Use your own file compare tool in Visual Studio
Which file compare software are you using for comparing files and folders? How do you like it?
I ever tried several ones, include:
- WinDiff: comes along with the Windows SDK, I think it is the build in file compare tool of Visual Studio(TFS).
- TortoiseMerge: build in file compare tool of TortoiseSVN.
- WinMerge: an open source differencing and merging tool for Windows.
- Beyond Compare: commercial, powerful.
- FCU: File-Compare Utility, light-weighted, freeware.
Honestly, each of above is good enough for me, but it’s a problem when I have choices: FCU is green(no need to install) and fast, but less features. Beyond Compare is really powerful, but it isn’t free.
Eventually, after tried them for a while in my daily work, I found that for comparing files, TortoiseMerge is the best, and WinMerge is the best for comparing folders.
Now the question is, I don’t like the build in file compare tool of Visual Studio, because:
- It ignores blank lines by default, and I don’t want to waste my time on changing the settings for each of my computers, or each time I reinstall the Visual Studio.
- If you renamed a variable, or removed/added a white space in a line, what you can get from it is “The line has been changed”, but I want more details.
- The colors of default settings are monotone, and I don’t know how to change them.
TortoiseMerge is much better:
So can I use my own tools (TortoiseMerge) for comparing files in Visual Studio(TFS) ?
Surely I can, now let’s do it:
- Visual Studio->Tools –> Options –> Source Control –> Visual Studio Team Foundation Server.
- Click Configure User Tools button, a dialog will be shown, click Add button on it.
- Enter the settings properly. I choose “.*” as the extension here because I want to compare all kinds of files with my file compare tool.
For the “Arguments”, usually we don't need to change it.
- Save the settings.
That’s it, now TortoiseMerge is the default file compare tool of Visual Studio.
Enjoy it :)
