Command line option to compare two files

[ejubenville]

I would like to trigger Total Commander's file differencing feature from a command line. Is there a plug-in that does that, or is it possible to write one that adds a command line option to trigger a comparson of two files?

Background: I use TortoiseCVS for source code management, and it provides a hook to use any third-party differencing tool, as long as that tool can accept both filenames and optional command arguments on its command-line. I know there are a lot of fine tools that do that (I like WinMerge), but some Total Commander loyalists have asked for a way to hook Total Commander in as the differencing tool.

[Sheepdog]

I would like to trigger Total Commander's file differencing feature from a command line. Is there a plug-in that does that, or is it possible to write one that adds a command line option to trigger a comparson of two files?

That would not be possible with TC standalone. Although there is a command that starts the internal file comparision tool: "cm_ComparFilesByContent" there is no way to pass any parameter to the internal commands.

So it may be possible to make an AutoHotkey Script that opens TC with those files, but I personally think it is not worthy to do so.

sheepdog

[majkinetor]

I think TC should be upgraded with command line option
with syntax like
[face=courier] /x cmnd [cmnd]* (execute command)[/face]

which will execute command(s) on startup.

For instance

totalcmd ... /x cm_ComparFilesByContent

This should be last thing to do upon command line parsing and initialization of TC, so thing like this would be possible:

totalmcd /L=c: /R=d:\1 /x cm_selectallfiles cm_copyfiles

I am not trying to use existing commands just giving you an example.

Some of you may notice that some internal TC commands will not have its minimal working context for this, but some commands will have, and the one should be able to execute them in this manner.


I was always confused with decision of developer (or ignorance) to implement this feature. For instance, Opera should have it also so things like Opera.exe /x fullscreen would be possible. Since both Opera and TC have internal commands this would be possible, althoug Opera case is much complicated because commands have parameters while in TC this is not true, so it would be peace of cake to implement.

I think Ghsiler should consider this before implementing UCM model.

[icfu]

@ejubenville:
If you are interested in an AHK script/exe mentioned by Sheepdog, drop me a line, not a big deal to create one.

Icfu

[Sheepdog]

not a big deal to create one.

So you can see again: what's a lot of work for one guy may sometimes be not a big deal to someone else.

sheepdog

[majkinetor]

I just tried AHK.

How I missed this til now...