When you click a row in the result set of a Visual Studio's Schema Comparison, it shows a diff of the source vs. the target of the comparison. Is there any way to use a different diff tool for that comparison?
This largely depends on which Source Control type you are using. But very often there are option pages associated with the Source Control option
Tools->Options->Source Control.
For example, Subversion has a setting called Subversion User Tools under this menu, that allows you to specify an external diff tool.
If TFS, then there is a menu option called Visual Studio Team Foundation Server. On this property page, is a button called Configure User Tools...
Other source control systems have similar mechanisms
Related
If I double click a file in Pending Changes, I get the diff view, which is nice, but sometimes I want to edit the file instead. Is there any way to bring up the regular editor from the diff view or from Pending Changes? What I've been doing is searching for the file in Solution Explorer, but that's kind of slow and I was hoping there was a way to bring up the editor directly from the diff view or from Pending Changes.
The difference viewer built into Visual Studio provides a basic read only file view; so the answer is no ... not for out of the box Visual Studio tool. But not external applications.
I recommend that you use a purpose built diff viewer and specify it to be used by visual studio that will launch into the external program.
I personally have been using Araxis Merge which allows one to view/edit the local copy. It then allows you to save to the local file during a difference view.
We get source control explorer for the TFS source control model, and it is productive.
Do we get a similar source control explorer for Git in Visual Studio 2017?
If we do have it, how do I navigate to it?
In short, no, there is no built-in UI support for Git in Visual Studio 2017.
Alternatively, you can try the following extensions based on your source control setup.
In Visual Studio, select Tools → Extensions and Updates, select Online on the left pane, search for one of the following in the search bar in the top right:
Bitbucket → install Visual Studio Bitbucket Extension
GitHub → Install GitHub Extension for Visual Studio
Git → Install Easy Git Integration Tools
The first two do a good job of providing UI controls to work with source control as they relate to Bitbucket or GitHub in a similar fashion to regular TFS integration (that you may be familiar with). I haven't tried the third one myself, and I'm not sure what that one is like.
Please see the Solution Explorer - Folder View. This can be accessed from Solution Explorer (open with CTRL+W, S), then by clicking the Solutions and Folders toggle button. In Visual Studio 2017, it looks like this:
Though it's not a 1:1 capability of the Team Foundation Source Control Explorer view, it does have the ability to view files in the local repo, open, view history, etc.
Visual Studio does not currently have Source Control Explorer for Git repositories. You might consider voting on this User Voice item to help the product team prioritize features:
https://visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio-ide/suggestions/4178754-visual-studio-tools-for-git-extension-microsoft-g
In Visual Studio 2019, open the folder for the work space using "File->Open->Folder...". The solution explorer, via "View->Solution Explorer", should display all the files which you can then right click to view history and other GIT operations.
I want to display a list of all the files which are checked out by the user in TFS. This is just incase user has checked out some files accidentally. Is there is a setting available in Visual Studio/TFS which can do that?
Install TFS Power Tool, which provides additional menu options like by status, it can display all checked out.
Team Explorer Enhancements
This tool provides additional Visual Studio menu options and functions
to support finding files under version control by status or wildcard,
opening a folder using File Explorer from the Source Control Explorer
context menu, and labeling files and folders in Source Control
Explorer. Clone builds definitions easily and copy work item paths.
Collaborate and share with your teammates within Visual Studio using
the Team Members page in the Team Explorer tool window. You can
communicate with your team through instant messaging, share queries
and components, create workspace templates, and track your sprint
progress.
I want to compare two files in visual studio (files containing stored procs)
So I want to ignore all the "Capital" / "Small" differences in the file.
I opened the command window and used Tools.DiffFiles but its taking the case difference also into consideration
P.S I have already seen this question and answers for it
Although Visual Studio is asked for explicitly, I recommend a different tool: WinMerge.
It indeed has many options for comparing and merging files. It lacks a 3-way-merge though. Of course WinMerge can optionally ignore case.
Visual Studio can be configured so you can call WinMerge using "Tools / External Tools ...". Then you may even install a toolbar item for it. Quite nice!
Most version control systems allow you to use WinMerge as a compare tool. For example for TFS you open the "Tools / Options ..." menu and there you choose "Source Control / Visual Studio Team Foundation Server". Click on the button "Configure User Tools".
I read the this Tool for comparing files in Visual Studio post and the recomended posts but unfortuantely it is only for VS-2008. I am wondering if there is a working tool for comparing selected files in visual studio 2010.
Ideally, select 2 files in Solution Explorer and right click and choose "Compare Selected Files"
I also have ankhSVN as my subversion program therefore cannot use
Edit: I have successfully selected WinMerge as my tool for Diff process, but how do i actually compare 2 files using it?
AnkhSVN is the same for VS2005, 2008 and 2010. You can use Tools -> Options -> Source Control -> Subversion User Tools to configure your diff/merge and patch tools. It will auto-detect most tools, so you only have to select them from the dropdown menu.
See also ankhsvntips
EDIT: There's currently no option to diff 2 different files, you can only diff versions of the same file.
I use BeyondCompare, its really good.
http://www.scootersoftware.com/support.php?c=kb_vcs.php
SourceGear DiffMerge is great, and integrates well with VS2010 and AnkhSvn. It's recommended in the AnkhSvn wiki.
To compare 2 files just choose "Open File Diff..." from the "File" menu.
VS IDE config instructions for WinMerge are available from Paul Bouwer's blog entry Replace diff/merge tool in Visual Studio Team System with WinMerge:
In Visual Studio under Tools > Options > Source Control > Visual Studio Team Foundation > Configure User Tools, add entries for Compare and Merge using the options indicated.
Works great anywhere in VS IDE that the Compare command is available eg in Pending Changes and Changeset Details windows.
Also works great with Windows Explorer integration and as a stand alone tool.