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From: Kimmo V. <ki...@ko...> - 2003-08-09 11:56:41
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Hi, WinMerge uses a modified GNU/diffutils as diff-engine. I cannot say much about algorithm itself, but going to www.gnu.org documentation and using google you find more information. Diffutils documentation: http://www.gnu.org/manual/diffutils-2.8.1/diff.html WinMerge does not use that patch-file diffutils normally produces but a list diffutils's internal "diffranges" containing linenumbers of changed lines. Based on those linenumbers WinMerge marks changes between files on screen. Using diffutils is reason WinMerge cannot compare binary files or show exact differences on lines. Latter may sound simple comparing char by char but that wouldn't handle removed/added words etc properly. Regards, Kimmo |
