Plugin: Compare / Set as first compare
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I am using the latest version of the Compare plugin, along with Notepad++ version 8.1.2 (32bit).
I just started using this, so this might be a product of my learning curve.
When I set the “Set as first compare” and select one of the two files I have up for comparison, I noticed that it marks that files as ""Old to Compare.
As such, I therefore usually use the older/original version of a file as this first step.
My problem/question is:
I noticed that regardless of which file I select, the colors and symbols used stay the same.
For example:
If my original (set as first compare) IS the older file, and a line from the older has been removed from the newer, it shows the removed line in the older file as Green and +
If I then switch it around, and run it again with the newer version as the “Set as first compare”, the same line in question above is still the same ’ the older version shows the removed line as Green and +
I have learned to compensate by remembering which is which and noting the results accordingly, but it would be nice if the results could be more correct to the file selected. In other words:
If the Set as first compare file has a line in it that is NOT in the other file, then the “Set as first compare” line should show it as Red, and - (Minus), if my understanding of the intended title above “Old to Compare”, is Correct.
Thanks
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I never have found the need for using “First to Compare” button. When I start my comparison, I just put my “old” file on the left and “new” file on the right, and click the “compare” button, and it works exactly as I expect it to.
Okay, with a little experimenting: if I have all my files in the same view (so multiple tabs, none on the right), then if I click “First to Compare” in the “old” file, then “Compare” in the “new” file, it puts the one marked “first” on the left and the one where you clicked “Compare” on the right. And when i ended that compare, the “new” file moved back to the only active view with all the others. So the “First To Compare” button appears to be used only for marking the order of comparison when both files are starting from the same view.
FYI: If you still want a change in behavior (I don’t think you need one), the author of the Compare Plugin has an issues page where such requests should be made. However, the author of the Compare plugin is no longer working on that incarnation of the plugin, and is instead working on a “ComparePlus” plugin to replace it. There has been no timeframe given for the newly-named plugin. However, the author does have issues for the Compare Plugin that are marked for ComparePlus v1, so if you put in your request through the compare plugin issues page, they might be included in the replacement plugin.
