Differences For File Dialog Box

See Also

Shows differences between a working folder version of the selected file and the VSS database version of the file.

To display the Differences For File dialog box:

1. Select a file in the file pane of VSS Explorer.
   
   
2. On the Tools menu, click Show Differences.
   
   
3. If the files compared are the same, a message tells you the files are identical.  VSS cannot display differences for binary files; it can only tell you whether or not binary files differ.  If text files differ, VSS displays the File Difference dialog box.
   
   
4. Make selections in the File Difference dialog box (if it's enabled), then click OK.

Note   Enable the display of the File Difference dialog box on the Command Dialogs tab in the SourceSafe Options dialog box (Tools menu).

Remarks

The Difference For File dialog box displays two files side-by-side.  It uses three colors to show deleted, modified, and changed lines.  You can change the colors by setting the options on the Difference tab of the Tools Options dialog box.  You cannot make changes to the files from this dialog box it is for display of differences only.

Note   To compare a current VSS file to an older version of the same file, select the file in the file pane of VSS Explorer, and on the Tools menu, click Show History.  Then click Diff.

Dialog Box Options

This dialog has a toolbar containing all the commands you'll need for finding and marking differences:

Find

Lets you search for a string in the file. The shortcut key is Alt+F3.

Find Next

Lets you search for the next matching occurrence of a string in the file. The shortcut key is F3.

Find Previous

Lets you search for a previous matching occurrence of a string in the file. The shortcut key is Shift+F3.

Toggle Bookmark

Lets you turn a bookmark on or off in a file. The shortcut key is Ctrl+F2.

Next Bookmark

Lets you go to the next bookmark in the file. The shortcut key is F2.

Previous Bookmark

Lets you go to the previous bookmark in the file. The shortcut key is Shift+F2.

Clear All Bookmarks

Lets you clear all bookmarks in the file.

Previous Difference

Lets you find the previous difference in the file. The shortcut key is Shift+F7.

Next Difference

Lets you search for the next difference in the file. The shortcut key is F7.