Altap Salamander Support Forums

I'm still missing basic user menu variables $(LeftFullName) and $(RightFullName) in 2.5 RC2. As far as I understand, I can only compare two files with the same file name, but I often need to compare two files with different names. The easiest way to do this would be to select one file in the left panel and the other file in the rigth panel and hit F9 to compare them with my favorite comparison software.
I requested this almost two years ago and was promised an implementation by Jan Rysavy. See request below.

>> Can you please add left and right versions of the argument
>> variables used for user menu commands. I need $(LeftFullName)
>> and $(RightFullName) to create a file comparison command for
>> our file compare utility (Beyond Compare). $(LeftFullName)
>> would then be the full name of the selected file in the left panel
>> and vise versa.

Also, as a paying customer I request that you stop these silly beta versions immediately and release 2.5 now. It's been stable for years now. 2.5 must be the world record in beta versions...

Best regards,
Ulrik Sandström

Just because the variable names are not exactly as you suggest, it does not mean the functionality you are requesting does not exist. Have a look at the options in the Advanced submenu.

ALTAP: These variables seem to not be described in the help; please add.

I've tried the different options in the Advanced submenu, but as far as I can tell there is no way to get two files with different names. I would love to be proven wrong though...

Thanks,
Ulrik Sandström

I have documented it in Customizing User Menu help page, see Using Servant Salamander/Customizing Servant Salamander (or simply paste Customizing User Menu to Index page in help window). There is five possibilities how to specify two files/directories for compare/merge. Selecting one file in left and second in right panel is under bullet 2. Files/directories names can be different, the same names are required only if using a possibility described under bullet 5.

Let me know if it is underdocumented (give me some ideas what to add) or if you just did not find it in help.

Petr,

I finally found the problem! I just realized I had to mark the files (using Space) to get it to work. This is fine with me, but I thought it would work with the "active" files in each panel, that's why I could not get it to work. Without actually selecting a file in the inactive panel, you will try to find a file with the same name as in the active panel, am I right?
I did read the help topic you refer to before posting to this forum, so I guess it is underdocumented, at least for me . On the other hand, you do write that the files should be selected, so it's all in there. Maybe you just need to make that part it a bit clearer.

Anyway, Thanks!
Ulrik Sandström

Yes, without selection, the focused name is searched in other panel and if found it's taken as a second name to compare.

Help contains also pages about these basic things such as focus and selection. You can read it in Windows Components section (select/focus is in page Working Area).

Petr Solin wrote:I have documented it in Customizing User Menu help page...
Let me know if it is underdocumented (give me some ideas what to add) or if you just did not find it in help.

I did find this topic, but did not read it carfully, but only scanned if for the variable names, which I had been searching for before also on the search tab.

The options are not fully described. For instance I cannot find whether variables like $(FileToCompareLeft) give me the file name only or the complete path, and neither whether I need to add quotes myself.

Also for the list options you should specify how this list is provided (any separators, quoted, in what order, are there any limits concerning the counts of files and the total length of the list or the resulting command line, will directories be included, exluded, scanned recursively, provided with a trailing \...)

OK, I'll add help for variables.

All compare/merge variables (e.g. $(FileToCompareLeft)) contain full names without quotes. List variables contain list of names separated by spaces, names are in quotes only if they contain spaces, the limit for list and command line is 259 characters.