Notepad++ is a powerful and popular text editor favored by developers and writers alike for its versatility and extensive plugin ecosystem. One common task users often need to perform is comparing two files to identify differences. While Notepad++ itself doesn’t have a built-in file comparison feature, the ComparePlus plugin effectively fills this gap. This article delves into how to use Notepad++ with the ComparePlus plugin to compare two files, addressing common questions and exploring its capabilities.
When it comes to Notepad++ Comparing Two Files, users often search for a direct “copy all differences” function. In the original Compare plugin (the predecessor to ComparePlus), there might have been feature requests related to exporting difference reports, but ComparePlus operates differently under the hood. As a result, a direct “copy all diffs” command isn’t readily available in ComparePlus.
However, navigating and understanding the differences between two files in Notepad++ using ComparePlus is still very efficient. Let’s explore the methods available.
One of the primary ways to work with differences in ComparePlus is through navigation. The plugin provides Next and Previous buttons in its toolbar section. These buttons allow you to step through each identified difference between the compared files sequentially. Once you’ve navigated to a specific difference, you can manually copy the line or lines that are different using standard Notepad++ copy commands (like Ctrl+C). This method provides granular control, allowing you to examine each change individually and decide what to do with it.
Another feature of ComparePlus is the Show Only Diffs option, accessible via Plugins > ComparePlus > Show Only Diffs or the ShowOnlyDiffs button in the toolbar. This function filters the view to display only the lines that are different between the two files. While this is excellent for visually focusing on the changes, it’s important to understand its limitations when it comes to copying. Even when “Show Only Diffs” is enabled, performing a Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C (Select All, Copy) will still copy all lines from the file, including the lines that are visually hidden by the “Show Only Diffs” filter. Therefore, this feature is primarily for visual inspection and not for isolating and copying only the differing lines.
It’s worth considering why you might want to copy only the differences. Often, understanding the context surrounding a change is crucial. Copying just the differing lines without the surrounding context can sometimes be less helpful than copying the entire modified sections. When performing a full comparison (“All” comparison in ComparePlus), the visual marking of differences already provides a clear indication of what has changed. The navigation buttons further enhance this by allowing you to quickly jump between these marked differences. If the goal is to make one file identical to another, simply copying and pasting the entire content of the right file into the left file (or vice versa) achieves this directly, preserving both the differences and the context.
Thinking beyond just copying differences, many users familiar with file comparison tools might expect “merge” functionalities. Tools like TortoiseDiff and TortoiseMerge, popular in version control systems like TortoiseSVN, offer features to “Use Left Block” or “Use Right Block” during a comparison. These features allow users to selectively incorporate changes from one file into another directly within the comparison view. This streamlines the process of reconciling differences between files.
While ComparePlus in Notepad++ currently doesn’t have these advanced merge capabilities, it would be a valuable addition. Requesting such features from the ComparePlus plugin developer could lead to future enhancements that would significantly improve the workflow for users who need to not only compare but also merge files within Notepad++. Exploring the ComparePlus plugin’s issue tracker on GitHub is a good way to see if others have suggested similar features or to propose this functionality yourself.
In conclusion, while Notepad++ with the ComparePlus plugin may not offer a direct “copy all diffs” button, it provides robust tools for notepad++ comparing two files. Utilizing the navigation buttons and the “Show Only Diffs” feature effectively allows users to identify and understand file differences. For users seeking more advanced merge capabilities, exploring alternative tools or suggesting feature enhancements to the ComparePlus plugin are viable next steps. Understanding the current functionalities of ComparePlus ensures you can efficiently compare files within Notepad++ for a variety of text editing and development tasks.
