<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<sect1 id="QuickStart">
  <title>Quick Start</title>

  <sect2>
    <title>Opening Files and Folders</title>

    <para>Start <productname>WinMerge</productname> and select
    <guimenuitem>Open</guimenuitem> from <guimenu>File</guimenu>-menu, click
    yellow folder icon from toolbar or press <keycombo>
        <keycap>Ctrl</keycap>

        <keycap>O</keycap>
      </keycombo>. File/folder selection dialog opens:</para>

    <para><mediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="screenshots/OpenDlg1.gif" format="GIF" />
        </imageobject>
      </mediaobject></para>

    <para>Two topmost fields in Open dialog are for selecting
    files/directories to compare. Comparison objects can be specified in one
    of four ways:</para>

    <para><orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Enter the path names directly into the edit fields</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>Click the <guibutton>Browse</guibutton> button and use the
          file chooser to navigate to the desired object</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>Expand the combo box and select a previously entered path
          (WinMerge remembers the last 20)</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>Drag &amp; drop something into the edit field from
          Explorer</para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist></para>

    <para>Folder can be selected from Windows Open dialog (opens when
    <guibutton>Browse</guibutton>-button is selected) by browsing into folder
    and selecting <guibutton>Open</guibutton>-button. It does not require
    selecting a file. When <guilabel>Filename</guilabel> field in Windows Open
    dialog contains text "<guilabel>Directory Selection</guilabel>" selecting
    <guibutton>Open</guibutton> button selects currently visible folder. Open
    dialog always shows backslash "\" at end of folder name.</para>

    <para><note>
        <para>There can be only file &amp; file or folder &amp; folder
        selected to open for compare. If there is file &amp; folder or other
        one of files/folders cannot be found WinMerge disables
        <guibutton>OK</guibutton>-button in dialog.</para>
      </note></para>

    <para><guilabel>Filter</guilabel> -field can be used to select files by
    extension to compare. Default value is "*.*" which includes all files. But
    listing one or more extensions restricts compare to only files with those
    extensions. Multiple extensions are separated with space or semicolon. For
    example: <filename>*.cpp;*.hpp;*.c;*.h</filename></para>

    <para>File filters are much more powerful way to select files and folders.
    Use <guibutton>Select</guibutton> button next to
    <guilabel>Filters</guilabel> field to see available filters and to choose
    the filter.</para>

    <para>If <guilabel>Include Subfolders</guilabel>-checkbox is checked
    WinMerge compares all subfolders and shows all files and folders it founds
    in one view. Otherwise only current folder is compared and subfolders are
    listed so user can browse into them.</para>

    <para>Unpacker selection is for plugins.</para>

    <tip>
      <para>Status of currently selected files or directories is shown with
      text in bottom of the dialog. If one of the paths is invalid this text
      tells which one it is.</para>
    </tip>
  </sect2>

  <sect2>
    <title>Comparing Folders</title>

    <para><inlinemediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="screenshots/dircomp1.gif" format="GIF" />
        </imageobject>
      </inlinemediaobject></para>

    <para>If two folders were selected in Open-dialog folder compare is
    opened. Folder compare shows list of files and subfolders it finds. Using
    <guimenu>Merge</guimenu>-menu items, toolbar items or context menu items
    files and folders can be managed in many ways.</para>

    <para>If selected file exists in both sides (and it is not a binary file)
    it can be opened to file compare. File can be opened by:<orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>selecting <guimenuitem>Compare</guimenuitem> from
          <guimenu>Merge</guimenu> menu</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>selecting <guimenuitem>Compare</guimenuitem> from context
          menu</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>double-clicking with mouse</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>pressing <keycap>Enter</keycap> key</para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist></para>

    <para>After file compare is closed file's status is updated to folder
    compare.</para>
  </sect2>

  <sect2>
    <title>Comparing Files</title>

    <para><inlinemediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="screenshots/filecomp1.gif" format="GIF" />
        </imageobject>
      </inlinemediaobject></para>

    <para>File compare shows two files side by side. Different lines are
    highlighted with background color. One or more consecutive different lines
    form one difference (or "diff"). <productname>WinMerge</productname>
    mostly works with these differences, not separate lines.</para>

    <para><important>
        <para>Notice how WinMerge fills missing lines in other side. Similar
        lines are always side by side. This is different to most other
        compare/merge programs and can take a while to learn.</para>
      </important>With merging commands (in <guimenu>Merge</guimenu> menu)
    lines in difference can be copied between sides. Missing lines can be
    copied also. When missing lines are copied from side to another matching
    existing lines are removed. In above screenshot copying three lines in
    third difference from right to left would remove matching three lines from
    left side.</para>

    <para><productname>WinMerge</productname> has an simple integrated editor.
    Typing, copying, cutting and pasting text works. If <guilabel>Automatic
    rescan</guilabel> is enabled then WinMerge updates file differences while
    files are edited. If <guilabel>Automatic rescan</guilabel> is disabled
    files can be updated selecting <guimenuitem>Refresh</guimenuitem> from
    <guimenu>Edit</guimenu>-menu, clicking toolbar button with two yellow
    arrows or pressing <keycap>F5</keycap> key.</para>
  </sect2>
</sect1>