Line replace function

[ehume]

I use ExamDiff Pro 4.5 for comparing css files. Frequently I want to replace only a few lines of a block difference. If I have, for example, a block of five lines that are different, I may wish to replace four of the lines in file B with analogous lines in file A, leaving the fifth line different between the two files.

Currently I must carefully select the lines that I want in file A and copy them. Then I must move to file B, carefully select the lines I want to replace, then paste the lines from file A to File B. This must be done carefully, since error in execution is easy.

Doing a block replace is so much easier, especially since ED Pro now has those little arrows in the margins (I love that feature). I am unable to select a line and push only that line over from file A to file B.

I would like to be able to designate a single line and push it over from file A to file B. There is an analogous function in the directory comparison, where a number of files may differ, but when you click on a file to push from directory A to directory B, you only push that single file over (unless you select more than one).

Any chance for such a feature in file comparison?

[psguru]

This actually sounds like a good idea. The only problem is the way the Replace command is going to be treated. Currently, in file comparison, it operates on the current diff block. So there must be a way to treat this command as applied to lines as opposed to the diff block. This could be based on the selection in a file pane but what would you do is a part of a line is selected, or several lines are selected but incompletely? Should the line replacement mode still be used instead of block replacement? Will it confuse current ExamDiff Pro users?

On the other hand, we could simply add a new command and keep treating the current Replace command as it is today: applied to diff blocks only.

[ehume]

I like the idea of leaving the current block replace command completely alone. Not only would I not want to be confused, I would not like the opportunity to make a mistake. OTOH, you have changed the behavior of the block replace: I now click on the arrow to do the block replace.

What I had in mind was a completely new line command. Perhaps when one selects a line there could be a different kind of arrow in the margin. If I select a line within the block, but not the top line of the block, perhaps I could see both arrows. I think I would get the idea pretty quick.

The nice thing about a line replace command is that it only replaces that one line. I wouldn't be moving the whole block. Less damage.

I must say here that I greatly appreciate the improved undo function. That alone was probably worth the price of the upgrade from 3.3: I now make less trouble for myself when I make mistakes with the block replace.

[psguru]

I think we'll have a new command for line replacement (Edit menu, context menu, toolbar) but no new diff bar arrows.

[ehume]

Cool.

[EDPuser]

I have the ED Pro version 5.5. The program is excellent to compare 2 files. The 2 files I am comparing are MS Excel 97 format in the Office 2010 program. The arrows in the center margin are a neat way to update selected lines from one file to the other. Unfortunately, if I use this option; then save the file it is saved in the CSV format not in Excel. There must be some way to do this; but I can't find it.

[psguru]

No, there isn't actually. When you start editing plug-in processed files, you get a warning stating that you are about to change not the original file but its text view. Plug-ins are one-way filters to compare non-text files.

[bzing]

Regarding the original question of being able to replace differing text line-by-line instead of only entire blocks, it's not clear - has this been implemented? I'm unable to find the feature in version 5.5.

[psguru]

Yes. Right-click on a line and select the Copy Line To The Other File command in the context menu.