Configuring an alternative compare tool?

[Stuart Wheeler]

I would like to use an alternative tool to do file comparisons from Textpad. As I am not a great fan of the compare in Textpad and much prefer Araxis Merge I would like to use this instead. I want to set up Araxis Merge as a tool and invoke it with:

merge.exe <file1> <file2>

The files I would like to compare are those I highlight in the Document Selector.

Unfortunately I have no idea what environment variables (if any) I can use to invoke as parameters. I can use $file for the <file1> but don't know what to use for <file2>. Any clues?

Also Araxis can diff 3 files at once, so that would also be useful if I knew what to use for a <file3>.

Thanks in advance,

Stuart

[Tom Pugh]

I also would like this feature, for both a file comparison utility and a text printing utility that I have. It would be very helpful to put multiple files on the command line.

Thanks,

Tom

[Gordon Keeler]

There was a similar tool called GFC.EXE (Graphic File Compare) for OS/2 written by Barney Scott at IBM (UK). The source code for its predecessor CONTRAST.EXE is available. If the gang at TextPad or any talented programmers out there would like to take on the job of updating this C program to the current standards, it would be a great addition to the TextPad tool set.

[Jörg Frech]

Here's how I've configured Araxis Merge as a tool:
Command: <path>\compare.exe
Parameters: /nosplash /max $File $File
(x) Prompt for parameters

(Araxis recommend using compare.exe from the command line). Then, I just overtype the 2nd file name with the one I want. You don't need the 2nd $File, but I find it quite handy, and it's just a matter of a single Ctrl-Shift-CursorLeft to overtype it. If you use file names with spaces a lot, then you should use "$File" "$File", of course.

HTH,
Jörg