You can not select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
911 lines
42 KiB
911 lines
42 KiB
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
|
|
<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//KDE//DTD DocBook XML V4.2-Based Variant V1.1//EN" "dtd/kdex.dtd" [
|
|
<!ENTITY kappname "&kompare;">
|
|
<!ENTITY version "3.4">
|
|
<!ENTITY package "kdesdk">
|
|
<!ENTITY % addindex "IGNORE">
|
|
<!ENTITY % English "INCLUDE">
|
|
]>
|
|
|
|
<book lang="&language;">
|
|
|
|
<bookinfo>
|
|
<title>The &kompare; Handbook</title>
|
|
|
|
<authorgroup>
|
|
|
|
<author><firstname>Sean</firstname><surname>Wheller</surname><email>sean@inwords.co.za</email></author>
|
|
<!-- TRANS:ROLES_OF_TRANSLATORS -->
|
|
</authorgroup>
|
|
|
|
<copyright>
|
|
<year>2007</year>
|
|
<holder>Sean Wheller</holder>
|
|
</copyright>
|
|
|
|
<legalnotice>&FDLNotice;</legalnotice>
|
|
|
|
<date>2007-01-20</date>
|
|
<releaseinfo>3.4</releaseinfo>
|
|
|
|
<!-- Abstract about this handbook -->
|
|
|
|
<abstract>
|
|
<para>
|
|
&kompare; is a &GUI; front-end program that enables differences between source files to be viewed and merged.
|
|
&kompare; can be used to compare differences on files or the contents of folders. &kompare; supports a variety
|
|
of diff formats and provide many options to customize the information level displayed.</para>
|
|
<para>This document describes &kompare; version &version;.</para>
|
|
</abstract>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<keywordset>
|
|
<keyword>KDE</keyword>
|
|
<keyword>Kompare</keyword>
|
|
<keyword>Diff</keyword>
|
|
<keyword>Merge</keyword>
|
|
<keyword>Patch</keyword>
|
|
<keyword>Hunk</keyword>
|
|
</keywordset>
|
|
|
|
</bookinfo>
|
|
|
|
<chapter id="introduction">
|
|
<title>Introduction</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>When two or more people are working on a file and passing it back and forth between one another, it becomes difficult to
|
|
see what changes have been made to a new version or copy of the file. Opening the new copy and the original, side-by-side in the
|
|
application used to create it is one solution but, laborious, time consuming, and prone to error. This is where a program to show
|
|
differences, diffs for short, is useful.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>As would be expected, an appropriate name for such a program would be "diff". As it happens, the program diff is installed on
|
|
most &Linux;-based systems and is used for exactly this purpose. Developers often use diff, as a command line tool, to show differences
|
|
between versions of a source code file. However, the use of diff is not limited to showing differences in code source files,
|
|
it can be used on many text-based file types.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>Using diff from the command line can be confusing, learning the diff command syntax and deciphering the output can bewilder most people.
|
|
This is where &kompare; comes into play. Providing a graphical front-end to the diff program, the interface displays source and destination files
|
|
side-by-side with all differences automatically highlighted. From this starting point, changes in one file can be sequentially applied to the other file
|
|
on a selective and controlled basis. Not all changes need to be applied and if you do apply a change it can always be 'unapplied'.
|
|
When all required changes have been applied they can be saved and will display as normal in the original application used to create the file.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>In addition to displaying differences between a source and destination file, &kompare; can be used to create and view a special file called a 'diff'.
|
|
This file captures the differences between the two sources into a single file that can be used to view and apply changes to any other copy of the file.
|
|
For example, if two people are editing a document. The first person wants to make changes and send just the changes made to the second person.
|
|
Normally, the first person would send a complete copy of the modified document to the second person, who would then have to compare the modified document
|
|
side-by-side with unmodified version. The process for this is much like what we have described in the previous paragraphs. With &kompare; the first person
|
|
would first make a local copy of the file to be modified, then make changes and compare the original and modified copy. Now using &kompare; a diff file
|
|
can be created that captures only the changes made. This can be sent to the second person in place of a whole file containing the changes.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>Using &kompare; the second person can view the diff file, compare it to the local copy of the document and apply the changes made by the first person.
|
|
So the process can go on for many versions of the document, each person making changes, creating diffs, distributing them and applying them.
|
|
This process is commonly called "patching", a term taken from the program named "patch" which is another command line
|
|
tool specifically designed for the purpose of applying diff files.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>It sometimes happens that people edit a file at the same time. In this situation it is likely that people will make changes in the document at
|
|
exactly the same line. This creates a problem because, without applied caution, people could be overwriting each others work as they apply the diff files they receive.
|
|
Fortunately the developers of the diff and patch programs took this into consideration and so these tools will not allow such changes to be applied without manual intervention.
|
|
When this state is reached, it is known as a "conflict". &kompare; will display conflicts so that you can manually resolve them, deciding
|
|
which changes should be applied to which file.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>&kompare; is also a great program for comparison of file changes on a folder level. When used to compare folders &kompare; recursively examines subfolders
|
|
and their file contents for differences. In this use case, each file where differences are found are automatically opened and
|
|
listed by &kompare; where easy navigation between the various files is possible.</para>
|
|
|
|
</chapter>
|
|
|
|
<chapter id="using">
|
|
<title>Using &kompare;</title>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="getting-started">
|
|
<title>Getting Started</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>This section provides instructions for starting &kompare; and provides a quick tour to the &kompare; main interface.</para>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="starting-kompare">
|
|
<title>Starting &kompare;</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>A shortcut for starting &kompare; can be found in the K menu in the Development group
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Development</guimenu><guimenuitem>Kompare</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>When &kompare; starts the first thing it does is display a dialog from
|
|
which to select the files you wish to compare. Special settings for the properties of the diff and the apprearance thereof can also be selected.
|
|
In the file form select a source and destination source to compare. This can be any two files, folders or a &URL; and a file.
|
|
Once the source and destination are selected click the <guibutton>Compare</guibutton> button.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>Once &kompare; has discovered the differences it will display the main interface.
|
|
When comparing two files or a url and a file the process takes just a few seconds. However, when comparing folders
|
|
with many subfolders and files, this process can take awhile.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>For explanation of the options available from diff and appearance forms see <xref linkend="configure-preferences"/>.</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="main-interface">
|
|
<title>The Main Interface</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>This section provides a quick tour of the main interface which is comprised of the following areas:</para>
|
|
<itemizedlist>
|
|
<listitem><para>Menus</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Toolbar</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Source and Destination Folders</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Source and Destination Files</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Source and Destination Line Changes</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Source and Destination Text View</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Statusbar</para></listitem>
|
|
</itemizedlist>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="menus">
|
|
<title>Menus</title>
|
|
<para>&kompare; provides a menu driven interface. Explanation to the menu items and their options is provided in <xref linkend="command-reference"/>.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="toolbar">
|
|
<title>Toolbar</title>
|
|
<para>The &kompare; toolbar provides shortcuts to the most frequently used diff and merge operations.
|
|
The toolbar orientation, text postioning, icon size properties and which shortcut icons are displayed can be customized from the
|
|
toobar context menu accessed when right-clicking the toolbar with the mouse. The toobar content menu also enables the toobar to be hidden.
|
|
If the toolbar is hidden and you wish to unhide it, select <menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show Toolbar</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="source-destination-folders">
|
|
<title>Source and Destination Folders</title>
|
|
<para>The source folder and destination folder panes display the folders in which compared files reside.
|
|
When many subfolders are included in the comparison, then selecting a folder will display the first document in
|
|
that folder where a difference was found between the source and destination.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="source-destination-files">
|
|
<title>Source and Destination Files</title>
|
|
<para>The source and destination file pane displays files where a difference was found for the currently selected source or destination folder.
|
|
When a folder has multiple documents containing differences, all documents with a difference are listed. The selected document is displayed.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="source-destination-lines">
|
|
<title>Source and Destination Line Changes</title>
|
|
<para>The source and destination line changes pane summarizes the differences found between the current source and destination documents.
|
|
Selecting a record within the pane highlights and selects the difference. This is a useful way to navigate and inspect long documents with many differences.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="source-destination-view">
|
|
<title>Source and Destination View</title>
|
|
<para>The source and destination view is the main workspace of &kompare;.
|
|
The contents and highlighted differences of the currently selected source and destination file are displayed here with line numbers..</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="text-view">
|
|
<title>Text View</title>
|
|
<para>The <guilabel>Text View</guilabel> is not displayed by default. It can be opened by selecting
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show Text View</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
|
|
<!-- Other than a notepad, what is this text view good for? -->
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="statusbar">
|
|
<title>Statusbar</title>
|
|
<para>The status bar provides a summary of the current source and destination file or folder under comparison.
|
|
The status bar also reports the number of changes found in the current document and counts the differences that have been applied.
|
|
Furthermore, the status bar shows the overall number of documents containing differences and the current document number selected from this set.
|
|
For example, a comparison run over two folders may return 1890 files with differences. The currently selected document is number 18 of 1890.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="viewing-differences">
|
|
<title>Viewing Differences</title>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="managing-screen-real-estate">
|
|
<title>Managing Screen Real-Estate</title>
|
|
<para>&kompare; displays the source and destination file under using equal percentage of the main interface view work area.
|
|
This view area provides some features that help optimize use of screen real-estate while viewing differences, including:</para>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term>Dual Scrollbars</term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The most obvious feature is that scrollbars are provided both on the right and bottom edges of the view area.
|
|
Using the scrollbars it is possible to move rapidly through the comparison.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term>Share Grip Handle</term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The vertical space between the source and destination view not only makes it possible to clearly see the start and end of lines in each of the panes,
|
|
but is also a grip handle that allows adjustment of percentage occupied between the source and destinate views that comprise the view pane.
|
|
To change pane size for one of the views, hover the mouse pointer over the grip handle then hold down the mouse button and drag left or right.
|
|
Naturally, increasing the area of one pane will decrease the area available to the opposite pane within the view panel area.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term>Docking</term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The main workspace can be undocked from the main interface by clicking the <guibutton>undock</guibutton> button located top right of the main workspace panel.
|
|
This opens the main workspace in a window of its own, allowing it to be maximized and resized across the screen.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term>Statusbar Toggle</term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>The status bar of the view panel can be toggled ON/OFF by selecting <menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Hide/Show Statusbar</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="switching-source-and-destination-view">
|
|
<title>Switching Source and Destination Views</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>Sometimes it can be useful to consider what the file to which differences where to be applied as the source.
|
|
For example, when comparing two modified versions of a file and discovering that the one file has many more modifications that the other.
|
|
The file with more changed would be better as the source, since then fewer differences would need to be applied.</para>
|
|
<para>In this case select <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Swap Source with Destination</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.
|
|
This will switch the files displayed in all &kompare; panels.</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="display-difference-statistics">
|
|
<title>Displaying Difference Statistics</title>
|
|
<para>For a quick overview of the differences, select <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show Statistics</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.
|
|
This will display the <guilabel>Diff Statistics</guilabel> dialog. The following information is provided:</para>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Old file:</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The file name of what is usually the destination file or file that is unmodified and to which differences will be applied.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>New file:</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The file name of what is usually the source file or file that is modified.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Format:</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The diff format used to display the difference (see <xref linkend="diff-format"/>).</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Number of hunks:</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>The number of hunks found in the difference.</para>
|
|
<para>A hunk is a <quote>c<emphasis>hunk</emphasis></quote> of lines that have been marked as different between
|
|
source and destination and may include context lines depending on the diff format <guilabel>Lines of Context</guilabel> value (see <xref linkend="diff-format"/>).</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Number of differences</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The actual number of differences found, not hunks. A hunk can contain one or more differences
|
|
when the line change range and the context lines of any two or more changes overlap.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="navigating-the-difference-view">
|
|
<title>Navigating the Difference View</title>
|
|
<para>&kompare; enables rapid navigation of differences on a file level and of multiple difference files when comparing folder trees.</para>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="selecting-a-difference">
|
|
<title>Selecting a Difference</title>
|
|
<para>A difference can be selected using by:</para>
|
|
<itemizedlist>
|
|
<listitem><para>clicking a line in the Source and Destination Line Changes pane (top right of the main window).</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>clicking the highlighted difference in the View pane.</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>traversing the listed differences in a comparison (see <xref linkend="traversing-differences"/>).</para></listitem>
|
|
</itemizedlist>
|
|
<para>When a difference is selected it is considered to be <quote>in focus</quote> and is displayed in a brighter color that non-selected differences.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="traversing-differences">
|
|
<title>Traversing Differences</title>
|
|
<para>When a comparison finds many differences one of the best ways to approach reviewing them is to traverse the differences in a logical order, usually from top to bottom.</para>
|
|
<para>By default &kompare; selects the first difference found in a comparison. By selecting
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Next Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
|
|
(<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>Down</keycap></keycombo>) the difference following the current selection is brought into focus.
|
|
To select the difference before the current difference
|
|
select <menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Previous Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
|
|
(<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>Up</keycap></keycombo>).</para>
|
|
<para>In this way it is possible to traverse differences in an orderly manner, applying and unapply differences upon review.</para>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="switching-between-files">
|
|
<title>Switching Between Files</title>
|
|
<para>When a comparison is performed on folder level, many files may be found with differences.
|
|
A complete list of the files compared with difference found is provided in the <quote>Source and Destination Folders</quote>,
|
|
and <quote>Source and Destination Files</quote> panes. However, &kompare; displays differences between source and destination one comparison at time.</para>
|
|
<para>To switch between documents in this scenario the following options are available:</para>
|
|
<itemizedlist>
|
|
<listitem><para>Select the <quote>Source and Destination Folders</quote> pane to display file differences found in the
|
|
<quote>Source and Destination Files</quote> pane, then select a file.</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Select <menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Previous File</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
|
|
(<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>PageUp</keycap></keycombo>) or
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Next File</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
|
|
(<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>PageDown</keycap></keycombo>) to
|
|
display the previous or next difference file found in the <quote>Source and Destination Files</quote> pane.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</itemizedlist>
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="merging-differences">
|
|
<title>Merging Differences</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>&kompare; makes the task of applying and unapplying differences as simple as point and click.
|
|
Multiple apply and unapply operations can be performed on a difference as all operations are performed in memory and not written to the files on disk until the save operation is performed.</para>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="applying-a-difference">
|
|
<title>Applying a Difference</title>
|
|
<para>To apply a difference, click the highlighted difference region, then select
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Apply Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice> (<keycombo><keycap>Space</keycap></keycombo>).</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="unapplying-a-difference">
|
|
<title>Unapplying a Difference</title>
|
|
<para>To unapply a difference, click the highlighted difference region previously applied, then select
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Unapply Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice> (<keycombo><keycap>Backspace</keycap></keycombo>).</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="applying-all-differences">
|
|
<title>Applying All Differences</title>
|
|
<para>After reviewing differences between files and finding all acceptable it is possible apply them all with a single operation by selecting
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Apply All</guimenuitem></menuchoice> (<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>A</keycap></keycombo>).</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="unapplying-all-differences">
|
|
<title>Unapplying All Differences</title>
|
|
<para>To differences that have been applied select
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Unapply All</guimenuitem></menuchoice> (<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>U</keycap></keycombo>).</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="saving-changes">
|
|
<title>Saving Changes</title>
|
|
<para>Once differences have been applied they can be saved by selecting
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save</guimenuitem></menuchoice> or
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save All...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
|
|
<para>Applied differences are saved to both the source and destination file.</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="working-with-diff-files">
|
|
<title>Working with Diff Files</title>
|
|
<para>Diff files contain only the changes made between files, or a set of files within a folder system, and may or may not contain a number of context lines before and after line changes.
|
|
The sum of a line change and its context lines is known a hunk. A diff file therefore may contain multiple hunks from one or more files.
|
|
When the context lines of two or more hunks overlap, they are considered a single hunk. Diff files can be used to:</para>
|
|
<itemizedlist>
|
|
<listitem><para>Apply the changes contained in the hunks to an original file.</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Apply the changes contained in the hunks to a file or set of original files within a folder system.</para></listitem>
|
|
<listitem><para>Modified before being applied to an original file or set of original files within a folder system.</para></listitem>
|
|
</itemizedlist>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="creating-a-diff">
|
|
<title>Creating a Diff</title>
|
|
<para>To create a diff file a comparison must be displayed in &kompare;. Assuming this is the case, then select <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save .diff</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.
|
|
This will display the <guilabel>Diff Options</guilabel> dialog (see <xref linkend="diff-settings"/> for more information on diff formats and options).
|
|
After configuring these options, click the <guibutton>Save</guibutton> button and save the diff to a file with the extension <filename class="extension">.diff</filename>.</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="displaying-a-diff">
|
|
<title>Displaying a Diff</title>
|
|
<para>It is possible to display the contents of a diff file within &kompare; by opening the diff file from <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Open Diff...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
|
|
<para>When viewing a diff file the hunks between the source and destination file are shown, remember that only the hunks are shown, no unmodified lines will be shown.
|
|
In some cases a diff file is created with 0 lines of context. In this case only the changed lines will be displayed.</para>
|
|
<para>When a diff file contains hunks from multiple files &kompare; displays the hunks from each file one at a time and you can
|
|
switch between files as though they were real files even though this information is only provided by the diff file contents.</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="applying-a-diff">
|
|
<title>Applying Differences in a Diff File</title>
|
|
<para>When viewing differences in a diff file it is possible to apply difference as you would when comparing source and destination files (see <xref linkend="merging-differences"/>).</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="blending-a-diff">
|
|
<title>Blending a &URL; with a Diff</title>
|
|
<para>In cases where a diff file is provided it is possible to compare the hunks in the diff against a file or folder.
|
|
To do this select <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Blend URL with Diff...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.
|
|
Then input the <guilabel>File/Folder</guilabel> and <guilabel>Diff Output</guilabel> paths.</para>
|
|
<para>When viewing differences between a source file and a diff file it is possible to apply difference as you would when comparing source and destination files (see <xref linkend="merging-differences"/>).</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
</chapter>
|
|
|
|
<chapter id="configure-preferences">
|
|
<title>Configuring Preferences</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>&kompare; enables users to set appearance preferences for difference formatting in the main interface and set behavioural properties of the diff program.
|
|
The <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> dialog can be accessed by selecting
|
|
<menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guisubmenu>Configure &kompare;...</guisubmenu></menuchoice>.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>To configure preferences for appearance select the <guilabel>View</guilabel> menu item (see <xref linkend="view-settings"/>).</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>To configure preferences for diff program properties select the <guilabel>Diff</guilabel> menu item (see <xref linkend="diff-settings"/>).</para>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="view-settings">
|
|
<title>View Settings</title>
|
|
<para>The <guimenu>View</guimenu> menu found on the <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> dialog displays the <guilabel>Appearance</guilabel>
|
|
and <guilabel>Fonts</guilabel> tabbed forms.</para>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="appearance">
|
|
<title>Appearance</title>
|
|
<para>The <guilabel>Appearance</guilabel> form provides controls to manage the <guilabel>Colors</guilabel> used
|
|
to denote difference in the main interface, behaviour of the <guilabel>Mouse Wheel</guilabel> when jogging up and down
|
|
and how <guilabel>Tabs to Spaces</guilabel> conversion is managed.</para>
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kompare; Appearance Settings</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject>
|
|
<imagedata fileref="settings-view1.png" format="PNG"/>
|
|
</imageobject>
|
|
<textobject>
|
|
<phrase>&kompare; Appearance Settings</phrase>
|
|
</textobject>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>Color Group</title>
|
|
<para>To adjust color preferences used when displaying differences, click the color button to display the <guilabel>Select Color</guilabel> dialog for the following states:</para>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Removed color</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Lines that have been removed, do not exist, between source and destination.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Changed color</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Lines that have been changed, modified, between source and destination. </para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Added color</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Lines that have been added between source and destination.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Applied color</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Any of the above states where the difference has been applied between source and destination.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>Mouse Wheel</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Number of lines</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>The number of lines to jog the differences when turning the mouse wheel forward or backward.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>Tabs to Spaces</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Number of spaces to convert a tab character to</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Convert each tab character to n space characters.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="fonts">
|
|
<title>Fonts</title>
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kompare; Fonts Settings</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject>
|
|
<imagedata fileref="settings-view2.png" format="PNG"/>
|
|
</imageobject>
|
|
<textobject>
|
|
<phrase>&kompare; Fonts Settings</phrase>
|
|
</textobject>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
<para>Select the font family and size to display when displaying differences.</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="diff-settings">
|
|
<title>Diff Settings</title>
|
|
<para>The <guimenu>Diff</guimenu> menu found on the <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> dialog displays the <guilabel>Diff</guilabel>,
|
|
<guilabel>Format</guilabel>, <guilabel>Options</guilabel> and <guilabel>Exclude</guilabel> tabbed forms. These forms can be used to configure the
|
|
behavioural properties of the Diff program.</para>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="diff">
|
|
<title>Diff</title>
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kompare; Diff Settings</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject>
|
|
<imagedata fileref="settings-diff1.png" format="PNG"/>
|
|
</imageobject>
|
|
<textobject>
|
|
<phrase>&kompare; Diff Settings</phrase>
|
|
</textobject>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
<para>The command used to run the diff program (default <application>diff</application>).</para>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="diff-format">
|
|
<title>Format</title>
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kompare; Format Settings</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject>
|
|
<imagedata fileref="settings-diff2.png" format="PNG"/>
|
|
</imageobject>
|
|
<textobject>
|
|
<phrase>&kompare; Format Settings</phrase>
|
|
</textobject>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
<para>Adjust options for the <guilabel>Output Format</guilabel> and number of <guilabel>Lines of Context</guilabel>.</para>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>Output Format</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Context</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>The context output format adds several lines of context around the lines that differ.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Ed</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>diff can produce commands that direct the ed text editor to change the first file into the second file.
|
|
Historically, this was the only output mode suitable for automatically editing one file into another.
|
|
With the advent of <application>patch</application> this option is hardly ever used.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Normal</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>The normal output format displays differing lines without any surrounding lines of context. </para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>RCS</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>The RCS output format is designed specifically for use by the Revision Control System (<acronym>RCS</acronym>).
|
|
Like Ed format, this format is rarely used since the <application>patch</application> program was introduced.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Unified</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>The unified output format is a variation on the context format. It is considered better than context because the
|
|
output is more compact than that of context as it omits redundant context lines.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Side-by-side</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>Use the side by side output format which displays files listed in two columns with a gutter between them. This option is only available from the <guilabel>Diff Options</guilabel> dialog (see <xref linkend="creating-a-diff"/>).</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>Lines of Context</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Number of context lines</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>When performing a diff with context or unified output format use this parameter to control the number of context lines included.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="options">
|
|
<title>Options</title>
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kompare; OptionsSettings</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject>
|
|
<imagedata fileref="settings-diff3.png" format="PNG"/>
|
|
</imageobject>
|
|
<textobject>
|
|
<phrase>&kompare; Options Settings</phrase>
|
|
</textobject>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
<para>The <guilabel>Options</guilabel> tab form allows configuration of the options supported by the diff program.</para>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>General</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Look for smaller changes</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Forces diff to display changes in case, punctuation, space, &etc; when checked.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Optimise for large files</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Switches diff to process files with high-speed when checked.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Ignore changes in case</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Lower and Uppercase character changes are omitted when this option is checked.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>Ignore regexp</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Ignore regexp</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Ignore lines matching a regular expression.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>Whitespace</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Expand tabs to spaces in output</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>When checked diff outputs will converts tab characters to the number of spaces defined in the
|
|
<guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> dialog <guimenu>View</guimenu> menu <guilabel>Tabs to Spaces</guilabel> option.</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Ignore added or removed empty lines</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>lines of zero length that differ between source and destination are ignored when this option is checked.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Ignore changes in the amount of whitespace</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>White space before, after and between lines may change depending on different editors.
|
|
When this option is checked such changes are ignored.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Ignore all whitespace</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>when checked white space differences are completely ignored.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Ignore changes due to tab expansion</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>when checked white space resulting from tab characters is ignored.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="exclude">
|
|
<title>Exclude</title>
|
|
<para>The <guilabel>Exclude</guilabel> form enables use of the filter options provided by the diff program.</para>
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kompare; Exclude Settings</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject>
|
|
<imagedata fileref="settings-diff4.png" format="PNG"/>
|
|
</imageobject>
|
|
<textobject>
|
|
<phrase>&kompare; Exclude Settings</phrase>
|
|
</textobject>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>File Pattern to Exclude</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>File Pattern to Exclude</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Exclude files based on wild card filtering</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<title>File with Filenames to Exclude</title>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>File with Filenames to Exclude</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Define the filter based on the content of an externally managed file.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
</chapter>
|
|
|
|
<chapter id="command-reference">
|
|
<title>Command Reference</title>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="file-menu">
|
|
<title>The <guimenu>File</guimenu> Menu</title>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>O</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Open Diff...</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Displays the <guilabel>Open</guilabel> dialog.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>C</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Compare Files...</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Displays the <guilabel>Compare Files or Folders</guilabel> dialog.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>B</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Blend URL with Diff...</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Displays the <guilabel>Blend File/Folder with diff Output</guilabel> dialog.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>S</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Writes applied differences to current source and or destination file.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save All</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Writes applied differences to all source and or destination files.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Save .diff</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Displays the <guilabel>Diff Options</guilabel> dialog to define diff format and options.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Swap Source with Destination</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Changes source and destination.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show Statistics</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Displays the <guilabel>Display Statistics</guilabel> dialog.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>Q</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Quit</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Exits &kompare;.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="difference-menu">
|
|
<title>The <guimenu>Difference</guimenu> Menu</title>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>U</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Unapply All</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Unapply all differences previously applied between source and destination.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut><keycap>Backspace</keycap></shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Unapply Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Revert a selected difference previously applied.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut><keycap>Space</keycap></shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Apply Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Apply a selected difference.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>A</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Apply All</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Apply all differences between source and destination.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>PageUp</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Previous File</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Make the previous difference, in the list of differences, the current file in the view pane.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>PageDown</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Next File</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Make the next difference, in the list of differences, the current file in the view pane.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>Up</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Previous Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Select the difference above the currently selected difference.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice>
|
|
<shortcut>
|
|
<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>Down</keycap></keycombo>
|
|
</shortcut>
|
|
<guimenu>Difference</guimenu><guimenuitem>Next Difference</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Select the difference below the currently selected difference.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="settingsmenu">
|
|
<title>The <guimenu>Settings</guimenu> Menu</title>
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Hide/Show Toolbar</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Toggle the toolbar display ON/OFF.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show/Hide Statusbar</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Toggle the status bar display ON/OFF.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show Text View</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Display the <guilabel>Text View</guilabel> pane.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Configure Shortcuts...</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Display the <guilabel>Configure Shortcuts</guilabel> dialog.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Configure Toolbars...</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Display the <guilabel>Configure Toolbar</guilabel>.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Configure &kompare;...</guimenuitem></menuchoice></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>Display the &kompare; <guilabel>Preference</guilabel> dialog.</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="help-menu">
|
|
<title>The <guimenu>Help</guimenu> Menu</title>
|
|
|
|
&help.menu.documentation;
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
</chapter>
|
|
|
|
<chapter id="credits">
|
|
|
|
<title>Credits and License</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
&kompare;
|
|
</para>
|
|
<para>
|
|
Program copyright 2001-2004, &John.Firebaugh; &John.Firebaugh.mail;
|
|
and Otto Bruggeman<email>otto.bruggeman@home.nl</email>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Documentation Copyright © 2007 Sean Wheller <email>sean@inwords.co.za</email>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<!-- TRANS:CREDIT_FOR_TRANSLATORS -->
|
|
|
|
&underFDL; <!-- FDL: do not remove -->
|
|
&underGPL; <!-- GPL License -->
|
|
|
|
</chapter>
|
|
|
|
<appendix id="installation">
|
|
<title>Installation</title>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="getting-kapp">
|
|
<title>How to obtain &kompare;</title>
|
|
|
|
&install.intro.documentation;
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="compilation">
|
|
<title>Compilation and Installation</title>
|
|
|
|
&install.compile.documentation;
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
</appendix>
|
|
|
|
&documentation.index;
|
|
</book>
|
|
|
|
<!--
|
|
Local Variables:
|
|
mode: sgml
|
|
sgml-minimize-attributes:nil
|
|
sgml-general-insert-case:lower
|
|
sgml-indent-step:0
|
|
sgml-indent-data:nil
|
|
End:
|
|
|
|
// vim:ts=2:sw=2:tw=78:noet
|
|
-->
|