File Diff

Two-way file comparison for Textadept.

Install this module by copying it into your ~/.textadept/modules/ directory or Textadept's modules/ directory, and then putting the following in your ~/.textadept/init.lua:

require('file_diff')

Compiling

Releases include binaries, so building this modules should not be necessary. If you want to build manually, use CMake. For example:

cmake -S . -B build_dir
cmake --build build_dir --target diff
cmake --install build_dir

Usage

A sample workflow is this:

1. Start comparing two files via the "Compare Files" submenu in the "Tools" menu.
2. The caret is initially placed in the file on the left.
3. Go to the next change via menu or key binding.
4. Merge the change from the other buffer into the current one (right to left) via menu or key binding.
5. Go to the next change via menu or key binding.
6. Merge the change from the current buffer into the other one (left to right) via menu or key binding.
7. Repeat as necessary.

Note: merging can be performed wherever the caret is placed when jumping between changes, even if one buffer has a change and the other does not (additions or deletions).

Key Bindings

Windows and Linux	macOS	Terminal	Command
Tools
F6	F6	None	Compare files...
Shift+F6	⇧F6	None	Compare the buffers in two split views
Ctrl+F6	⌘F6	None	Stop comparing
Ctrl+Alt+.	^⌘.	None	Goto next difference
Ctrl+Alt+,	^⌘,	None	Goto previous difference
Ctrl+Alt+<	^⌘<	None	Merge left
Ctrl+Alt+>	^⌘>	None	Merge right

Fields defined by file_diff

file_diff.INDIC_ADDITION

The indicator number for text added within lines.

file_diff.INDIC_DELETION

The indicator number for text deleted within lines.

file_diff.MARK_ADDITION

The marker for line additions.

file_diff.MARK_DELETION

The marker for line deletions.

file_diff.MARK_MODIFICATION

The marker for line modifications.

file_diff.addition_color_name

The name of the theme color used to mark additions. The default value is 'green'. If your theme does not define that color, set this field to your theme's equivalent.

file_diff.deletion_color_name

The name of the theme color used to mark deletions. The default value is 'red'. If your theme does not define that color, set this field to your theme's equivalent.

file_diff.modification_color_name

The name of the theme color used to mark modifications. The default value is 'yellow'. If your theme does not define that color, set this field to your theme's equivalent.

Functions defined by file_diff

_G.diff(text1, text2)

Returns a list that represents the differences between strings text1 and text2. Each consecutive pair of elements in the returned list represents a "diff". The first element is an integer: 0 for a deletion, 1 for an insertion, and 2 for equality. The second element is the associated diff text.

Parameters:

• text1: String to compare against.
• text2: String to compare.

Usage:

• diffs = diff(text1, text2) for i = 1, #diffs, 2 do print(diffs[i], diffs[i + 1]) end

Return:

• list of differences

file_diff.goto_change(next)

Jumps to the next or previous difference between the two files depending on boolean next. file_diff.start() must have been called previously.

Parameters:

• next: Whether to go to the next or previous difference relative to the current line.

file_diff.merge(left)

Merges a change from one buffer to another, depending on the change under the caret and the merge direction.

Parameters:

• left: Whether to merge from right to left or left to right.

file_diff.start(file1, file2, horizontal)

Highlight differences between files file1 and file2, or the user-selected files.

Parameters:

• file1: Optional name of the older file. If -, uses the current buffer. If nil, the user is prompted for a file.
• file2: Optional name of the newer file. If -, uses the current buffer. If nil, the user is prompted for a file.
• horizontal: Optional flag specifying whether or not to split the view horizontally. The default value is false, comparing the two files side-by-side.

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