The WinMerge command line accepts several parameters in addition to the paths to compare. Most of these parameters are intended for using WinMerge as an external compare application or starting a compare operation from a batch file.
Use one of these formats for the WinMerge command:
WinMergeU [/?]
WinMergeU [/r] [/e] [/f
filter] [/m
compare-method] [/t
window-type] [/x] [/xq] [/s] [/sw] [/s-] [/ul] [/um] [/ur] [/u] [/wl] [/wm] [/wr] [/new] [/self-compare] [/clipboard-compare] [/minimize] [/maximize] [/fl] [/fm] [/fr] [/l
linenumber] [/c
charpos] [/table-delimiter
delimiter] [/dl
leftdesc] [/dm
middledesc] [/dr
rightdesc] [/al] [/am] [/ar] [/noninteractive] [/noprefs] [/enableexitcode] [/ignorews] [/ignoreblanklines] [/ignorecase] [/ignoreeol] [/ignorecodepage] [/ignorecomments] [/unpacker
unpacker-name] [/prediffer
prediffer-name] [/cp
codepage] [/fileext
file-extension] [/cfg
name=value] [/inifile
inifile] leftpath [middlepath] rightpath [/o
outputpath] [/or
reportpath]
WinMergeU conflictfile
Entering the command with no parameters or pathnames simply opens the
WinMerge window. Parameters are prefixed with either a forward slash (
/ ) or dash ( - ) character. Pathnames
have no prefix character.
/?Opens WinMerge Help at this topic.
/rCompares 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.
/eEnables 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.
/fApplies a specified filter to restrict the
comparison. The filter can be a filemask like *.h
*.cppXML/HTML Devel. Add quotation marks around a filter
mask or name that contains spaces.
/m compare-methodSets the compare method to use for the comparison.
This can be one of the keywords Full,
Quick, Binary,
Date, SizeDate or
Size.
/t window-typeSpecifies the type of window in which to display files.
This can be one of the keywords Text,
Table, Binary,
Image or Webpage.
/xCloses 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.
/xqIs similar to /x but does not
show the message about identical files.
/sLimits 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.
/swLimit the WinMerge window to one instance as well as the option /s. However, it waits for the instance displaying the window to terminate.
/s-Ensure that another instance is always executed, ignoring the value of the "Allow only one instance to run" option.
/ulPrevents 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.
/umPrevents 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.
/urPrevents 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.
/uPrevents 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.
/wlOpens the left side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change left side items in the compare.
/wmOpens the middle side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change right side items in the compare.
/wrOpens the right side as read-only. Use this when you don't want to change right side items in the compare.
/newOpens a new blank window.
/self-compareCompares the specified file with a copy of the file.
/clipboard-compareCompares the two most recent contents of the clipboard history.
/minimizeStarts WinMerge as a minimized window. This option can be useful during lengthy compares.
/maximizeStarts WinMerge as a maximized window.
/flSets focus to the left side at startup.
/fmSets focus to the middle side at startup.
/frSets focus to the right side at startup.
/l linenumberSpecifies a line number to jump to after loading the files.
/c charposSpecifies a character position to jump to after loading the files.
/table-delimiter delimiterSpecifies a delimiter character for table editing. To specify a tab character, specify "tab", "\t", or "\x09".
/dlSpecifies 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.
/dmSpecifies a description in the middle side title
bar, just like /dl.
/drSpecifies a description in the right side title
bar, just like /dl.
/alAuto-merges at the left side at startup.
/amAuto-merges at the middle side at startup.
/arAuto-merges at the right side at startup.
/noninteractiveTBD
/noprefsTBD
/enableexitcodeSets the comparison result to the process exit code. 0: identical, 1: different, 2: error
/ignorewsTBD
/ignoreblanklinesTBD
/ignorecaseTBD
/ignoreeolTBD
/ignorecodepageTBD
/ignorecommentsTBD
/unpackerTBD
/predifferTBD
/cpTBD
/fileext file-extensionSpecifies a file extension for determining syntax hightliting.
/cfgTBD
leftpathSpecifies the folder, file or project file to open on the left side.
middlepathSpecifies the folder, file or project file to open on the middle side.
rightpathSpecifies the folder, file or project file to open on the right side.
WinMerge cannot compare files to folders, so the path parameters
(leftpathmiddlepathrightpath
In file comparisons, you can specify a folder name in one of the path parameters, as long as the folder contains a file with the same name as the one specified in the other, file path.
For example, consider this command:
WinMergeU C:\Folder\File.txt
C:\Folder2
If C:\Folder2 contains a
file named File.txt: WinMerge implicitly resolves
the second path as a file specification, and compares the two files. Of
course, the command is invalid if C:\Folder2 does not
contain a file named File.txt.
/o outputpathSpecifies 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.
/orTBD
conflictfileSpecifies 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.
/inifile inifilespecifies an INI file used to load and save settings instead of the registry.