ignore up to 60 sec diff
  Lock source
  Lock target
  Include subfolders
  Always verify CRC
  Maybe some others if users ask for them

Then I click Go and VV is started with those project settings already active. This would be as easy as writing out a VV project file in a temporary folder, which is basically an INI file, and then launching the fsf file as you would when it's double-clicked.

What do you think Don? What do others think?

[serendipity]

Is it something like a plugin?

[Linkaday]

@KyferEz

I am satisfied w/o DP - because those few occasions i'm in need for visual side by side comparison of folders and files i have BeyondCompare, that does it all (and more). Like some other good comparison tools it does integrate all by itself with it's own file and folders context menu item (when not mobile). On my mobile devices there's for instance FreeCommander alongside XY - just in case.

[TheQwerty]

Is it not possible to set up Open With... UDCs or Catalog items to handle this functionality already?

[admin]

Is it not possible to set up Open With... UDCs or Catalog items to handle this functionality already?

Could be... depends on the command line possibilities of ViceVersa... I don't know it/them.

[j_c_hallgren]

Given that I'd never looked at this ViceVersa product, I went to their site and while it seems interesting, I didn't see anywhere obvious that there was any version that was free (other than 30 day trial), so making special coding to interface to another specialized paid product wouldn't be high on my list...I'd rather have an interface, if needed, to a sourceforge/freeware product that might do some of these functions.

And when I need to do a side-by-side, as stated before, I use xplorer2 lite, and for sync/backups, I use SyncBack which has a free vers also.

Given that I use these functions quite rarely, that's why I desire to use low-cost (free) products.

[KyferEz]

Free version of vice versa: http://www.tgrmn.com/free/

I don't think open with would be suitable... Why? Because VV doesn't have acceptable (for me) default settings, and here's the big reason: I want a faster way to select the folders I want to compare, and would prefer to select the folders from the treeview in XY... It's way faster than opening VV, clicking browse, finding the folder, clicking browse again and finding the second folder...

Thanks for at least considering it.

[admin]

Free version of vice versa: http://www.tgrmn.com/free/

I don't think open with would be suitable... Why? Because VV doesn't have acceptable (for me) default settings, and here's the big reason: I want a faster way to select the folders I want to compare, and would prefer to select the folders from the treeview in XY... It's way faster than opening VV, clicking browse, finding the folder, clicking browse again and finding the second folder...

Thanks for at least considering it.

I would not do a ViceVersa specific integration job unless ViceVersa pays me a lot of money.

But if there's a general value in your idea, I would, of course, consider it.

At the moment, I'm not sure if I understand your wish's details completely (might be me being non-English). Please explain again what kind of feature you would like to be added.

[KyferEz]

No, there's no "general value" in my idea, other than it's a possible compromise for DP seeker... My primary reason for asking for it is that it gives me way to do folder comparison without quite the hassle of manually opening another program and manually finding the folders I want to compare all over again in the other program. That usually wastes enough time to make it not worthwhile.

I was hoping that since there is a Free version of VV, and coding it up would only take a few hours, if that, you may have been willing to accommodate this...

I looked at syncback (what JC uses) and would grudgingly take integration of that instead of VV. syncback has many more features, but VV has a comparison window before doing a sync that is MUCH better than syncback's simulated comparison window. Plus, VV's comparison window allows for manual syncing - which syncback does not - so I would prefer VV. In any event, the point is moot since you've already said you wouldn't do it w/o payment from VV, which means it won't get done...

Thanks

[j_c_hallgren]

BTW, I do see the value of adding some generic abilities needed to possibly interface to other products via creation of temporary INI or similar files! The ability to locate desired folders via XY and then using those paths to build either command lines or a simple text type file (Maybe using some model file as basis? Maybe in XML?) that the other appl can use might then be usable by other app's than just VV.

I simply suggested SyncBack as an alternative product that I've found very useful in keeping my internal HD and external USB HD in sync...and that's using the free version.

[admin]

I was hoping that since there is a Free version of VV, and coding it up would only take a few hours, if that, you may have been willing to accommodate this...

Can VV handle its jobs via command line parameters? If yes, I see a good chance that we will meet somewhere.

[j_c_hallgren]

I was hoping that since there is a Free version of VV, and coding it up would only take a few hours, if that, you may have been willing to accommodate this...

Can VV handle its jobs via command line parameters? If yes, I see a good chance that we will meet somewhere.

So I just tried out the free vers...I do not see any doc that implies/specifies any command line parms, and the FSF settings file that one can create via "Save settings" is not a plain text INI file, but has some binary and other stuff in it...not looking promising for an quick&dirty integration, IMHO...maybe the newer paid vers are better for this, but I'm not going to go that far into this product.

The program does seem to provide a decent folder match-up that may prove helpful in some cases.

Addendum: When previewing the FSF file, I found what may be a minor bug, so I'll open a thread for that...

[KyferEz]

I was hoping that since there is a Free version of VV, and coding it up would only take a few hours, if that, you may have been willing to accommodate this...

Can VV handle its jobs via command line parameters? If yes, I see a good chance that we will meet somewhere.

The free version has, as far as I can tell, only one command line option: /<project file to open>

JC, you're right! The free version doesn't have the same save as filetype as the Pro version. I thought it did. That's what I get for not checking...

The easiest way with the free version is to write 2 keys in the registry and then spawn VV. I also have found that I can change default prog settings in the registry, so I don't Have to have any of the other options I was talking about in earlier posts. If I just have a way to select 2 folders in XY which then writes 2 reg keys and then automatically launches VV, I can make it work.

The two reg keys are:
HKCU\Software\TGRMN\ViceVersa - FREE!\Settings\SourceDir
HKCU\Software\TGRMN\ViceVersa - FREE!\Settings\TargetDir

Thanks

[TheQwerty]

The easiest way with the free version is to write 2 keys in the registry and then spawn VV. I also have found that I can change default prog settings in the registry, so I don't Have to have any of the other options I was talking about in earlier posts. If I just have a way to select 2 folders in XY which then writes 2 reg keys and then automatically launches VV, I can make it work.

The two reg keys are:
HKCU\Software\TGRMN\ViceVersa - FREE!\Settings\SourceDir
HKCU\Software\TGRMN\ViceVersa - FREE!\Settings\TargetDir

You could rather easily accomplish this using AutoHotkey and the existing Open With... functionality. Though, if you're not familiar with AHK or programming in general I suppose it won't be so easy.

I might have time to attempt that this weekend if no one else wants to step up to the plate.

My personal feeling is that XY should stay away from the registry completely, even if it is not for its own settings. One of the main reasons I considered XY in the first place was because it was portable (and appeared to have been developed from the beginning with that in mind).


That said a better method of generating reports and allowing for custom designed templates could open the door to allowing the user to generate custom .reg or even batch files that could be executed by the user.

Isn't some sort of custom reporting on your road map, Don? I don't see it on the one in the forum, but perhaps on one of those lists floating around your desk? (If not I'll post a formal wish with a bunch of details I have in mind.)


Edit: Condensing the quote.

[admin]

My personal feeling is that XY should stay away from the registry completely, even if it is not for its own settings. One of the main reasons I considered XY in the first place was because it was portable (and appeared to have been developed from the beginning with that in mind).

Absolutely. Changing the registry is a No No.