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Compare Files Extension

This extension launches an external file comparison tool for files selected in local and remote file panels.

The extension recognizes the following file comparison tools: ExamDiff Pro, Beyond Compare, KDiff3, WinMerge and built-in Windows command-line fc.

This is an official WinSCP extension and is distributed in WinSCP installer.

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# @name         &Compare Files
# @command      powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "%EXTENSION_PATH%" ^
#                   -localPath "!^!" -remotePath "!" -tool "%Tool%"
# @description  Compares the selected local and remote path using ^
#                   an external file comparison tool
# @flag         ShowResultsInMsgBox 
# @flag         ApplyToDirectories
# @version      1
# @shortcut     Shift+Ctrl+Alt+C
# @homepage     https://winscp.net/eng/docs/extension_compare_files
# @require      WinSCP 5.13.4
# @option       - group "Options"
# @option         Tool dropdownlist "Select &file comparison tool:" "" ^
#                     "=Automatic" "ExamDiff Pro" "Beyond Compare" "KDiff3" "WinMerge" "fc"
# @optionspage  https://winscp.net/eng/docs/extension_compare_files#options
 
param (
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $True)]
    $localPath,
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $True)]
    $remotePath,
    $tool
)
 
try
{
    $pf = "%PF%"
    $tools = (
        ("ExamDiff Pro", "$pf\ExamDiff Pro\ExamDiff.exe"),
        ("Beyond Compare", "$pf\Beyond Compare 4\BCompare.exe"),
        ("KDiff3", "$pf\KDiff3\kdiff3.exe"),
        ("WinMerge", "$pf\WinMerge\WinMergeU.exe"),
        ("fc", "fc.exe")
    )
 
    $path = $Null
 
    foreach ($t in $tools)
    {
        $tname = $t[0]
        if ((-not $tool) -or
            ($tname -eq $tool))
        {
            $path = $Null
            $tpath = $t[1]
            if ($tpath.Contains($pf))
            {
                $path64 = $tpath.Replace($pf, $env:ProgramW6432)
                # Only true as long as WinSCP is 32-bit
                $path32 = $tpath.Replace($pf, $env:ProgramFiles)
                if (Test-Path $path64)
                {
                    $path = $path64
                }
                elseif (Test-Path $path32)
                {
                    $path = $path32
                }
            }
            else
            {
                $path = $tpath
            }
 
            if ($path)
            {
                $tool = $tname
                break
            }
            elseif ($tool)
            {
                throw "Cannot find $tool"
            }
        }
    }
 
    if (-not $path)
    {
        throw "Unknown tool $tool"
    }
 
    if ($tool -eq "fc")
    {
        Start-Process $env:ComSpec `
            -ArgumentList "/c", $path, $localPath, $remotePath, "&", "pause" -Wait
    }
    else
    {
        Start-Process $path -ArgumentList $localPath, $remotePath -Wait
    }
 
    $result = 0
}
catch
{
    Write-Host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
    $result = 1
}
 
exit $result

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Options

In the Select file comparison tool, select your preferred file comparison tool. Keep the default Automatic, to have the extension automatically use the first available tool.

In the Keyboard shortcut, you can specify a keyboard shortcut for the extension.

Last modified: by martin