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Compares all files in all subfolders (recursive compare). Unique folders (occurring only on one side) are listed in the compare result as separate items. Note that including subfolders can increase compare time significantly. Without this parameter, WinMerge lists only files and subfolders at the top level of the two target folders. It does not compare the subfolders.

Compares all files within the specified folders but excludes the files and subfolders within its subfolders. This allows for a shorter comparison time.

Enables you to close WinMerge with a single Esc key press. This is useful when you use WinMerge as an external compare application: you can close WinMerge quickly, like a dialog. Without this parameter, you might have to press Esc multiple times to close all its windows.

Applies a specified filter to restrict the comparison. The filter can be a filemask like *.h *.cpp, or the name of a file filter like XML/HTML Devel. Add quotation marks around a filter mask or name that contains spaces.

Sets the compare method to use for the comparison. This can be one of the keywords Full, Quick, Binary, Date, SizeDate or Size.

Specifies the type of window in which to display files. This can be one of the keywords Text, Table, Binary, Image or Webpage.

Closes WinMerge (after displaying an information dialog) when you start a comparison of identical files. The parameter has no effect after the comparison, for example if the files become identical as a result of merging or editing. This parameter is useful when you use WinMerge as an external compare application, or when you want to eliminate unnecessary steps by ignoring files that don't have any differences.

Is similar to /x but does not show the message about identical files.

Limits WinMerge windows to a single instance. For example, if WinMerge is already running, a new compare opens in the same instance. Without this parameter, multiple windows are allowed: depending on other settings, a new compare might open in the existing window or in a new window.

Limit the WinMerge window to one instance as well as the option /s. However, it waits for the instance displaying the window to terminate.

Ensure that another instance is always executed, ignoring the value of the "Allow only one instance to run" option.

Prevents WinMerge from adding the left path to the Most Recently Used (MRU) list. External applications should not add paths to the MRU list in the Select Files or Folders dialog.

Prevents WinMerge from adding the middle path to the Most Recently Used (MRU) list. External applications should not add paths to the MRU list in the Select Files or Folders dialog.

Prevents WinMerge from adding the right path to the Most Recently Used (MRU) list. External applications should not add paths to the MRU list in the Select Files or Folders dialog.

Prevents WinMerge from adding either path (left or right) to the Most Recently Used (MRU) list. External applications should not add paths to the MRU list in the Select Files or Folders dialog.

Opens the left side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change left side items in the compare.

Opens the middle side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change right side items in the compare.

Opens the right side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change right side items in the compare.

Opens a new blank window.

Compares the specified file with a copy of the file.

Compares the two most recent contents of the clipboard history.

Starts WinMerge as a minimized window. This option can be useful during lengthy compares.

Starts WinMerge as a maximized window.

Sets focus to the left side at startup.

Sets focus to the middle side at startup.

Sets focus to the right side at startup.

Specifies a line number to jump to after loading the files.

Specifies a character position to jump to after loading the files.

Specifies a delimiter character for table editing. To specify a tab character, specify "tab", "\t", or "\x09".

Specifies a description in the left side title bar, overriding the default folder or filename text. For example: /dl "Version 1.0" or /dl WorkingCopy. Use quotation marks around descriptions that contain spaces.

Specifies a description in the middle side title bar, just like /dl.

Specifies a description in the right side title bar, just like /dl.

Auto-merges at the left side at startup.

Auto-merges at the middle side at startup.

Auto-merges at the right side at startup.

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Sets the comparison result to the process exit code. 0: identical, 1: different, 2: error

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Specifies a file extension for determining syntax hightliting.

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Specifies the folder, file or project file to open on the left side.

Specifies the folder, file or project file to open on the middle side.

Specifies the folder, file or project file to open on the right side.

WinMerge cannot compare files to folders, so the path parameters (leftpath, middlepath and rightpath) must point to the same target type (either folders or files). If WinMerge cannot find either of the specified paths, it opens the Select Files or Folders dialog, where you can browse for the correct paths.

Specifies an optional output file path where you want merged result files to be saved.

The output path is rarely needed when you start WinMerge from the command line. It is meant to be used with version control tools, where you might need to specify a output path for the result file. If you specify a output path, WinMerge still shows only two or three files in the File Compare window. However, if you save either of these files, it is written to the output path, leaving the two or three source files intact.

Version control systems typically refer to the source and result files using terms like theirs, mine, and either merged or resolved. If you specify a output path on the WinMerge command line, and are working with a version control system, you should list the files in that order.

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Specifies a conflict file, typically generated by a Version control system. The conflict file opens in the File Compare window, where you can merge and resolve conflicts, as described in Resolving conflict files. Note that no other paths can be used with a conflict file.

specifies an INI file used to load and save settings instead of the registry.