XYplorer Beta Club

Hi
was trying to reply to thread Compare 2 files
kept getting - "Invalid Session. Please resubmit the form."

So I try a new thread

admin wrote: (Posted: 28 Oct 2006)
Hi, welcome to XY! What you ask is not there. However, I do plan to add a simple "same or not" function. But to show the differences ... no, I don't think that's the job of a (unbloated) file manager.

Hi,
I'm just getting to know the programme
I'm wondering has this "simple "same or not" function" been implemented - or is it still planned ?

(couldnt actually find a "roadmap" of planned features)

many thanks, Tom

Hi,

no, it was not yet implemented. But in the meantime XY learned other tricks and now it is pretty easy to employ external apps for such a job, for example WinMerge:

Check out this:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 2136#22136

Don

tom_os wrote:(couldnt actually find a "roadmap" of planned features)

Hi and welcome to the XY forums!
Sorry you're having issues posting...anyway...
Here's the official roadmap: http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?t=830

j_c_hallgren wrote:Hi and welcome to the XY forums!
Sorry you're having issues posting...anyway...
Here's the official roadmap: http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?t=830

thanks j_c ;-)
I seem to be able to post now (phew!)

here's the reply to Don's post from the other day (when I couldnt post)

Thanks Don for very quick reply!

yes, I had seen that thread
Would still be very interested in the "same or not" option [a simple "same or not" function]-
thing is, I'm no advanced user & also am not working with text files, so seeing the actual differences doesnt interest me so much as simply knowing if the files are the same or not

thanks, Tom

tom_os wrote:Would still be very interested in the "same or not" option [a simple "same or not" function]-
thing is, I'm no advanced user & also am not working with text files, so seeing the actual differences doesnt interest me so much as simply knowing if the files are the same or not.

Okay, I myself could use this function once in a while, so chances are good I'll add it. Actually the function is already written and working well, my only problem is where/how to put it in the interface... hmmm?

One possible procedure would be: copy the first file to compare to the clipboard, then select the other file, then run the Same?-check. Using the clipboard is nice because files could be send to the check from other apps.

Or: (avoiding the clipboard) have to commands:
(1) Define current file as "file 1" to compare
(2) Compare current file with "file 1".
These commands should be in some menu (forming one menu section).
And/or could be the context menu of a toolbar button (whose default function on press would be "(2) Compare ...") so you could quickly compare current files with the previously defined "file 1".

But which menu would be the best place? Tools?

Well, I don't think I would use this one personally, but that won't stop me from making a few remarks...

Starting with how I would think that the place would actually be menu File, not Tools. Because in XY so far, Tools doesn't really refer to "tools" in that way, but in XY internal settings/management features, such as Config, CKS, TB, PFA, LM, etc

Of course there's also Recycle Bin & Network stuff, but I think those are different in that they kinda are "configuration" stuff, you map/disconnect/etc drives, it's not an actual feature like do a file operation (copy, move, or compare...) or anything.
Recycle Bin commands are also more of a 'one-time-thing', I feel.

Whereas the File menu is holding some actual file operations to move, copy, rename, swap names, delete, etc and that's where I would expect to find such a feature.


About the feature itself, you mentioned using the clipboard, you mean copy the file path/name, right, not the content ??

Actually, going against what I said earlier, I could also see a new submenu "Compare" on menu Edit. So one would do "Edit/Compare/Set Current File As Reference" and then "Edit/Compare/Compare Current File With [filename]"

jacky wrote:About the feature itself, you mentioned using the clipboard, you mean copy the file path/name, right, not the content ??

Not the content, but the name: either as text (Ctrl+P), or as file item (Ctrl+C) -- I would simply accept both formats.

jacky wrote:Actually, going against what I said earlier, I could also see a new submenu "Compare" on menu Edit. So one would do "Edit/Compare/Set Current File As Reference" and then "Edit/Compare/Compare Current File With [filename]"

I like that.

Okay, well then you could also have another command maybe, so one to compare current file with the one previously set as "reference" (does not use clipboard), enabled when there's such a "reference" set; and another one to compare current file with the one in the clipboard, if there's one.

That way people can use the clipboard, but also compare without loosing their current clipboard content.

jacky wrote:Okay, well then you could also have another command maybe, so one to compare current file with the one previously set as "reference" (does not use clipboard), enabled when there's such a "reference" set; and another one to compare current file with the one in the clipboard, if there's one.

That way people can use the clipboard, but also compare without loosing their current clipboard content.

Also needed would be some way to display what file is currently set as reference (in case you forgot or want to make sure).

I've got limited time right now, but I'd see a single command in Edit or File to invoke a Compare dialog panel, with both files being entered via drop-down entry box (like Name on FF tab) with a "Browse" button to right, and then some easy way to use clipboard or currently focus/select file as either entry....maybe a checkbox to populate current file?

This would show what files are used, and make it most flexible.

My text file compare utility has this style entry (without clipboard or current) and it works fine for me.

j_c_hallgren wrote:I've got limited time right now, but I'd see a single command in Edit or File to invoke a Compare dialog panel, with both files being entered via drop-down entry box (like Name on FF tab) with a "Browse" button to right, and then some easy way to use clipboard or currently focus/select file as either entry....maybe a checkbox to populate current file?

This would show what files are used, and make it most flexible.

My text file compare utility has this style entry (without clipboard or current) and it works fine for me.

Not bad.


So, a dialog "Compare" with two text fields:
File 1: [________________________________] Buttons: "<< Current" | "<< Clipboard" | "Browse..."
File 2: [________________________________] Buttons: "<< Current" | "<< Clipboard" | "Browse..."

Buttons "Compare Now" | "OK" | "Cancel"

I concur with JC

Whilst it seems logical to be in the File section could it also be under User as this is less cluttered. That being the case one would maybe have more selection flexibility

Once compared what type of results info would be shown?

The dialog solution means you can't compare a group of files against one previously defined "reference"/source file. Nor saying it's a needed thing, but it was mentioned previously.

Also, what might be nice is a script command, eg. compare <ret>, <reference>, <file>;

jacky wrote:The dialog solution means you can't compare a group of files against one previously defined "reference"/source file.

And why not?
The other pgrm I use retains the last "n" files in drop-downs for each "A"/"B", so one could put the reference in "A" and then just invoke the 'current' for "B", right? The "A" (and/or "B") name would be kept until changed, or one could do it the other way, and put reference in "B" to make it easier/quicker to change to various files.

j_c_hallgren wrote:

jacky wrote:The dialog solution means you can't compare a group of files against one previously defined "reference"/source file.

And why not?

Yeah, so I had phrased that differently at first, then removed it cause I wanted to change it and it seems I kinda forgot in the meantime...

What I meant was, it couln't be as easy/quick as select a file, trigger command, next file, command (which could be just a KS), etc as you'd have each time to click on browse, go select the file, etc and when files are in different folders, you can't use just switch tab or use a Favorite/Catalog/UDC to go there, or you have to exit the dialog, go there, Ctrl+P then trigger the dialog again... that's all.

Again, I don't know how important this would be, if at all, I don't think I'd ever use that feature. I rarely need to compare files just like that, sometimes I need it for text files but I then am interested in differences so I use EditPadPro for that, works great, on occasion I might need it for full folders but I use dedicated tool as well, and maybe for pictures but again I'd use a special tool for that, w/extra info & previews.