setting up ExamDiff Pro to work with CVS

[David Vanden Heuvel]

after reading a previous post, I was inspired to share this tool setup I use quite frequently.

It allows you to compare a local copy of a file (modified or otherwise) with a file in a CVS repository without having to "check out" the repository file.

First of all, you'll need examdiff (either shareware or freeware version should work)
You'll also need cygwin installed and in your path to make the "patch" command work. And of course you will need CVS installed (and you must be logged onto CVS)
these are available at:
http://www.nisnevich.com/examdiff/examdiffpro.htm
http://sources.redhat.com/cygwin/
http://cvshome.org/

Once you have all these things, you can configure a command line tool in textpad with the Parameters field set to:

"cvs diff -kk $Prompt(Enter cvs version: need to specify -r) $file | patch -R -o c:\temp\$filename.diff $file && start C:\"Program Files\"\"ExamDiff Pro\"\ExamDiff.exe $file c:\temp\$filename.diff"

set the Initial Folder to:
$FileDir

notes:
-you must include the quotation marks!
-If you use examdiff freeware version, change "ExamDiff Pro\" to "ExamDiff\"
-It assumes that examdiff is installed to the default directory.
-a temporary file is created in c:\temp --you must either create this directory or change it.
-The temporary file created ends in .diff (example: if your file is called myfile.java the temporary file created will be called myfile.java.diff)
-You don't *have to* use examdiff, replace: C:\"Program Files\"\"ExamDiff Pro\"\ExamDiff.exe with your favourite diff viewer

How to use:
Open the file you wish to compare in textpad. With that file active(selected) invoke the tool. Examdiff should open up and display the differences. You'll get an error if there are no differences....

that's it. Let me know if it works for you....
cheers and enjoy,
David.

(note: this works with windows 2000 -haven't tested it on other platforms)