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The "Compare With" menu item on the menu that is activated when you right click on a file in the Package Explorer does not have the capability to compare with a file outside of the workspace. It would be beneficial to have this capability because then you wouldn't have to import the non-workspace file into the workspace just to do a compare. The same can be said for "folders" and non- workspace directories on the filesystem.
future
*** Bug 30051 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 29945 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 30355 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 31196 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Bug 31196 has been marked as a duplicat but I'm not sure if this really fits. In bug 31196 I wanted to point out, that an asynchron compare is not possible. The current "Compare With -> Each Other" only shows differences in the folder structure but it is not possible to add or remove complete folders. It is also not possible to deside, which is the target folder and which is the source. If this can be defined an asynchron compare can be performed (delete files and folders in the target folder that don't exists in the source folder and copy new files and folders from the source into the target).
I believe I understand your points (even if the term "asynchron compare" is new to me). So let me recap what you need (and what compare already provides): - three-way compare: without it you cannot know whether a change is a deletion, or an addition. You need a common ancestor against which you can compare your workspace folder and your external folder. Just knowing what is the source and what is the target doesn't help because you cannot distinguish a deletion from an addition. The compare plugin already supports three-way compare, however you cannot specify the "meaning" of the three inputs (e.g. what is the ancestor, local, and remote). - the inputs of the compare can be external, that is they need not live within the workspace. Eclipse supports this somewhat with "linked" folders. - you need actions to copy or delete a folder from one side of the compare to the other. The compare plugin already supports deletions and creations of single files, but not of whole folders.
*** Bug 7147 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 7419 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 5034 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Exactly except point one. "Asynchronous compare" is a phrase I borrowed from Total Commander (http://www.ghisler.com/index.htm). It doesn't really need a three way compare. You have the base folder (left) and want a target folder (right) to contain exactly the same files and folders like the base. Thus, a compare is done to look wich files and folder exist in the base and don't exist in the target, they get marked as "copy from left to right". Folders and Files that don't exist in the left side but do exist in the right side are marked as "delete on the right side". Files that exist left and right are compared using there timestamp or content (is selectable). If they are different and the file on the right side is older then the file on the left side, the file is marked as "replace right side with file from left side". If the file on the right side is newer, than a conflict is shown. In general "asynchronous compare/merge" means that you want the folder on the right side sontain the same files and folders like the folder on the left side and not more. The reason I can't do this with the application mentioned above is that the application doesn't have a "VCM" feature. Eclipse has a "VCM" feature and is capable of auto-checkout files and folders on the 'right' side if necessary :). As you see, a 3-way compare is ok. The "asynchronouse compare" might be a special case of the 3-way compare where the base == the source folder.
The original report from comment 0 looks pretty much like bug 73923. However, the discussion among Andre and Gunnar seems to be more about enhancements for three-way comparison of folders than comparing files outside of the workspace (as originally reported). Updating the summary to better match the reality then.
Let me take it off your plate Erich, I hope you don't mind. Reassigning to Compare inbox.
*** Bug 458746 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
