WinMerge accepts several parameters from command line, in addition to paths to compare. Most of these parameters are intended for using WinMerge as an external compare application. Or for starting from batch files.
Syntax for the command line is:
WinMerge [/r] [/e] [/f filter] [/x] [/s] [/ul] [/ur] [/ub] [/wl] [/wr] [/minimize] [/maximize] [/dl leftdesc] [/dr rightdesc] leftpath rightpath [outputpath]
All parameters start with "/" or with "-" prefix character. Pathnames don't have any prefix character.
- /? opens this help.
- /r tells WinMerge to compare folders recursively . Normally WinMerge does not compare subfolder contents but does the "flat" compare showing the files in compared folders and subfolders as separate items. Using /r tells WinMerge to compare all files in all subfolders. When subfolders are included, only unique subfolders are visible as separate items in compare results. Note that including subfolders can increase compare time remarkably.
- /e allows WinMerge to be closed with a single Esc keypress. This is useful when using WinMerge as an external compare application. WinMerge can act like an dialog which is easy and fast to close.
- /f allows selecting filter used. Filter can be filemask like "*.h *.cpp" or name of filefilter like "XML/HTML Devel". Quotation marks must be used if filter mask or name contains spaces.
- /x closes WinMerge if opened files are identical (after information dialog is shown). This parameter is useful when WinMerge is used as an external compare application. It helps to faster process and/or ignore files which don't have any differences. Note that this option does not apply when files become identical when merging/editing them.
- /s enables single-instance behavior. If there is already WinMerge running new compare is opened to that same instance. Depending on other settings (if multiple windows are allowed) new compare is opened to existing or new window.
- /ul tells WinMerge to not add left path to MRU. External applications should not add paths to Open-dialog's MRU lists.
- /ur tells WinMerge to not add right path to MRU. External applications should not add paths to Open-dialog's MRU lists.
- /ub tells WinMerge to not add both paths to MRU. External applications should not add paths to Open-dialog's MRU lists.
- /wl initially opens left side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change left-side items in compare.
- /wr initially opens right side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change right-side items in compare.
- /minimize starts WinMerge as minimized. This option can be used to start WinMerge minimized for lengthy compares.
- /maximize starts WinMerge as maximized.
- /dl adds a description for left side shown instead of folder / filename. This allows showing version number or label for compared items. Like "Version 1.0" or "Work Copy".
- /dr adds a description for right side shown instead of folder / filename. This allows showing version number or label for compared items. Like "Version 1.0" or "Work Copy".
- leftpath is the folder or filename to open on the left side.
- rightpath is the folder or filename to open on the right side.
- outputpath is an optional output folder where you want merged files to be saved.
![[Tip]](images/tip.gif) |
Tip |
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WinMerge accepts filename and folder name as path parameters, as long as the given folder contains file with same name than in first parameter. For example, one can give a command: WinMerge C:\Folder\File.txt C:\Folder2. If C:\Folder2 contains file named File.txt WinMerge now compares files C:\Folder\File.txt and C:\Folder2\File.txt |
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Usually WinMerge requires that both path parameters (leftpath and rightpath) point to folders or files. It is not possible to compare folder to file (except in case described in above note). If WinMerge cannot find any of given paths, it opens Open-dialog.
Third path given in command line is rarely needed when WinMerge is started from command line. It is meant to be used with many version control tools which use third path as a "result" file. WinMerge always shows two files in file compare, the third path is a path where any of these files gets saved into, leaving other two paths intact.
Usually these tools use terms like "theirs", "mine" and "merged "/ " resolved" about these three files. And those paths should be given in that order for WinMerge.
Conflict file can be given to command line as one path to the conflict file. There cannot be second or third path with conflict file. After WinMerge opens the given conflict file, it can be resolved like described in Resolving Conflict Files.