WinMerge: How to exclude *.bak and *.tmp files?

9

2

How do I include all files and exclude *.bak and *.tmp files in WinMerge compare dialog window?

=========== WinMerge Dialog Window ===========

Left: [Folder-A]               [ OK ]
Right: [Folder-B]              [ Cancel ]
Filter: *.*                    [ Help ]

[x] Include Subfolders

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Level1Coder

Posted 2014-03-09T01:45:27.043

Reputation: 1 937

Answers

9

Using an inclusive filter, all files are included except those matching a filter rule. For .tmp and .bak files that would be:

def: include ## Inclusive (loose) filter lets through all items not matching rules
f: \.tmp$ ## temporary files
f: \.bak$ ## back up files

When selecting a file or folder, hit select right next to the filter textfield to select a filter. Then hit new, select a filename and adjust the filter by the above lines. After saving, you may have to refresh the filter page by closing and opening it again. Select your new filter and voila.

Zaheylu

Posted 2014-03-09T01:45:27.043

Reputation: 537

Tks, it works. Been a while and I have used another software. Now that I know how filters work, I may give WinMerge another chance. – Level1Coder – 2015-03-18T00:09:58.000

0

You can use a filter. See here, section 4.1.3. Creating a file filter.

Maria Ines Parnisari

Posted 2014-03-09T01:45:27.043

Reputation: 280

link doesn't work – Level1Coder – 2014-03-09T02:03:13.773

Oops. I fixed it now. – Maria Ines Parnisari – 2014-03-09T02:04:50.933

1Actually, I read that before posting the question. The documentation is rather poor on how to exclude files, there is no clearcut example. – Level1Coder – 2014-03-09T02:08:18.793

Basically, you create a filter for bak and tmp files, and apply that filter to the comparison. – Maria Ines Parnisari – 2014-03-09T02:08:48.037

Does that mean if I have 1 billion files to compare, it will compare 1 billion files THEN apply filter? Seems not efficient – Level1Coder – 2014-03-09T02:12:19.123

I don't know how it works. – Maria Ines Parnisari – 2014-03-09T02:13:28.697