WinMerge is an open-source tool that allows you to specify two files or two directories and do a line-by-line file comparison. The result of the comparison is displayed in a window, showing you any changes that may exist between the two files or directories. This is a useful tool to compare differences in your error files between builds.

If you have WinMerge installed on your computer, BuildPlus will enable this option for you (recent versions of DBDOC automatically install WinMerge). You are given the choice to either Compare Files or Compare Directories. In either case, a dialog will appear where you can either type in or browse for the appropriate files/directories for comparison.

Note: Earlier versions of BuildPlus used WinDiff instead of WinMerge.

Compare Files

To automatically compare the two most recent builds, click button on the Toolbar. To choose which files to compare, on the Tools menu, select Compare with WinMerge and click Compare Files, use Browse to navigate to the file, and once both file paths have been entered, click OK. This will launch WinMerge to show differences between the files.

(The default selections are the DBDOC_SUMMARY.ERR files of the two most recent builds. If a build failed and DBDOC_SUMMARY.ERR are not available, then DBDOC.ERR files are selected)

Note: Earlier versions of BuildPlus use WinDiff instead of WinMerge

Compare Directories

On the Tools menu, select Compare with WinMerge and click Compare Directories.

(The default selections are the ERROR_FILES folders for the two most recent builds.)

Note: Earlier versions of BuildPlus use WinDiff instead of WinMerge.

For each directory you wish to compare, click Browse, navigate to the folder, and click OK.

Once both directory paths have been entered, click OK. This will launch WinMerge and show which files are different within this folder. Double-clicking on the file name will show the differences within individual files.

Compare Next/Previous Project's File or Directory

If there are several projects in a BuildRoot that you wish to compare, you can automatically launch WinMerge of the most recent two DBDOC_Summary.err files or ERROR_FILES directories.

• To compare files or directories for the next project, on the Tools menu click Compare with WinMerge -> Open Next Project or click the button on the Toolbar.
• To compare files or directories for the current project, on the Tools menu click Compare with WinMerge -> Open Current Project or click the button on the Toolbar.
• To compare files or directories for the previous project, on the Tools menu click Compare with WinMerge -> Open Previous Project or click the button on the Toolbar.
• To choose whether files or directories will be compared, choose from the Winmerge Open option

See also

• Build Results
• Changing how project files will be named (Build Root option)
• Choosing locations for copying project files after the build
• Excluding Symbols and SubModels chapters from build
• Exporting data from .dbdoc files
• Inserting live loop settings to be automatically built into subsequent project files
• Making Composer References more readable on CLD sheets by unstacking
• Minimum Chapters (Global Option)
• Modifying Management of Change options
• Project Files (.dbdoc)
• Renaming project files from BuildPlus
• Shared Data Folder Location
• Stop Button Default Action (Global Option)
• Understanding DBDOC errors