Altap Salamander Support Forums

I would like to request two, somewhat related, features.

1. Would be nice to be able to specify an external comparator, the same way we can use external editor or viewer.
File Comparator plugin is nice for quick comparation, but I frequently need to merge changes, not just display them.

2. Instead of configuring external compare/merge application as a plugin, I could just add it to the User Menu. The problem is, there is no way to pass two or more selected filenames to a User Menu application. If I select two files, then click on app's icon, the application will be launched twice - once for each file.
Maybe it's possible to add something like "$(FullName)"1 "$(FullName)"2 to the configuration options?
It seems easier to implement than the first feature and can be of use in other scenarios as well.
Thanks!

Rogo

Note: (Forum Rules)

4. Use subjects explaining the topic. Examples of bad subjects: "Help!", "I have a problem", "I found a bug". Examples of correct subjects: "Automatic refresh is not working on network drive", "Servant Salamander main window is always on top of all others.", etc.

Since I was requesting two different features, I couldn't find a subject that was describing both. On the other hand, I did want to put both requests in one post, since they are related. Hence the "2 features" subject.

I have modified the subject, hope it's better now.

rogo wrote:I have modified the subject, hope it's better now.

Much better, thank you

rogo wrote:2. Instead of configuring external compare/merge application as a plugin, I could just add it to the User Menu. The problem is, there is no way to pass two or more selected filenames to a User Menu application.

This is the way we want to support external compare/merge tools. We add parameters for two files or directories (e.g. $(CompareFileLeft), $(CompareFileRight), $(CompareDirLeft), and $(CompareDirRight)). We have many requests for this feature. I hope we add it to version 2.5.

This is great news, thanks!!!

A follow up question though:
Will it be possible to pass more than two files to a merge tool? For example, by selecting 3 files in one panel and launching the tool? Or at least using just two files, but in the same panel, as we can today with the internal File Comparator?

It will work the same way as File Comparator plugin. It will have some window for entering two file/dir names, probably with some checkbox "do not display if both names are specified in panels".

What is the purpose of third name? It's result of merge or something else?

Some tools, for example Araxis, allow to compare and merge three files at once. Sometimes it comes very handy, for example to compare three versions or merge changes from two versions to one.

It's not critical though, we can always launch it with two files, then drag and drop the third file. After all, how lazy can we be

Same discussion already here?!

Yes, you are right, thanks for note!

KNUT wrote:This would be very nice! And in addition $(FullPathLeft) and $(FullPathRight)...?

Yes, it's planned too. Thanks for ideas!

Well, I have just finished it. New parameters in User Menu: FullPathInactive, FullPathLeft, FullPathRight, FileToCompareLeft, FileToCompareRight, DirToCompareLeft, DirToCompareRight, FileToCompareActive, FileToCompareInactive, DirToCompareActive, DirToCompareInactive, and ListOfSelectedNames.

Petr Solin wrote:Well, I have just finished it. New parameters in User Menu: FullPathInactive, FullPathLeft, FullPathRight, FileToCompareLeft, FileToCompareRight, DirToCompareLeft, DirToCompareRight, FileToCompareActive, FileToCompareInactive, DirToCompareActive, DirToCompareInactive, and ListOfSelectedNames.

Wow - are these enough? PetrSolinHasDoneIt
Know I await the next beta...

Wow!
Frankly, I didn't expect it to be so fast and so thorough!

Thanks a lot, looking forward for the new beta!

rogo wrote:The problem is, there is no way to pass two or more selected filenames to a User Menu application. If I select two files, then click on app's icon, the application will be launched twice - once for each file.

I just mention my use of external diff and SS - I select 2 files in SS panel and choose Send to / KDiff, and it opens both the files at once