Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

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callum
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Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#1 Post by callum » 2009-03-30 14:49

I love the directory comparison and synchronised browsing features of FileZilla. I would also like to be able to right-click on a file (on client or server) and click "Compare with file", and this show a dialogue with both files laid out side-by-side, with nice highlighting, like the way Wikipedia does it (example).

For situations when the last-modified or size information aren't sufficient for me to decide which version of a file I want to keep, this would mean I could decide carefully which version I want, based on the actual data, but a lot quicker than manually downloading the file, opening a terminal and doing a "diff" command on the two files.

As doing a diff within FileZilla would usually mean you're trying to decide which one should overwrite the other, it could have two buttons in the file comparison dialogue, one under each file to say "overwrite the other file with this one". So, when you're not sure why the "directory comparison" feature shows different colours for the different versions, this "file comparison" feature would make it really quick to see what's going on and fix it.

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botg
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#2 Post by botg » 2009-03-30 15:11

To do that the file needs to be downloaded first. You can already download files and then use one of the many diff programs out there to compare the contents.

jacktanner
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#3 Post by jacktanner » 2009-04-12 01:14

I think there's a strong argument for making it easy to call a local diff utility from FileZilla.

Right now, if you want to diff between a local file and a remote file, all you need to do is:
- download the remote file
- run a diff

But if what you're trying to do is keep a local tree and a remote tree in synch, and if you're using synchronized browsing for that, it's more work. In this case, the remote file and local file likely have the same name, so you have to:
- rename the local file
- download the remote file
- run a diff

Recently, I found myself doing the above pretty often. It made me wish that I could pick file.foo in either pane, and have a new item in the context menu -- "Compare with [local|server] file.foo". This would download the remote copy to a local temp directory (just as for editing), and then open the two files with my preferred diff utility (WinMerge in my case). That would really speed up my workflow.

euro_ii
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#4 Post by euro_ii » 2009-09-09 10:17

There is any wey to call a custom shell comand do do this job ?

Matteo

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botg
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#5 Post by botg » 2009-09-09 10:43

Unfortunately no.

drolli
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#6 Post by drolli » 2009-11-04 20:07

I completely agree, I was also looking for such a quick file comparison feature.
It could be very helpful to add to FileZilla some scripting capabilities which would allow adding easily such features.

cluksha
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#7 Post by cluksha » 2009-12-11 18:01

I would agree that it would be Fabulous to use something like winmerge to compare automatically. I use that feature in DW ALL the time. The trouble is I end up going ot Filezilla 8 times out of 10 b/c DW ftp client is HORRIBLE and either doesn't upload a file b/c it thinks it is the same or just doesn't connect for whatever reason.

Just another vote for 3rd party integration

jacktanner
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#8 Post by jacktanner » 2009-12-11 18:18

Apparently WinSCP has this feature. Perhaps it would help to see how they implemented it.

fghxu
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#9 Post by fghxu » 2009-12-14 16:51

This is a big thing in my wish list for FileZilla,

Can we put it in the requested feature for the project?

thanks

jerone
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#10 Post by jerone » 2010-05-13 13:45

I really like to see this feature too.

When I'm returning to an old project and find differences between the online and local version, I'm always wondering what's the difference. Now I have to download the files and compare manually. If support is added for WinMerge it could make things really easy.

CornMaster
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#11 Post by CornMaster » 2011-03-08 23:54

Here is a quickie way to pull this off until it is properly integrated.

Running Filezilla 3.3.1 on Ubuntu 10.04.

First, install Meld (haven't tried it with any other diff viewer yet)
Then go to Edit -> Settings -> File editing
Change to 'Use custom editor:' and enter:
/usr/bin/meld /home/{yourusername}/filezillafake.txt
Click OK.
Create a file in your home directory called filezillafake.txt

Now, when you View/Edit a file, it will open in meld with your fake file on the left, and the remote file on the right. Then drag the file from your filezilla window into the 'Browse' area for the fake file in the Meld Window. It will load up and show you the diff.

You should be able to edit the file here and save it and Filezilla should prompt for an upload.

This works because Meld supports drag and drop, and also inserting two file names at the command prompt. Any application for any platform that does that should be supported by this method. The only downside is that Meld is now your default editor for files, and you may not like that if you do a lot of remote editing.

sahirulalim
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#12 Post by sahirulalim » 2011-03-25 12:23

I completely agree, I was also looking for such a quick file comparison feature.

webm2000
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#13 Post by webm2000 » 2011-10-24 17:46

I am running FileZilla 3.5.1 built August 2011, on Windows XP, and I'm still not able to diff. How do I activate file diff, or is it not yet available in this version?

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boco
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#14 Post by boco » 2011-10-24 17:50

Not possible.
No support requests over PM! You will NOT get any reply!!!
FTP connection problems? Please read Network Configuration.
FileZilla connection test: https://filezilla-project.org/conntest.php
FileZilla Pro support: https://customerforum.fileZilla-project.org

AnthonyV
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Re: Feature suggestion: file comparisons diff

#15 Post by AnthonyV » 2015-01-27 22:04

What is preventing this feature from being implemented? It would be very handy.

If you see this please poke the existing feature request: http://trac.filezilla-project.org/ticket/2837

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