How to Integrate the File Comparison Tool with SourceTree
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The file comparison tool can be integrated with SourceTree so that you can use it to compare changes. The advantages of doing this include:
  • The Oxygen Compare Files tool presents the files side-by-side and makes it much easier to determine real changes.
  • The Oxygen Compare Files tool includes XML comparison algorithms.
  • The Oxygen Compare Files tool includes various options for configuring the comparison.
  • The Oxygen Compare Files tool allows you to navigate through changes.

To integrate the Compare Files tool with SourceTree, follow this procedure, depending on your operating system:

Windows
  1. In SourceTree, go to Tools > Options.
  2. Go to the Diff tab.
  3. In the External Diff/Merge section, configure the settings as follows:
    • External Diff Tool - Select Custom.
    • Diff Command - Enter the path of the Oxygen diffFile.exe file (for example: c:\Programs\Oxygen XML Editor 19\diffFiles.exe).
    • Arguments - Enter -ext $REMOTE $LOCAL $LOCAL.
    • Merge Tool - Select Custom.
    • Diff Command - Enter the path of the Oxygen diffFile.exe file (for example: c:\Programs\Oxygen XML Editor 19\diffFiles.exe).
    • Arguments - Enter -ext $LOCAL $REMOTE $BASE $MERGED.
  4. Click OK.

    Result: In SourceTree, you can now compare file changes with the Oxygen Compare Files tool by simply selecting External Diff from the contextual menu, Actions menu, or Ctrl+D.

Mac OS X
  1. In SourceTree, go to SourceTree > Preferences.
  2. Go to the Diff tab.
  3. In the External Diff/Merge section, configure the settings as follows:
    • External Diff Tool - Select Custom.
    • Diff Command - Enter a command line argument to launch the Oxygen diffFiles.sh file (for example: sh "/Applications/Oxygen XML Editor/diffFiles.sh").
    • Arguments - Enter -ext $REMOTE $LOCAL $LOCAL.
    • Merge Tool - Select Custom.
    • Diff Command - Enter a command line argument to launch the Oxygen diffFiles.sh file (for example: sh "/Applications/Oxygen XML Editor/diffFiles.sh").
    • Arguments - Enter -ext $LOCAL $REMOTE $BASE $MERGED.
  4. Close the preferences dialog box.

    Result: In SourceTree, you can now compare file changes with the Oxygen Compare Files tool by simply selecting External Diff from the contextual menu or Actions menu.